Ciprian Florea wrote:It’s been five years since Hennessey introduced the Venom GT, the only production car that’s faster than the Bugatti Veyron, and the Texas-based company has just announced than an updated version of the supercar will be offered for the 2016 model year.
Exterior
Although it comes with an updated drivetrain, the 2016 Venom GT is identical to last year’s supercar in terms of design. There aren’t many official photos to judge by as of this writing, but it appears as if Hennessey made no modifications to the Venom’s body for 2016. Not even a revised front bumper or rear wing. Nothing!
But that’s far from being bad news. Given the Venom GT was extremely aerodynamic and stable since day one, it wouldn’t have made sense for Hennessey to alter the supercar’s bodywork. The Venom GT is as appealing as they get and with demand for the low-production vehicle significantly higher than supply, the Americans don’t need a facelift to find new customers.
The only thing that’s new about the 2016 Venom GT is the bright-yellow paint job and the black stripe running from the nose, across the center of the front hood and toward the rear wing. Of course, the Venom GT can be ordered in many colors, but the center stripe is actually a brand-new detail.
Interior
Hennessey has yet to publish photos of the 2016 Venom’s interior, but it’s safe to assume it is also identical to last year’s model. For the uninitiated, much like its exterior, the Venom GT’s cabin is also based on the Lotus Lotus Exige, featuring nearly identical door panels, dashboard, and instrument cluster. Hennessey-crafted updates include softer surfaces for the upper dash, a carpeted floor, leather surfaces, an Alcantara-wrapped, race-spec steering wheel, contrast stitching, and carbon-fiber inserts for the door panels. Hennessey also modified the seats and added a roll cage.
Drivetrain
This is where the 2016 Venom GT stands out compared to previous versions. Though it uses the same Corvette-sourced, twin-turbo, 7.0-liter V-8, the Venon GT now boasts a maximum power output of 1,451 horsepower at 7,200 rpm, a 207-horsepower improvement over last year’s supercar. Hennessey says horsepower and torque were increased thanks to the engine’s ability to run E85 Flexfuel, which in turn allows the V-8 to run a higher boost pressure (26 psi versus 19 psi). Though the company didn’t release torque figures, the 2016 model should have more than 1,155 pound-feet.
Combined with a curb weight of only 2,743 pounds (1244 Kg) and two pairs of grippy Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires, the massive output enables the Venom GT to hit 60 mph in 2.4 seconds, 100 mph in 4.4 seconds, and 200 mph in 12.8 seconds. These figures make the 2016 model 0.3, 1.2, and 1.7 seconds quicker than the previous version, respectively. Quarter-mile runs are also quicker at 9.4 seconds at 167 mph, down from 9.92 seconds at 163 mph. Furthermore, Hennessey Hennessey claims a top speed in excess of 280 mph — at least 10 mph more than the speed record the Venom GT set in 2014.
Whether Hennessey plans to set a new record is yet unknown, but even if it does, the limited production run will likely prevent the Venon GT from being acknowledged by the Guinness Book of World Records.
