Hennessey Venom GT hits the roads near Silverstone [Video]

“Powered by the USA, built in the UK” – is a great phrase used on Hennessey’s promotional materials and now here’s the video to prove it. Filmed on the public roads around Silverstone Circuit, this is the first time we’ve been able to see and hear Hennessey’s 1000 bhp Lotus Elise.

Based upon the Lotus Elise, the Venom GT combines a high-tech, lightweight British chassis with a powerful American V8 – The Venom GT’s base power plant is the supercharged 6.2 liter LS9 V8 (the same as in the Corvette ZR1) tweaked by Hennessey to 725 bhp. The company will also be offering 1000 bhp and 1200 bhp twin turbo V8 engine variants. The mid-engine V8 will transmit its power to the rear tires via a Ricardo 6-speed gearbox.

The Venom GT is light on its feet too, weighing in at a kerb weight of less than 1,071 kg (2,400 lbs) aided by its lightweight carbon fiber bodywork and carbon fiber wheels. Stopping power is delivered via Brembo brakes with 6-piston calipers up front and 4-piston calipers in rear clamping down on 15-inch carbon ceramic rotors.

Hennessey will be building the power plants at its Texas facility. The engines will then be air freighted to the company’s assembly facility near Silverstone, England where the Venom GT is built and tested. Venom GT buyers will then be offered a 1-day driver orientation and instruction program by a Hennessey factory test driver, at a track in the UK or USA prior to delivery.

Production is limited to just 10 vehicles per year with over half that allocation already reserved, but we suspect a few more customers will be placing a call to Hennessey’s Sealy, Texas HQ after seeing this video. Their phone number is 979.885.1300 by the way, or you can reach their sales team at sales@hennesseyperformance.com.