RED VENOM: A Teamspeed Exclusive first Look
Mar 29, 2011 | 11:18 AM
#52
Teamspeed Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 527
Thank you Mr. Hennessey for your insightful post. What most will understand is that much of the Lotus upon which the Venom GT is based was not changed for ease of construction and to avoid the hassle of regulatory compliance and crash testing. Since the Venom GT's built thus far apparently still carry Lotus VINs, one can surmise that this build approach also circumvents EPA testing and certification of the monster powerplant.
So do forgive me, but what we have here then, for all practical and regulatory purposes, is a Lotus Exige with the mother of all engine swaps. So a few questions spring to mind. Let's say I win the lottery, and buy a Venom GT. By necessity, it is registered as a Lotus Exige with my DMV. A year later, my "Exige" is due for its emmissions test. I take it to the tesing lane, and the technican plugs the test cable into the Exige's OBD-II port. What happens? Because in Illinois at least, the car has to pass the OBD test, regardless of what physical emissions the car is producing. In other words, is the Venom GT's engine management system integrated with the Exige chassis electronics and federally mandated On-board Diagnostic system? And will it pass such a test? If so, that is a fantastic bit of engineering. If not, then the Venom GT is unregisterable in most areas of the country.
Or have I completely misunderstood, and the Venom GT is sold on a component basis, and registered as a homebuilt car, as would be an Ariel, Rossion or Ultima?
So do forgive me, but what we have here then, for all practical and regulatory purposes, is a Lotus Exige with the mother of all engine swaps. So a few questions spring to mind. Let's say I win the lottery, and buy a Venom GT. By necessity, it is registered as a Lotus Exige with my DMV. A year later, my "Exige" is due for its emmissions test. I take it to the tesing lane, and the technican plugs the test cable into the Exige's OBD-II port. What happens? Because in Illinois at least, the car has to pass the OBD test, regardless of what physical emissions the car is producing. In other words, is the Venom GT's engine management system integrated with the Exige chassis electronics and federally mandated On-board Diagnostic system? And will it pass such a test? If so, that is a fantastic bit of engineering. If not, then the Venom GT is unregisterable in most areas of the country.
Or have I completely misunderstood, and the Venom GT is sold on a component basis, and registered as a homebuilt car, as would be an Ariel, Rossion or Ultima?
Mar 29, 2011 | 12:03 PM
#53
Teamspeed Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 93
Thank you Mr. Hennessey for your insightful post. What most will understand is that much of the Lotus upon which the Venom GT is based was not changed for ease of construction and to avoid the hassle of regulatory compliance and crash testing. Since the Venom GT's built thus far apparently still carry Lotus VINs, one can surmise that this build approach also circumvents EPA testing and certification of the monster powerplant.
So do forgive me, but what we have here then, for all practical and regulatory purposes, is a Lotus Exige with the mother of all engine swaps. So a few questions spring to mind. Let's say I win the lottery, and buy a Venom GT. By necessity, it is registered as a Lotus Exige with my DMV. A year later, my "Exige" is due for its emmissions test. I take it to the tesing lane, and the technican plugs the test cable into the Exige's OBD-II port. What happens? Because in Illinois at least, the car has to pass the OBD test, regardless of what physical emissions the car is producing. In other words, is the Venom GT's engine management system integrated with the Exige chassis electronics and federally mandated On-board Diagnostic system? And will it pass such a test? If so, that is a fantastic bit of engineering. If not, then the Venom GT is unregisterable in most areas of the country.
Or have I completely misunderstood, and the Venom GT is sold on a component basis, and registered as a homebuilt car, as would be an Ariel, Rossion or Ultima?
So do forgive me, but what we have here then, for all practical and regulatory purposes, is a Lotus Exige with the mother of all engine swaps. So a few questions spring to mind. Let's say I win the lottery, and buy a Venom GT. By necessity, it is registered as a Lotus Exige with my DMV. A year later, my "Exige" is due for its emmissions test. I take it to the tesing lane, and the technican plugs the test cable into the Exige's OBD-II port. What happens? Because in Illinois at least, the car has to pass the OBD test, regardless of what physical emissions the car is producing. In other words, is the Venom GT's engine management system integrated with the Exige chassis electronics and federally mandated On-board Diagnostic system? And will it pass such a test? If so, that is a fantastic bit of engineering. If not, then the Venom GT is unregisterable in most areas of the country.
