You're missing my point here. There hasn't been a manufacturer that has built all of its own parts in many decades. Everybody sources from the same pool of parts suppliers. And we all know that there are VW parts in Lamborghinis and Fiat parts in Ferraris.

Again, I have no disrespect for the accomplishment, or the car. I'm simply stating that the Venom GT should not be eligible for "production" car records.

I say this because the first step of a Venom GT build is to buy a previously titled Lotus Elise or Exige from the secondary market. In the U.S. this means the donor car is at minimum two model years old. When the build is completed the resultant car retains the Lotus VIN, model year and title (Hennessey could theoretically build you a 2005 Venom GT).

How this vehicle fits anyone's definition of a production car in its current form of construction is beyond me. If anyone has a compelling argument, I'm willing to listen.

Now, if Lotus were to sell new, non-VIN'ed Elise/Exige gliders directly to Hennessey, for the purpose of being built into Venom GT's (this is how the Tesla Roadster was built), then it would be an entirely different circumstance. In that case it would be Hennessey that would be responsible for ensuring the car conforms to all road-legal automotive requirements, not Lotus. The car would bear a VIN identifying Hennessey as the final assembler.

Currently, Venom GT's have VINs identifying Lotus as the final assembler. Everything that Hennessey has done since then is modification. Extreme and high quality modification, but modification nonetheless.

And modified cars are not eligible for production car records.

 

I have to agree with Matt here..The Venom GT to me is not a "production" car. There's quite a few "modified" cars out there that probably would be able to break this top speed record. RUF is another manufacturer that I would however consider to be a "production" company because they buy their "shells" from Porsche and build/design/test/produce them to be sold to the general public so therefore if they set out to break the top speed record, I'd consider that to be a valid one.

 

If one refers to the logic that mattjs33 is presenting, the congratulation for the World's Fastest Production Car should go to Lotus since the Venom GT strictly seen is a Lotus, nothing more, nothing less. Without Lotus there wouldn't be a Venom GT.

Hennessey will only be able to receive world wide recognition as a independent supercar manufacturer once they build their own car. which isn't based on some other car manufacturers platform and Worldwide homologation approval. Still I would like to congratulate Hennessey for their amazing speed record, they have potential to become a great company once they start building their own cars from scratch.

 

Well no, the record stays with Bugatti, since the Lotus has received extensive performance upgrades from its original form.

While the Venom GT is technically still a Lotus, I'm certainly willing to say that it something quite more. You could call it a hot rod if you want. But clearly it occupies an area outside of the production car realm, similar to Hennessey's other creations.

It's an impressive number, but I don't really know how you would classify it.

 

To be honest, the reason Bugatti limited the top speed on the production version of the Super Sport was: 1) due to concerns with tire wear at 268mph, 2) let the competition catch up, and 3) offer a model that is even faster in the future. Do you really think the original Veyron could have not had the more aerodynamic air vents and body panels found on the Super Sport along with the bigger turbochargers, bigger intercoolers, and other necessary enhancements to help it reach 268mph? It seems to me that Bugatti, backed Volkswagen Group, will not allow another car to have a higher top speed than their flagship. Period. So Hennessey or SSC -- or even Koenigsgeg -- can try, but as soon as a car comes close, Bugatti will pounce.

They're currently working on producing the world's fastest sedan, which, as Wolfgang Dürheimer said, will have "over 1,000hp," reach at least 235mph, and be "faster than any [sedan] on the market." The next logical step is to release a new Veyron flagship in order to reach the next plateau: 450km/h.

The Hennessey Venom GT is very impressive, but I think it's an apples to oranges comparison. In my eyes, it's similar to when somebody claims that their modified STI can do 0-60mph in the same time that a Ferrari can. Sure, that might be true, but I'm not buying a prescription for adrenaline; I want a car. I want the complete package, from interior quality to power delivery to reliability to safety, and these factors cannot be compared between Hennessey (or Underground Racing or Switzer or AMS or [insert tuner here]) and a manufacturer that has to get their cars road legal as a brand new production car worldwide. And every year it only becomes more difficult to meet these fuel, emissions, and safety regulations.

 

Numbers really extraordinary, considering that the test was conducted at the Naval Air Station track (not Ehra-Lessien track), is even more remarkable. Thanks for the reply Jonh.

 

This is all laughable.

The Venom GT is NOT a production car in the same sense as the cars it tries to compare itself against. Period. Does it pass NHTSA safety standards? NO. Has it been awarded and EPA emissions certificate? NO. So why compare it against cars that are CLEARLY production cars that follow these very strict regulations? It's absurd.

Is the Venom GT a great car in its OWN right? I would say, yes. However, for the company to go and make the claims it does against Bugatti, Koenigsegg, etc are just laughable. Imagine what Bugatti or Koenigsegg could produce if they threw all safety standards and emissions certification to the wind?

 

So much this. I doubt this was the reaction that john etc wanted, but claming world fastest prod car in a non prod car is abit dull.

As matt said.
Topspeed record holder Bugatti Veyron SS
Fastest accelerating car is the Koenigsegg Agera R

Sorry John they just beat the Venom due to the simple fact that the venom is no were near a productioncar anymore

 

I would classify it as "stop being a douche".

BTW your "For comparison, as far as I've heard, Wisconsin (very close to me) also does a physical inspection to verify all emissions equipment is present" statement is completely wrong. Wisconsin has no emissons inspection of any kind.

 

You mean matt is a douch for pointing out valid facts? its not a productioncar and thats final, no mather what anyone says its origin is Lotus and not Hennessey