Hennessey Keeps the Manual Alive With the Venom F5-M
The Hennessey Performance Venom F5 is, without questionm one of the most extreme boutique supercars on the market. Not ones to leave well enough alone, the Texas-based madmen have just unveiled the most impressive version of the limited-production model yet. Known as the Hennessey Venom F5-M Roadster, this open-top machine arrives as the most powerful production car to feature a proper manual gearbox.
The Venom F5 is the first vehicle produced entirely in-house by the team at Hennessey, representing a massive step on from the Lotus-based Venom GT of the 2010s. At the heart of the supercar sits a bespoke carbon tub, which houses a mighty twin-turbocharged 6.6-liter V-8. As you’d expect from a tuning house, the engine makes an utterly ridiculous amount of power: specifically, 1817 hp and 1193 lb-ft of torque. That sort of shove allowed the car to break the standing ½-mile record back in July, posting a 14.44-second run at 219 mph with company founder John Hennessey himself behind the wheel.
All previous Venom F5s came equipped with a seven-speed single clutch automated manual produced by CIMA. For this latest special edition, Hennessey went back to CIMA for assistance developing an entirely new six-speed manual box that could handle the engine's output. The resulting stick even features a gated shift pattern, much like many of our favorite Italian sports cars of yesteryear.
The change to a six-speed wasn’t as simple as just bolting in a new gearbox, however. Hennessey had to adjust the carbon tub itself for the new setup, to make room for the extra pedal and mechanical shift linkage. The crew also raised the entire transmission tunnel to ensure the shift lever falls right to hand — an an important drivability factor, especially in a car this powerful. You'll notice some exterior tweaks, including a 55-inch fin running along the car’s spine to improve stability at speed. (Another welcome touch, considering you’re required to remove a hand from the steering wheel to shift.)
Output is limited in the lower gears, just like with the standard car, thus ensuring the car will still be somewhat approachable in manual spec. The ratios have been specifically chosen to enhance the driving experience of the car, with different spacing than the seven-speed box. The brand hasn’t shared any information about how the manual impacts the car's objective performance figures, but that kind of misses the point of something like this. With what Hennessey calls the “Fury” V-8 behind the driver, we’re sure the car is still a monster.
Sadly, even if you happen to have the $2.65 million required to purchase one of these manual F5s, you're out of luck. Hennessey only plans to build 12 units of the special edition model, all of which have been spoken for at the time of writing. Regardless, we love to see more automakers embracing the joys of a manual shifter, even if it means you need a seven-figure bank balance.
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