It may come as no surprise, but the record for the most powerful production car with a manual transmission has just been broken by a multi-million dollar convertible hypercar.
The twin-turbo V8 engine fitted to the Venom F5-M roadster, built by American tuner Hennessy, produces 1,336 kW of power, which is sent to the rear wheels via a six-speed automatic transmission.
Only 12 examples of the Venom F5-M Roadster will be produced, each with a unique colour scheme, starting at US$2.65 million (AU$3.98 million).
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Based on the semi-automatic Venom F5 Coupe, Roadster and Revolution models, the F5-M Roadster is powered by a mid-mounted 6.6-liter twin-turbocharged V8 engine producing 1,617 Nm of torque and a maximum speed of 8,200 rpm, which increases to 8,500 rpm in “F5 mode.”
The body is made from carbon fiber, features double wishbone suspension front and rear, and Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires at each corner to help keep the car on the road.
Hennessey claims the open cockpit and physical connection of the drivetrain “provide an unrivaled driving experience free of electronic interference.”
The interior of the Venom F5-M Roadster has been redesigned to make the new variant even more exclusive.
The gearshift lever with lock is located at the top of the central tunnel and is raised for “perfect shifting”.
Steering is controlled via an F1-style steering wheel, which houses most of the car's physical control buttons.
Hennessy hasn't released performance figures yet, but it has confirmed that the F5-M Roadster is faster than the Venom GT Spyder, the current convertible speed record holder, which hit 260 mph (427 km/h) in 2016.
The F5-M Roadster can be distinguished from its siblings by the 1.4-metre-long fin that runs along the rear of the car, starting from the roof air intake.
“We always wanted to build a Venom F5 with a manual transmission – and it's what our customers asked for. It's old school, it's cool, and it provides the ultimate driving experience,” said Hennessy founder and CEO John Hennessy.
“We believe the Venom F5-M Roadster will be the most intense, thrilling and extreme driving experience on the planet, and a dozen lucky people will be able to join us for the ride!”
To date, Hennessy has delivered 24 F5 vehicles, all of which were produced at the automaker's headquarters in Texas.
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