The new Hennessey Venom F5, maximum performance fuelled by speed

Hennessey Performance has unveiled the production version of its Venom F5 hypercar ahead of customer deliveries in 2021. The all new Venom F5 is built to deliver the world's most exhilarating all-round driving experience and unparalleled performance. With its immense power, low weight and meticulously honed dynamics, the F5 boasts extraordinary handling and a truly visceral experience behind the wheel.

Just 24 versions of the Venom F5 will be produced with each example unique to its owner. The heart of the car is the Hennessey-built 6.6-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine named 'Fury', which delivers 1,792bhp and 1,617Nm of torque.

Deploying this level of power in a car weighing just 1,360kg results in prodigious acceleration. Zero to 100km/h takes less than three seconds and it will smash a zero to 200km/h run in under five seconds. As part of its validation, the F5 is targeting a top speed in excess of 500km/h and will prove this with a transparent and independently verified top speed run in 2021.

The F5's status among the world's greatest hypercars goes far beyond its world-leading performance figures. Its design, ultra-lightweight carbon fibre monocoque, premium quality and bespoke construction all place it at the pinnacle of global hypercars. 

Key to the F5's development, is making the driver feel perfectly in-tune with the car while delivering exhilaration and rewarding handling characteristics. The F5's development will produce a car that inspires driving confidence at all speeds with the accuracy and feedback-rich responses of a race car.

The F5 was always designed to be light to ensure nimble handling at lower speeds, while enabling high top end performance. The rigidity offered by the F5's 86kg carbon tub is crucial, not only for stability at high speed, but also for precise cornering and road-holding. The monocoque has torsional rigidity of 52,000Nm per degree, providing a solid base to build from and proving essential for the car's agility.

Alongside aerodynamics, significant consideration was given from the outset to both unsprung mass and achieving a low centre of gravity. The F5 uses carbon ceramic brakes, forged aluminium wheels and lightweight Penske dampers to keep unsprung mass low.

With the engine delivering such immense power, one of the challenges for the Hennessey engineers was how best to transfer the car's power through its rear wheels to the ground. There are five different drive modes, Sport, Track, Drag, Wet, F5, that can be selected that alter the power delivery, traction and braking performance of the car. Only the top 'F5' mode will unlock the full 1,792bhp.

The F5 runs Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres, with the rear tyres having a 345mm section mounted on 20-inch wheels, while the front tyres have a 265mm section and are mounted on 19-inch wheels.

The engine in the F5 is a 90-degree push-rod cross-plane crank V8 engine that weighs 280kg. It is a bespoke engine featuring a new cast iron block and aluminium cylinder heads and aggressive camshafts. Each engine is hand-built with precision components crafted from high-grade metals including aluminium, titanium and Inconel, these include the crankshaft, pistons, valves and connecting rods.

Additional power is delivered by two ball-bearing turbochargers with 3D printed titanium compressor housings and 76mm billet aluminium compressor wheels. Set right at the rear end of the engine bay sits a stainless steel and Inconel exhaust system.

Fury lives up to its name, the engine is loud, immensely powerful and offers abundant torque - 1,617Nm at 5,500rpm. The powertrain exhibits an extremely flat torque curve, meaning that the F5 produces high levels of pulling power from very low down in the rev range.

The F5 uses a single-clutch gearbox with seven ratios to transmit the engine's power to the road. The gearbox has close ratios at the lower end for rapid acceleration, with longer higher ratios to achieve a top speed in excess of 500km/h. This means that the F5 offers an engaging drive at normal road speeds but can also hit record-breaking numbers, with seventh gear having a theoretical top speed of 534km/h.

The exterior body panels are also constructed from high-strength carbon fibre for weight saving. The lightweight doors and door sills highlight the extent of carbon fibre engineering that features on the F5. 

The carbon fibre tub also plays an important structural role, where a pair of substantial braces link the double wishbone suspension directly to the monocoque. This transfers forces to the exceptionally rigid carbon fibre shell, aiding to the car's stability, road holding and predictable handling even at high speed and under extreme cornering loads.

The exterior of the F5 is shaped by aerodynamics and inspired by the pursuit of speed. The entire car exudes determination, purpose and drama from every direction with sculpted aerodynamic ducting and sharp, powerful lines to give the car a real sense of speed and intent, even while stationary.

Behind the front splitter, the bodywork channels air under the flat floor towards the diffuser at the rear. Two large ducts at either side of the front bumper force air towards the brakes for cooling, while the front clam has a steep rake that forces air upwards and over the door mirrors for minimal drag. The F5 has a drag coefficient of 0.39Cd, ensuring high speed stability while producing sufficient downforce to make it feel 'planted'.

The F5 has 7.0-inch instrument display cluster. Inspired by the head-up display screen in a jet fighter, the screen changes with each drive mode, displaying a different colour and content layout. At all times the screen displays vehicle speed and engine revs alongside oil, coolant and engine temperatures.

Carbon fibre bucket seats are cushioned with leather-clad pads that adhere to the 'function defines form' design philosophy and contribute to a lighter seat. The F5 accommodates two people in comfort providing optimum support for cruising or faster cornering.

The interior surfaces are a balance of leather and satin-finish carbon fibre. The dashboard features leather and aluminium inserts overlaid on the exquisitely finished carbon fibre. On each door panel sits a lightweight carbon fibre door handle that 'floats' above the leather highlighting the union of optimal performance and luxury.

Seated in the cabin the driver is surrounded by a belt of gloss carbon fibre, which subtly contrasts with the satin carbon fibre and leather. Looking around the cabin the driver's eyes are naturally drawn down to the slimline carbon fibre centre console upon which sit the function buttons for the windows, hazard lights, parking brake, vehicle lift system and door locks.