The US$950,000 Hennessey Venom GT has perhaps the most spectacular set of numbers of any supercar: 1200 horsepower shoehorned into a mid-engined chassis that weighs just twelve hundred kilos (2,685 lbs).
It's a combination that no other supercar can match in terms of power to weight ratio. By comparison, it shades the world's fastest car, the 267 mph Bugatti Veyron GT, which has less horsepower (1184 bhp), and is 50% heavier, tipping the scales at 1,888 kg (4,162 lbs).
Only five of the carbon composite Venom GTs are built each year. Each vehicle is hand-built at one of Hennessy's three facilities (Texas, California and Silverstone, England) and the car is available in right or left hand drive, though right hand drive costs an extra US$28,000.
Indeed, the price list on the Venom GT also allows for a the car to be made with a "Naked" Carbon Fiber Exterior (a la Monsory) for the princely sum of an extra US$375,000 and don't forget to allow six months for delivery from time of order.
Interestingly, the car's balance is not at its optimum until it has a passenger and driver inside. When all fluids and a passenger are loaded, the car's 37-63 empty weight distribution becomes an ideal 44-56.
The 2012 Venom GT will make its first public outing in its homeland later today when it attends the McCall's Motorworks Revival at the Monterey Jet Center, the traditional first event of the Monterey / Pebble Beach weekend.
