The Hennessey Venom F5’s 7.6-liter, twin-turbo, V-8 is so powerful that John Hennessey himself claims that it’s capable of producing over 2,000 horsepower. The owner and proud father of the Venom F5 spoke with Top Gear about the company’s plans for its new hypercar. In addition to talking about the Venom F5’s monstrous power figures, Hennessey also confirmed the company’s plans to start testing the hypercar in 2019 with an eye at making a top speed run in the latter part of next year.

If Hennessey has its way, the current landscape of the hypercar industry will be very different this time next year. The Texas-based automaker isn’t shy about what it thinks of the Venom F5, and there’s a good reason for that. Koenigsegg set the bar high with the Agera RS’s 277-mph world record run last year, a number that Hennessey believes the Venom F5 is capable of eclipsing.

There’s substance to his words, too, at least if you believe in what he says the Venom F5 is capable of with its new 7.6-liter twin-turbo V-8 engine. “We’ve actually tested the engine at over 2,000bhp,” Hennessey told Top Gear. “Do we plan to deliver that power level to our clients? No, but we’ll deliver as much power as we need to break 300 mph.”

It’s hard to imagine a production car packing more than 2,000 horsepower, but if there’s one car in the world where that world is possible, it’s the Hennessey Venom F5. Current estimates have the car producing in excess of 1,600 horsepower, and according to Hennessey, that power output still leaves some on the table. “300 mph is the kind of baseline – that’s where we would like to begin,” he said, presumably with a straight face.

Whether Hennessey is really capable of that is another thing entirely. At speeds like 300 mph, having a car with at least 1,600 horsepower becomes just part of the equation. Other factors have to play their roles, too, including tires that can withstand runs at that speed, a venue that can accommodate the run, and ideal weather conditions that can create the perfect environment for the run.

Through it all, Hennessey’s confidence is unwavering. He thinks he has the stallion that can kick the Agera RS from its perch as the fastest production car in the world.

Read between the lines, and you’ll see what he’s getting at. The Hennessey Venom F5 is capable of so much more than what we’re probably getting. Think 2,000 horsepower is madness? Perhaps that’s actually just the tip of the proverbial iceberg.

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Hennessey Venom F5
Hennessey

Read our full review on the 2019 Hennessey Venom F5.

Read our full review on the 2016 Hennessey Venom GT.