Lotus & Corvette Make One Bad Baby: Meet the Hennessey Venom GT
When motor vehicle enthusiast Jeff Hattabaugh likes something, you can bet it’s going to be fast, impractical, fast, unsafe, fast, and sporting a pitch black paint job that would make the Boogieman afraid to turn out the lights.
Which is why I couldn’t have been less surprised when I saw this on his Facebook:
This, is the Hennessey Venom GT
Weird… is that a Lotus Exige with enough room in the engine bay for an LS9?
Indeed it is. I’d also like to mention I really think it looks like a Porsche Carrera GT… Like, a lot:
And this, is the Carrera GT ...am I crazy?
I don’t think they’re still making that car, but here’s what Porsche has in the works for its replacement…
Revealed in Geneva this year.
Alright enough about the Germans.
The Hennessey Venom GT is an Allied affair; British body, American heart. As I alluded to in the first line, it literally is a stretched Exige with the 725 HP more-than-6-liter monster from the Corvette ZR1 stuffed in the trunk. And you probably don’t need to be reminded that an Exige weighs just over 2,000 pounds (this version is a bit porkier at 2,400 pounds, but who’s counting). And of course it’s all carbon fiber/special steel/big ass Brembo ceramic’ed-out for your driving pleasure.
You’re not impressed, are you?
Yeah, me neither. Then I guess we better order the 1,000 HP version, which exists.
Wait…
I’ve just scrolled down a bit further on Hennessey’s website…
And yes, there is also a 1,200 HP version. So go home, take out another mortgage, cash in your son’s college fund, and rob your grandma to get a deposit down on this because Hennessey is only turning out ten per year.
Since I know you people feel compelled to know these things, the price is $725,000 for the 1,200 HP model. Don’t worry, you get a free training day at the track included in the price. If you’re lucky enough to take delivery on this car, god knows you’re gonna need it.
That really is a great looking car. And the exhaust… vicious.
For the uninformed, Hennessey is not referring to the liquor brand diversifying into the automotive sector. Hennessey isn’t really an automaker either; they’re a tuner. Hence why this car is a mashup of two that already exist rather than a completely original creation.
They gained fame tuning Dodge Vipers years ago, and have since put their magic touch on all kinds of high-end machines to make them a little nastier.
Learn more about their operation on their very own website.
I look forward to giving you my impressions when Hennessey lets me take their tester out for a spin.
…right guys?
