How Hennessey Is Turning Itself Into A Serious Supercar Contender

Hennessey Performance Cars may be one of the youngest manufacturers in the world, but it’s keen to leave an impression. In addition to the Lotus Elise Venom GT, the Venom F5 family is the lowest supercar that has released four models in a hurry, which caught some in the industry off guard.

Hennessey had not finished producing the 24 Revolution series before the F5 Roadster was revealed, and deliveries of the 30 units were still underway when the F5 Revolution was revealed. Curious as to whether these subsequent releases were attempts to capitalize on the opportunity to make more money after the initial 24-car run sold out, we asked Hennessey’s design director, Nathan Malinick, whether they were in response to demand or planned all along.

Malinick says it was a statement of intent that Hennessey “is here to stay,” and didn’t want everyone to think it was going to be a 24-car superstructure and disappear into the ether.

Hennessey “Serious About Being A Big Gamer”

We’ve seen many startups come and go with strong claims, cool designs, and crazy prototypes, but half of them end up being vaporware, while others delay production for years and years with excuse after excuse before going bankrupt.

“We have a strong desire to be a big player in the supercar game,” says Malinick. “That’s why we planned these different variants and launched them quickly.” He also said that more than 20 customer vehicles – of all types – have been delivered so far, and the order books are almost full.

And it’s not like the cars were slightly modified for someone else’s variant, either.

Difference Between Venom F5 Coupe and Roadster

Aside from the removable roof, the Venom F5 Coupe and Roadster may look similar, but Malinick assures us almost every body panel is different.

When asked about the challenges that arose and the transition between the design and engineering teams to create a supercar that could travel 300 mph, Malinick explains, “Almost every panel is different, but there wasn’t a lot (of back and forth between departments) .

The biggest difference between the two body styles is at the rear, where the lack of a roof in the F5 Roadster has a major impact on airflow and aerodynamic efficiency. “The biggest change was the rear deck, which is about 100mm (4 inches) higher than the coupe,” he says. “We had to do this to reduce the separation of the laminar flow over the exhaust,” a necessity when trying to keep a supercar glued to the pavement at high speeds.

Developing a Timeless Design Language, Exclusive to Hennessey

Designing a car for engineers is one thing, but making it look attractive is another. The most difficult thing for startups like Hennessey – the Venom F5 being the first basic car from the brand and its design – is creating a design language that differs from other brands.

When asked if any design element identifies Hennessey, Malinick tells us, “Ferrari has rounded taillights (as an iconic design element), but that took them 50 years. They didn’t have these distinctive marks from day one. It takes time, and it’s less about one design element and more about the theme.”

The most important thing for Malinick is to create something purposeful without compromising aesthetic pleasure. “For us, Beauty is important. They say beauty is normal, but we don’t want to get involved in that – we don’t want there to be any question about whether a car is beautiful or not.”

The wild wings and pointed bodywork may look aggressive, but are they really that good?

Hennessey Has Transformed into a Bona Fide Supercar Presence

Time will tell if Hennessey establishes itself as a design icon in the world of supercars, but one thing is certain: Hennessey, as it is now, is a far cry from the Texan convertible it was when it modified the Lotus Elise and tried it. bleed the nose of a giant like a Bugatti.

This brand has created a clear identity of what it is, what it wants to achieve, and where its priorities lie, and supports it with the right product distribution. Its eggs aren’t all in one basket, and with three brand new models promised in the next decade, there’s a clear plan for the brand’s series once the dust settles on the records it wants to break with the Venom F5.