Automotive

Hennessey ends production of the 1,451-hp, 270-mph Venom GT

View 28 Images
The Hennessey Venom GT Final Edition marks the end of production
Hennessey set its 0-300 km/h acceleration record in 2013 on a runway at Texas's Ellington Airport
Hennessey achieves a 13.6-second 0-300 km/h time
Guinness World Records certificate for the Venom GT acceleration record
Hennessey Venom GT at Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance 2014
Angus MacKenzie
Inside the Hennessey Venom GT at Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance 2014
Angus MacKenzie
This Hennessey Venom GT was one of the earlier 1,244-hp variants
Angus MacKenzie
Hennessey Venom GT at Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance 2014
Angus MacKenzie
Hennessey Venom GT at Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance 2014
Angus MacKenzie
The Hennessey Venom GT's most recent record was its 265.6-mph convertible speed record
The 1,451-hp Hennessey Venom GT Spyder sets a record of its own
The Hennessey Venom GT Spyder set its record last year at the Naval Air Station Lemoore in California
Hennessey Venom GT Spyder world speed record
Half of the production Hennessey Venom GTs built were hard-top coupes, the other half roadsters
Hennessey Venom GT Spyder world speed record
Hennessey Venom GT Spyder world speed record
Hennessey Venom GT Spyder world speed record
Hennessey Venom GT Spyder world speed record
Hennessey Venom GT Spyder world speed record
Hennessey Venom GT Spyder world speed record
Hennessey Venom GT production car (coupe) speed record
Hennessey celebrates its 270.4-mph speed record
Because Hennessey was only able to do a single run, not the two-run average required for an official Guinness world record, its 270.4-mph speed record didn't officially beat the Bugatti Veyron
The Hennessey Venom GT speeds its way to 270.4 mph in 2014
Hennessey set its 270.4-mph mark at Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida
Hennessey Venom GT unofficial production car speed record
Hennessey Venom GT unofficial production car speed record
Steven Tyler's Hennessey Venom GT Spyder goes up for auction today
The Hennessey Venom GT Final Edition marks the end of production
View gallery - 28 images

Since launching in 2010, the Hennessey Venom GT has lived among a very select handful of elite supercars with four-figure horsepower numbers and world speed record ambitions. The unofficial fastest production car in the world has now sped all the way to the end of production, as the last of just 13 examples has left the factory. The Final Edition of the little Lotus with big twin-turbo V8 is a striking blue roadster that's already sold for over US$1 million.

Though it could never quite catch up with the Bugatti Veyron in terms of the official production car world speed record, the Hennessey Venom GT had a prestigious run as one of the world's fastest, most powerful supercars. Some people criticized the Lotus underpinnings and lack of exotic styling befitting a seven-figure supercar, but those criticisms tended to die down when those same folks got to the 1:1 power-weight ratio.

The Venom GT's power/weight balance helped Hennessey earn an official 13.6-second 0-300 km/h (186 mph) acceleration record, an unofficial 270.4-mph (435.2-km/h) production car speed record, and a 265.6-mph (427.4-km/h) convertible speed record. The Venom GT even got more powerful during its lifespan, leaping up to 1,451 hp in 2015.

Hennessey Venom GT unofficial production car speed record

"We've attained some pretty incredible achievements with the Venom GT," says Hennessey founder and CEO John Hennessey. "It was always my dream to build the fastest car and we did just that. Our Venom GT retires as one of the fastest cars on the planet along with being one of the most exclusive. I'm so grateful to our customers, employees, suppliers, and our technical partners, Pennzoil and Shell V-Power, who have helped make this special car a reality."

The Venom GT Final Edition is painted in a mesmerizing "glacier blue" broken by white racing stripes. It features the now-standard 1,451-hp twin-turbo 7.0-liter V8 engine.

The Final Edition has already been sold for $1.2 million, but those looking for a Venom GT to call their own have another option. A Venom GT Spyder will be auctioned off by Barrett-Jackson in Scottsdale, Arizona on Friday, January 20th. The car was built for Aerosmith lead singer Steven Tyler, and 100 percent of the sale proceeds will go to his charity for abused girls, Janie's Fund, according to Hennessey.

Steven Tyler's Hennessey Venom GT Spyder goes up for auction today

We're always a bit saddened by the retirement of a great sports car, but a confirmed successor greatly lessens the blow. Hennessey has already provided a first look at the even more extreme Venom F5, and while it's running a bit late with the official debut, John Hennessey promises, "We look forward to introducing the Venom F5 sometime later this year." We look equally forward to seeing it.

In the meantime, re-watch some amazing Venom GT memories and check out the photos in our gallery.

Source: Hennessey

View gallery - 28 images
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Flipboard
  • LinkedIn
2 comments
TonyKeyworth
Good riddance to a pointless automotive irrelevance
Bob
From that angle the first photo looked like a jazzed up VW Beetle.