Or have I completely misunderstood, and the Venom GT is sold on a component basis, and registered as a homebuilt car, as would be an Ariel, Rossion or Ultima?
I look forward to knowing more about this solution.
/JON
Mar 29, 2011 | 12:11 PM
#54
Banned
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 134
Thank you Mr. Hennessey for your insightful post. What most will understand is that much of the Lotus upon which the Venom GT is based was not changed for ease of construction and to avoid the hassle of regulatory compliance and crash testing. Since the Venom GT's built thus far apparently still carry Lotus VINs, one can surmise that this build approach also circumvents EPA testing and certification of the monster powerplant.
So do forgive me, but what we have here then, for all practical and regulatory purposes, is a Lotus Exige with the mother of all engine swaps. So a few questions spring to mind. Let's say I win the lottery, and buy a Venom GT. By necessity, it is registered as a Lotus Exige with my DMV. A year later, my "Exige" is due for its emmissions test. I take it to the tesing lane, and the technican plugs the test cable into the Exige's OBD-II port. What happens? Because in Illinois at least, the car has to pass the OBD test, regardless of what physical emissions the car is producing. In other words, is the Venom GT's engine management system integrated with the Exige chassis electronics and federally mandated On-board Diagnostic system? And will it pass such a test? If so, that is a fantastic bit of engineering. If not, then the Venom GT is unregisterable in most areas of the country.
Or have I completely misunderstood, and the Venom GT is sold on a component basis, and registered as a homebuilt car, as would be an Ariel, Rossion or Ultima?
So do forgive me, but what we have here then, for all practical and regulatory purposes, is a Lotus Exige with the mother of all engine swaps. So a few questions spring to mind. Let's say I win the lottery, and buy a Venom GT. By necessity, it is registered as a Lotus Exige with my DMV. A year later, my "Exige" is due for its emmissions test. I take it to the tesing lane, and the technican plugs the test cable into the Exige's OBD-II port. What happens? Because in Illinois at least, the car has to pass the OBD test, regardless of what physical emissions the car is producing. In other words, is the Venom GT's engine management system integrated with the Exige chassis electronics and federally mandated On-board Diagnostic system? And will it pass such a test? If so, that is a fantastic bit of engineering. If not, then the Venom GT is unregisterable in most areas of the country.
Or have I completely misunderstood, and the Venom GT is sold on a component basis, and registered as a homebuilt car, as would be an Ariel, Rossion or Ultima?
Looking forward to seeing and reading more of this car.
Mar 29, 2011 | 12:47 PM
#58
Teamspeed Pro
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,555
From: Boston
Also, I understand the need to move the first few units to recoup some of the R&D costs but what I don't understand is not having press/media car. It seams like a huge wasted opportunity for PR and to silence the critics. Is it a financial decision or a strategic move that I'm not understanding?
EDIT: Fantastic car by the way.
Last edited by RDuke; Mar 29, 2011 at 12:50 PM.
Mar 29, 2011 | 03:07 PM
#59
Banned
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 134
RDuke, let's let the Venom GT speak for itself. At some point this year, I will work with DJ and will coordinate an opportunity for Team Speed members to see the car. And we may offer a handful of members rides in the car. Then you can report first hand what you saw and experienced.
Mar 29, 2011 | 05:44 PM
#60
Teamspeed Pro
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 2,671
From: Florida
RDuke, let's let the Venom GT speak for itself. At some point this year, I will work with DJ and will coordinate an opportunity for Team Speed members to see the car. And we may offer a handful of members rides in the car. Then you can report first hand what you saw and experienced.
They were calculated and once we work out the bugs, we'll take the numbers on paper and make them a reality.