Hennessey Venom GT Purrs Like Brick-Filled Cement Mixer

It's a funny old hypercar the Hennessey Venom GT. Staring blankly at the pictures it's rather easy to dismiss the whole venture as a slightly tasteless perversion of the pin-sharp Lotus Exige with its lengthened chassis and Yankee V8.

But watching the car turn over is like seeing Kelly Brook undress – suddenly you're completely sold on the whole acting thing. Even at idle the forced induction 6.2-litre eight-cylinder engine sounds like impending doom; cranked up its sonic presence is enough to make you run out and buy a lottery ticket.

A EuroMillion's win would certainly be required to put a Venom GT on your drive – Hennessey only intends to make 10 a year (construction is apparently split between Silverstone and Texas) and they're all going to get a monster price tag. Still, if it's really a 21^st century Shelby Cobra – American muscle, British legs – legendary status is assured.

Click below to watch a video of the Venom GT prior to its North American debut at the SEMA show next week.

2011 Hennessey Venom GT Specifications

Engine Block Size Position Compression Redline Forced Induction Oiling System Valvetrain Fuel System	Chevrolet LS V8 Aluminum 376 CID (6.2 Liter) Mid Longitudinal 8.8:1 7,200 rpm Twin Ball Bearing Turbochargers Dry Sump OHV, 2 Valves per Cylinder Sequential Multi-Port Electronic Fuel Injection
Power Horsepower Torque Specific Output BHP / Weight Boost Fuel	1,030 bhp @ 6,500 rpm (933 rear wheel hp) 972 lb-ft @ 4,200 rpm (874 rear wheel lb-ft) 166 bhp / Liter 767.23 hp per ton (2.61 lbs / hp) 16 psi (1.1 bar) 93 octane
Transmission Type Gear Ratios Final Drive	Ricardo 6-Speed Manual 2.61:1, 1.71:1, 1.23:1, 0.94:1, 0.77:1; 0.63:1 3.36:1
Speed by Gear Redline 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th	7,200 rpm 68 mph 104 145 190 232 260 (6,600 rpm)
Performance 0 - 100 km/h 0 - 200 km/h 0 - 300 km/h	2.9 sec 7.0 sec 14.9 sec
Aerodynamics Drag Coefficient Downforce	0.36 (rear wing down); 0.43 (wing raised) 1,492 lbs @ 150 mph
Brakes Calipers Rotors	Brembo 6-piston (all 4 corners) 15.0 x 1.34 in Carbon Ceramic (all 4 corners)
Suspension Type Ride Height	KW Variant 3 Adjustable Coilover (all 4 corners) Adjustable by 2.4 inches (60 mm)
Dimensions Length Width Wheelbase Track - Front Track - Rear	15.27 ft (4,655 mm) 6.43 ft (1,960 mm) 110.24 in (2,800 mm) 63.46 in (1,612 mm) 63.15 in (1,604 mm)
Weight & Measurements Curb Weight Dry Weight F/R Balance Fuel Capacity	2,685 lbs (1,220 kilo) 2,524 lbs (1,147 kilo) 37/63 (empty); 44/56 (with driver & passenger) 18.5 gal (70 liter)
Wheels & Tires Tire - Front Tire - Rear Wheel - Front Wheel - Rear	235/30/20 Michelin PS2 335/30/20 Michelin PS2 8.5 x 20 in 12.5 x 20 in