First Hennessey Venom F5-M Roadster for a customer presented at Goodwood
Almost two years after the announcement, Hennessey has officially presented the first customer-commissioned Venom F5-M Roadster. The premiere coincides with the Goodwood Festival of Speed, taking place this weekend. The buyer is a British collector. During the four-day event, the car will be on display and will also participate in eight hill climb runs.
Technical specifications and unique transmission
The Venom F5-M is equipped with a boosted version of the 6.6-liter twin-turbo V8 “Fury” engine. It produces 2,031 horsepower at 8,000 rpm and 1,445 lb-ft (1,959 Nm) of torque at 5,200 rpm. Even more impressive than the power is the fact that all 12 examples of the Venom F5-M to be produced are fitted with a six-speed manual gearbox with an open gate shifter mechanism. Torque is sent to the rear wheels.
Hennessey states that the traction control and engine management systems have been calibrated for more precise and linear power delivery on every gear.
Exclusive design and materials
The owner of this car clearly wanted to make a statement with his order. Almost the entire car is covered in violet-tinted carbon fiber, except for the center section of the hood, roof, and engine cover, which feature a traditional carbon fiber finish. Several silver stripes run along the entire length of the American hypercar. Stunning gold alloy wheels perfectly contrast with the violet carbon, making this Venom as exotic as a Koenigsegg or Pagani.
A 55-inch (1,400 mm) dorsal fin extends from the roof air intake to the rear deck, improving aerodynamics at speeds over 200 mph (320 km/h). Hand-painted American and British flags in gold are applied to the fin, honoring the company’s heritage and the owner’s nationality.
Custom interior and exterior details
A number of other bespoke touches can be found throughout the car. For example, the transmission tunnel is finished in a combination of violet and standard carbon fiber, with anodized gold accents on the gearshift lever and ventilation vents. The seats are also made from violet carbon fiber with white leather upholstery and side support.
The owner also commissioned a 24-karat gold badge on the nose from the Hennessey Maverick division and the family name “Sheikh” on the rear of the car, with corresponding embroidery on the driver and passenger knee pads.
Price and future plans
Prices for the Venom F5-M start at $2.65 million, although considering all the bespoke modifications, including the violet carbon fiber, this example likely cost over $3 million. Over the weekend at Goodwood, the car will be piloted by racing driver Alex Brundle. The powerful American V8 is expected to attract the attention of executives from even the leading European automakers.
Hennessey also confirmed that the manual gearbox and updated chassis architecture will later be available for other F5 variants, including the Coupe, Roadster, and track-focused Revolution version. The company reports that it has delivered over 40 Venom F5 hypercars to customers worldwide to date.
Technical Specifications
This release underscores Hennessey’s strategy of creating not just extremely powerful, but also exceptionally exclusive and personalized hypercars. The combination of a manual gearbox with over 2,000 horsepower is a unique offering in a market where most competitors rely on automated transmissions. The interest of a British collector and the public debut at Goodwood demonstrate that the American manufacturer is successfully competing in the highest echelon of automotive engineering, offering a product that combines insane power with tactile driving pleasure. Expanding the availability of the manual gearbox to other F5 versions could be a powerful marketing move, attracting enthusiasts who value a “pure” connection with the car.