Hennessey Venom GT upgraded to 1451 bhp for SEMA debut
Hennessey has revealed a major power increase for its Venom GT hypercar ahead of SEMA 2015, raising output to 1451 bhp thanks to E85 Flexfuel and higher boost.
Hennessey has announced a substantial power increase for its Venom GT hypercar ahead of the 2015 SEMA show, with output now reaching 1451 bhp. The American-built, Lotus-based supercar gains an additional 207 bhp over the previous version, positioning it as one of the most powerful production cars on the market.
The power hike comes from switching to E85 Flexfuel, which allows the 7.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 to run higher boost pressure. Hennessey has raised the maximum boost from 19 psi to 26 psi, extracting more performance from the already potent engine. The company says the 1244 kg Venom GT can now sprint from 0 to 60 mph in 2.4 seconds and reach 200 mph in just 12.8 seconds. Quarter mile acceleration is quoted at 9.4 seconds at 167 mph.
Hennessey claims the new specification gives the Venom GT the potential to exceed 280 mph, eclipsing the previous top speed of 270.4 mph achieved by the earlier version. With the Bugatti Veyron Supersport no longer in production, Hennessey is openly targeting the title of fastest production car. The company has made clear that outright speed remains central to the Venom’s development.
Technical changes for 2016
The latest Venom GT keeps its lightweight carbonfibre and aluminium chassis, based on the Lotus Elise, but the focus is firmly on extracting maximum performance from the V8 powertrain. The move to E85 Flexfuel is key, as it enables higher cylinder pressures and more aggressive tuning without risking detonation. This technical change underpins the leap in output for the 2016 model year.
Performance targets and context
Hennessey’s quoted figures put the Venom GT among the fastest-accelerating cars ever built. The 0-100 mph time of 4.4 seconds and 0-200 mph in 12.8 seconds are both well into hypercar territory. The company’s ambition is clear: to surpass the performance benchmarks set by the now-retired Bugatti Veyron Supersport and to secure the top speed record for a road car.
- Bugatti Veyron Supersport: 1200 bhp, 268 mph top speed (production ended)
- Previous Hennessey Venom GT: 1244 bhp, 270.4 mph top speed
- 2016 Hennessey Venom GT: 1451 bhp, targeting 280+ mph
The Venom GT’s latest upgrade will be shown at SEMA, with Hennessey using the event to highlight its technical progress and performance ambitions. The company has not yet confirmed when or where an official top speed run will take place, but the intent to challenge for the record is clear. For more on the Venom GT’s previous record runs, seeHennessey Venom GT claims 0–300 km/h acceleration world record.
