Monday 12th September 2011

How fast is the Hennessey Venom GT? Err... very

Speedo video reveals one heck of a rapid Texan supercar

---

Okay, so a video showing only the rev-counter and speedometer isn't going to win the Palme d'Or at Cannes, but it is a pretty compelling indication of just how devastatingly fast the Hennessey Venom GT is.

But then the supercar-that-began-life-as-an-Elise should be pretty fast: it's got 1200hp courtesy of its twin-turbo GM V8 and weighs in at a modest 1218kg.

We can only hope (and assume) that a private test track was used for this run, which takes the Venom from 70mph to 215mph in a staggeringly short 15secs (or so)...

 

[OlberJ]

"That was low boost"

Oh really?

[OlberJ]

I was about to say something very stupid about the gearstick being located by the driver's door. Then it hit me where this is from so best not say owt.

[OlberJ]

chuntington101 said:

Please stop talking about the low shift point and blaming that on the engine! its CR*P and just guess work.

Thanks,

Chris.

I think he's blaming it on the turbos, if they make all the power mid range and then tail off the grunt from the engine alone will not be much use, hence the short shifting to keep the turbos at their most efficient.

I'd like to see a proper test of it to see what it can really do.

[OlberJ]

It's not right over the rear axle, it's forward of it.

[OlberJ]

chuntington101 said:

Why would it be pointless to not rev it higher? even if torque was falling off power would still be climbing..... so why change gear?......

Chris.

How do you figure that? Not all turbos make their power at the top of the rev range.

[OlberJ]

supersix said:

Slightly. If you think it'll be good with twice the weight on the back axle than the front, then we have differing ideas on handling.

The weight is infront of the rear axle so it will be spread between the 2 better than a transverse engine setup would give.

Yes it's more weight than standard obviously but it's in the right place. Would you rather have it out over the front axle like an Audi?

[OlberJ]

RobCrezz said:

Why do you keep talking about max torque so much?? Its power thats important. Plus the reason people rev past max power is because even if the power is tailing off, the torque at the wheels will still usually be higher than max power in the next higher gear (and therefore better acceleration).

All dependant on the turbos chosen though.

We need some power graphs here really.

[OlberJ]

Read what he wrote Doogz, max torque.

[OlberJ]

chuntington101 said:

That why small high reving engines are soo great to turbo, you a much wider RPM band to play with.

[OlberJ]

Oh no, turbos on big engines do make good power.

You need CC's to spin them up early and get the best use out of them.

[OlberJ]

Seriously?

Think of the cars you could buy for £800k