Currently reading: Hennessey Venom GT sets new 265.6mph top speed record

American supercar maker says it's set a new world record for the fastest production convertible after exceeding 280mph with its 1451bhp Venom GT

Hennessey Performance has claimed to have set a new world record for the fastest convertible production car, after its Venom GT reached a top speed of 265.6mph.

Hennessey’s record-setting car is an updated Venom GT that was previously announced at last year’s SEMA show. The improved 7.0-litre, twin-turbo V8 engine produces 1451bhp, which is a staggering 207bhp more than the previous version. Hennessey has also increased the boost pressure from 19psi to 26psi, helping the car hit 60mph in 2.4sec, with 100mph appearing in just 4.4sec.

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The record is said to have been broken at the Kennedy Space Center, which is home to a 2.8-mile runway designed for landing space shuttles. It’s also where Hennessey set the last production car speed record in 2014.

Bugatti holds the record for the fastest hard top, after its Veyron Super Sport reached 267.91mph in 2010. Bugatti’s new hypercar, the Chiron, will be electronically limited to 261mph.

Hennessey claims that it will only produce “a handful” of Venom GTs in 2016, as focus turns to its new production car, the Venom F5.

Last week Nissan set its own world record for the fastest drift. It used a modified GT-R to hold a 30deg drift at a speed of 189.5mph.

Cameron Tait

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russ13b 18 April 2016

silly questions, but...

has anyone driven one of these around a corner? has anyone driven one of these around a corner in an enthusiastic manner? what happened?
jason_recliner 13 April 2016

Sonny Leonard

He builds road and race engines - for example a chap here in Perth runs a 727 CI in his registered Commodore.
Leslie Brook 13 April 2016

jason_recliner wrote: He

jason_recliner wrote:

He builds road and race engines - for example a chap here in Perth runs a 727 CI in his registered Commodore.

Ah yes, but in Perth (Aussie Perth that is not the proper one in the UK) where 100kmh is considered fast, nearly everyone is drunk, driving an unregistered car without a licence and subject to the "hoon law" which basically emasculates you. Granted you're not as inbred as the Kiwis, but you are descendents of criminals and so of dubious pedigree.

jason_recliner 13 April 2016

Baby steps

Gotta hit 300 mph before you hit 500 kmh. Sonny will get you to both.
Leslie Brook 13 April 2016

jason_recliner wrote: Gotta

jason_recliner wrote:

Gotta hit 300 mph before you hit 500 kmh. Sonny will get you to both.

Sonny Leonard builds dragster engines. A road car can't afford a full strip down and rebuild after 3 or 4 quarter mile runs.