1817-HP Venom F5 Roadster Is Built for 300+ MPH, According to Hennessey

The roadster's mechanical setup is the same as that of the F5 Venom coupe. This engine, a 6.6-liter twin-turbocharged V-8 with an automatic single-clutch gearbox, is said to have an astounding 1817 horsepower. According to Hennessey, the roadster weighs just 3098 pounds dry—just 45 pounds more than the coupe—and is engineered to reach high speeds of more than 300 mph, however, top speed will be constrained when the roof panel is removed.

Top Gets Special Treatment

With a lift-out part between the windscreen rail and the elevated rollover structure behind the seats, the open-topped F5 is a Targa rather than a complete cabriolet. Given that the panel is composed of carbon fiber and weighs just under 40 pounds, removing or installing it should only take one person. Once severed, the roof may either be exhibited on a pedestal that will be included with the automobile or transported in an ultrasoft merino wool travel bag. To showcase the "Fury" V-8, which is hidden under a carbon-fiber panel in the coupe, the roadster also receives a new viewing glass in its engine cover.

New forged seven-spoke aluminum wheels for the roadster, available in either a silver finish or polished aluminum, and fastened by titanium bolts are among the other cosmetic modifications over the fixed-roof F5. However, because the coupe, which weighs only 190 pounds naked, has the same carbon monocoque, structural strength should be about the same even with the roof removed. In this segment of the market, the roadster lacks active aerodynamic components, exactly like the coupe, hence downforce levels are modified by adjusting ride height to change the angle of airflow over the body.

How quickly the F5 Venom roadster will be able to travel is still an open topic. Hennessey is still trying to demonstrate the coupe's potential; the most recent speed to be made public was 271 mph on a 3.2-mile Florida runway. (This link will take you to a video of the run.)

Will It Surpass the Bugatti?

The F5 Venom coupe and roadster may very well be capable of surpassing that milestone given that they have more power and less weight than the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+, which is the current production car speed record and was driven to almost 305 mph by British sports-car racing legend Andy Wallace in 2019. Even though that is still below the desired top speed of 300 mph or more, physics suggests that both the coupe and roadster may well be capable of doing so. We eagerly anticipate learning Hennessey's true capabilities.

If Hennessey is successful in selling out its whole intended run of 30 cars, as opposed to only 24 coupes, the F5 Venom roadster will be less costly and less rare than the coupe, which cost $2.1 million when it was introduced in 2020. By the end of the year, the roadster's production should start.

However, it appears rather reasonable in comparison to the Texan company's projected six-wheeled, 2400-hp, four-seat EV.

To distinguish the Venom F5 Roadster from the Coupe, which is currently completely sold out, Hennessey gave it a fresh set of distinctive wheels. The open-top hypercar is mounted on seven pairs of spoked, forged aluminum alloy wheels that each resemble an extended Hennessey "H." Each rim has a milled "Hennessey" writing on the outside face and a "Roadster" script on the inside face. Additionally, customers have the option to convert Hyper Silver wheels to a pricey, highly polished metal.

Only 30 Venom F5 Roadsters will be produced, according to the manufacturer, and work will start on them in late 2022. Customers may customize their hypercar with Hennessey to suit their tastes and preferences, particularly in terms of external and interior colors. Naturally, they might also decide to leave exposed carbon fiber portions, with a gloss or matte finish.

Hennessey claims that once production reaches a steady state, the Venom F5 Roadster's high-speed capabilities will be proven.