Fastest in production.
For quite some time, the Bugatti Veyron and its multi-million dollar variants have ruled the roost when it comes to top speed and power in the automotive world. Now, they’ve been dethroned and are likely pretty upset over there in France because they were just unseated as the Fastest Production Car in the World thanks to the Hennessey Performance Venom GT.
On February 9th, 2013 at the United States Naval Air Station (NAS) Lemoore in Central California, Hennessey Performance set a new World Record for top speed verified by validated by two VBOX 3i GPS-based data logging systems and VBOX officials. The NAS Lemoore was chosen for its 2.9-mile long runway, allowing for extreme speeds to be achieved. Also in attendance were Captain Eric “Snake” Venoma, Commanding Officer at NAS Lemoore, and TopGear US Editor, Pat Devereaux.
The run was made by a street-legal Hennessey Performance Venom GT with Michelin Pilot Super Sport DOT-approved radial tires, four-wheel Brembo carbon ceramic brakes, and advanced aerodynamics. It’s 7.0-liter, twin-turbocharged V-8 produces 1,244 horsepower and 1,155 lb-ft. of torque with 19 PSI of boost pressure that combined with its 1,244 kg (2,743 lbs) weight achieves a power-to-weight ratio of 1 hp per kg.
The Venom GT was able to achieve a speed of 265.7 mph (427.6 km/h) that was limited by the length of the runway, making it the fastest production vehicle available to the public and besting the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport. The hyper car also set a Guinness® WORLD RECORD for 0-300 km/h acceleration with a time of 13.63 seconds, beating the Koenigsegg Agera R. The Venom GT also ran a 3.05-second 0-60 mph time, 5.88-second 0-100 mph run, hit the 1/4-mile in 10.29 seconds at 158.83 mph, and a standing 1/2-mile in 15.22 seconds at 204.65 mph. A new unofficial record was set by the Venom GT with a 0-200 mph run of 14.51 seconds.
The Bugatti Veyron Super Sport was able to record a top speed of 267.8 mph in 2010, but it was achieved with a software tune that is unavailable to the public on Volkswagen’s 5.6-mile long straightaway. The production model holds a top speed of 257.8 mph, making the Venom GT a faster car.
“While the 2.9 mile long runway is more than enough acceleration distance for a F/A-18 fighter jet, it was far too short for the Venom GT to reach its true top speed,” said Hennessey Performance CEO, Don Goldman.
Now we just need to see it on a 5.6-mile straightaway.
The Hennessey Venom GT will be limited to a production run of 29 cars, one-third of which are already being sold to customers. Pricing for the hyper car will start at $1.2 million without options, plus shipping. Each Venom GT will be custom-built to customer specifications and take six months to build.
Hennessey Performance Venom GT Top Speed Run Gallery
[Source: Hennessey Performance]
Would you rather have a Hennessey Performance Venom GT or a Bugatti Veyron Super Sport? Leave a comment and let us know!
