The Venom F5-M roadster from Hennessey has a six-speed manual gearbox. The buck-wild sports car’s 6.6-liter V-8 engine still makes 1817 horsepower, but the rear wing has been replaced with a new dorsal fin. Only 12 F5-M roadsters will be constructed, and with a starting price of $2.6 million, all 12 have already been sold. Sometimes, more than 1817 horsepower is required. There are times when the incredible power of a 6.6-liter twin-turbocharged V-8 driving the rear wheels through an automated single-clutch transmission is insufficient. Even though the term “production” is used loosely here, sometimes all that is required to create the world’s most powerful manual automobile is to equip the Hennessey Venom F5-M roadster with a gated six-speed manual transmission. Aside from the transmission, not much changes below the skin. At 8200 rpm, the engine makes an amazing 1817 horsepower, and at 5500 rpm, it has the most torque, at 193 pound-feet. It shouldn’t be a surprise that the gears are staged. This way, you can avoid trouble by only using full power in fourth gear. There is a new 55-inch dorsal fin on the skin, though. It goes from the air scoop on the roof to the back decklid. A billet aluminum six-speed gate that fits tightly around a carbon-fiber gear selector is part of a reworked interior. Hennessey hasn’t said how the new arrangement changes the top speed or acceleration measurements. It’s no surprise that all 12 F5-Ms that Hennessey was going to make have already been bought. When they were first made, each one cost $2.6 million, but that price went up when carbon fiber finishes and different colors were added. Nathan Malinick, head of design at Hennessey says, “This is a car for brave drivers who want their hypercars to amaze with crazy power, stunning design, and the best driving experience possible.” We let him in.
