We’re not quite sure where you could use that sort of speed – or even where you’d go to confirm the numbers — but the folks at Texas-based Hennessy Performance are popping the champagne to celebrate a 265.7 mile per hour run of their supercar, the Venom GT.
The numbers, officially clocked by VBOX across a two-mile stretch of tarmac at the U.S. Naval Air Station in Leemore, California, actually falls short of the 267.8 mph record previously set by a Bugatti Veyron Super Sport – but that wasn’t for a production model. Bugatti’s cars are normally speed limited at a paltry 258 mph when they roll out of the factory.
“Thus, at 265.7 mph the Venom GT is the fastest production car available to the public,” boasts company founder and president, John Hennessey.
As our friends over at Autoblog suggested, the word “production” is a matter of debate. Don’t expect to see the Venom GT start rolling off the line like mere Porsches. The vehicle used for the test run was only the seventh Hennessy built.
The good news, at least according to the Texas carmaker, is that the run at the Naval Air Station didn’t test the Venom’s limits.
“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.
Given the same 5.6-mile of track used by the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport, Hennessy estimates it would still capture the record, with an estimated 275 mph through the traps.
We’ll have to see if the maker can deliver, but there’s no question the Venom is an impressive package.
The 2,743-pound mid-engine coupe is powered by a twin-turbo 7.0-liter V-8 pumping out 1,244 horsepower and 1,115 pound-feet of torque through the rear wheels.
This is just the latest record for the Hennessy team. Barely two months ago, the Venom GT landed a Guinness World Record as the quickest production vehicle, launching from 0 to 300 kph (o to 186.4 mph)in 13.63 seconds. It has also been clocked hitting 158.83 in the standing quarter mile, which it completed in 10.29 seconds, while the car’s unofficial 0 to 200 mph time is 14.51 seconds.
Hennessy plans to build just 29 Venom GT coupes, and it claims a third of the run was already sold. For those who want to test their own limits, the remaining batch are available for $1.2 million apiece.
These cars are just for bragging rights. The media exposure that Hennessey gets from this will increase sales of his other cars. There is no practical application for this type of vehicle not even on the track.
Mr. Jorge M why are you so negative……that’s is your opinion I guess……but who the f___ cares unless you got a mil or two laying around. On a different note Im glad to see something different from America! Because in the sports car world we are more than just a mustang,camaro,challenger, corvette, lovers! This represents something different then your ole ford Chevy battles with dodge doing damage with the viper! I welcome Hennessey dammit job well done…..