The world of hypercars is characterized by the constant push to be better. Automakers focus all their efforts on gaining as little as one mile per hour or a hundredth of a second in the endless pursuit to be the quickest, the fastest, and the best. One of the brands that has risen to fame in the age of the hypercar is Hennessey Performance, a Texas-based automaker known for its hair-raising creations.
Hennessey’s Venom F5 is one of the most well-known hypercars produced by the company, having distinguished itself for its performance and being one of a handful of serious candidates for the elusive 300-mph crown. There have been a few different versions of the Venom F5 produced over the years. Still, now there is an even more extreme one on the scene: the Venom F5 Revolution LF, created by a new bespoke division aimed at fulfilling deep-pocketed customers’ every wish. Let’s take a closer look at this incredible work of engineering and design.
The Hennessey Venom F5 Revolution LF: An Overview
The Venom F5 Revolution LF is a one-of-a-kind car, created as a custom creation by Maverick, Hennessey’s new bespoke division. It was revealed earlier this month at The Quail, an automotive event in California. It was commissioned by American entrepreneur Louis Florey, who is also a keen automotive collector. The Revolution LF is not just about speed and performance, but also about qualities like driver engagement, individuality, and providing an analog experience with limited tech assistance.
The car is equipped with an all-new XCell_2 carbon fiber tub for improved stiffness and incorporates several elements of existing variants of the F5. It is based on the Stealth Series, which sports a distinctive exposed-carbon fiber design, and is fitted with the Evolution package (which adds more power, a new suspension, and aerodynamic improvements, among other things). The “Revolution” part of its name, meanwhile, comes from its track-spec configuration.
“When our customers have a dream, we work to make their dreams come true – exceeding customer expectations is a badge of honor. Our new ‘Maverick’ division enables our customers to take our American Hypercar to a totally new dimension. I see it as the ultimate expression of the American Dream!”
-John Hennessey, founder and CEO
The exposed carbon that characterizes Stealth Series cars can be seen throughout the length of the car and is finished in Cocoa Brown. The paint finish, on the other hand, is River Sand Metallic, a champagne-like hue. The vehicle is equipped with a variety of advanced aerodynamic features, such as a new front splitter, re-sculpted fender louvers, a taller rear wing, a new rear deck with integrated lip spoiler, and reshaped dive planes.
Power comes from a 6.6-liter twin-turbo V8 engine, the “Fury”. True to its name, the powerplant unleashes an eye-watering 2,003 hp. In this particular car, it is paired with a six-speed gated manual transmission. As a result, the Venom F5 Revolution LF is the most powerful manual car ever produced, beating the record set by another Venom, the F5-M Roadster.
“A common point of celebration for our customers is how the F5 delivers unmatched driving intensity. We built on this prominent theme with Louis Florey, identifying mechanical, sensory, and design-led ways of deepening the connection between F5 and driver.
The LF demonstrates how far we’ll go to deliver an outstanding customer experience and it’s the perfect launchpad for our new bespoke ‘Maverick’ division. It’s where engineering meets imagination, and where design fuses with passion – there can be no greater way to connect [the] driver with the most raw, powerful, and intense celebration of internal combustion, said Nathan Malinick, Director of Design
The interior of the car is just as impressive as its exterior. The design of the XCell_2 tub results in improved seating ergonomics and pedal box geometry. The footwells have been reworked to accommodate three pedals rather than two, providing the optimal driving position for performance and comfort. The pedals themselves are made of machined aluminum, decorated with laser-etched Hennessey logos.
The H-pattern gated shifter, milled from solid aluminum, is the main feature of the center console. Directly above it, we find air vents and a “key holster,” where the car’s key goes as part of the ignition process. The switches and buttons are luminescent, absorbing ambient light during the day and glowing in the dark. The level of craftsmanship employed throughout every component of the interior is extremely high, showcasing Hennessey’s attention to detail.
A Preview Of What’s To Come: The Venom F5 Revolution Evolution
Alongside the one-off Revolution LF, this month also saw the introduction of another variant of the Venom F5, a production car this time. The Venom F5 Revolution Evolution made its debut at the Monterey Car Week, ushering in a new generation for the F5. Hennessey has stated that the enhancements incorporated in the “Evolution” package will be implemented by default in all future F5 builds. At the same time, the 32 lucky customers who already own a Venom F5 will be able to opt for an upgrade and add Evolution features to their car.
The Evolution brings about increased power and torque; it produces the same output as the Revolution LF at 2,003 hp, which makes it the most powerful internal combustion production road car. Increased power is, however, not the only enhancement brought about by this new generation of the Venom F5 hypercar.
The Evolution also boasts a new mode-adaptive suspension, which improves both ride quality and handling. Its revamped interior has touring seats on board. A touring exhaust system is available as an option. Finally, the Evolution has updated aerodynamics that boost the body’s downforce. The Evolution is an exciting glimpse into what Hennessey has in store for the future of the Venom F5.
Maverick: The New Division Behind These Creations
No, we’re not talking about the character from Top Gun, although some of his daredevil character is certainly present in this division’s DNA. The Venom F5 Revolution is the first product of a brand new branch of Hennessey Performance, the Maverick division. This division focuses entirely on one-of-one custom creations, built to fulfill each customer’s vision for their dream car.
When even the most high-end car on offer is not quite high-end enough, it’s time to go bespoke: many luxury and high-performance automakers have created bespoke divisions over the decades, and Hennessey is now set to join them. The goal of the Maverick team is to celebrate individuality and the personality of each customer, which gets reflected in their car, thanks to Hennessey Performance’s bold creative spirit.
No aspect of the car is off-limits when it comes to customization: the Maverick division can curate custom mechanical elements, shades of paint, and even custom bodywork. Customers can also choose to build a car with exposed carbon elements, as is the case with the Venom F5 Revolution LF.
Pushing The Limits: A Brief History Of Hennessey
Hennessey Performance was first founded in 1991 by car modification specialist and racing driver John Hennessey. Hennessey started out modifying JDM cars and racing them himself at several high-profile tracks and venues around the US; by the time the mid-90s rolled around, he had moved away from Japanese cars and towards American models, modifying cars like the Chevrolet Corvette and the Dodge Viper. His one-person project turned into a full-blown company; one of its earliest creations, the Venom 650R, was based on the Dodge Viper GTS. Several years later, the Venom GT, based on the Lotus Exige, made its debut.
Hennessey Performance eventually moved from modifying existing models to producing its own cars, making a name for itself in the hypercar world. The Venom F5 arrived in 2017 and has continued to evolve, with the Revolution LF being just the latest chapter in its history. Hennessey has also built several other high-performance creations, such as the VelociRaptor (an SUV based on the Ford F-150 SVT Raptor) and the Hennessey CTS-V (a modified Cadillac CTS-V).
Sources: Hennessey