Is there any car that Jay Leno has not driven? Probably not considering he just recently strapped himself in John Hennessey’s now street-legal Venom GT.

If you are not at all familiar with the Hennessey Venom GT, then maybe you should check out some of our previous coverage on this virtual Bugatti Veyron killer on the link here. Before you do that, check out what Jay Leno has to say about the Venom GT when he takes it out for a spin along side of John Hennessey himself.

Straight from the mouth of John Hennessey we get a full rundown on the new Hennessey Venom GT, one of the fastest road cars around, in the exclusive fGear.tv video below.

The Venom GT probably takes those of you old enough to remember, back to a time that Carroll Shelby came up with a crazy idea. That idea was a simple formula of taking a light weight performance car chassis and replacing its powerplant with the hand of God. That true enthusiast passion lives on today in people like John Hennessey, the creator of the Venom GT.

From the video John makes it clear that the Venom GT is much more than just a Lotus with a big engine, it is basically what true automotive enthusiasts consider to be a modern marvel. Hit up the video below to get a full run-down on the new Venom GT created by Hennessey Performance.

Short list of Venom GT specifications

• 0 – 60 mph: 2.5 sec.
• 1/4 Mile: 9.9 sec. @ 162 mph
• 0 – 200 mph: 15.9 sec. (Bugatti Veyron = 24.2 sec.)
• Top Speed: 275 mph
• Horsepower: 1,200 bhp @ 6,500 rpm
• Torque: 1,155 lb-ft @ 4,200 rpm
• Specific Output: 166 bhp / Liter
• Bhp / Weight: 767.23 hp per ton or 2.61 lbs / hp
• Boost: 16 psi (1.1 bar)
• Fuel: 93 octane

It is no doubt that John Hennessey and his team get some amazing horsepower figures from some of their intricate tuning of the finest automotive machines directly out of the production factory. Jay Leno invites John down to his garage for another visit only this time he brings 602 horsepower packed under the hood of a new Chevrolet Camaro Convertible. Check out the drop-top fun that Jay has with this beast below!

[source: Jay Leno's Garage]

John Hennessey and his team have brought a dream to reality in the form of a lightweight, mid-engine, V8-powered serpent named ‘Venom GT’. Just recently they took the 2011 Hennessey Venom GT to the studio to properly introduce the latest iteration of a no-compromise 1,200 horsepower supercar.

2011 Hennessey Venom GT Press Release

The Venom GT simply expresses the supercar that John Hennessey has always dreamed of building for himself.  He wanted a nimble, lightweight, mid-engine chassis with a powerful American V-8 engine.  Maximum power-to-weight ratio is critical for a performance vehicle, and it is the cornerstone to this car.

His dedicated staff of former Bonneville, Formula One and Le Mans race engineers have teamed to design the Venom GT— incorporating many of the best technologies and advanced materials available today. The goal? The best overall performing and best looking road-legal supercar that they could build.

John thanks you for this opportunity to introduce you to the all-new Hennessey Venom GT.

Powering the Venom GT is a 6.2L supercharged LS9 V-8 engine producing 725 bhp at 7,200 rpm.  An available twin-turbocharged V-8 (shown) offers the ultimate power trip delivering up to 1,200 bhp.

Weight is kept to a minimum thanks to the extensive use of aluminum for the construction of items such as the engine block, cylinder heads and intercoolers.  Airflow ducting is a mix of lightweight carbon fiber and aluminum components. Exhaust gasses flow thru a lightweight Titanium exhaust system.  Twin ballbearing turbochargers provide instant throttle response with a never ending mountain of power.

Inside, the Venom GT merges high-tech materials with supple luxury. Machined metal meets carbon fiber—all surrounded by sumptuous leather—to produce an unforgettable cockpit.

Hold on tight to the sport steering wheel as the available 1,000 bhp twin-turbo powerplant will generate an estimated 0-to-60 mph time of 2.7 seconds.  Should you choose the available 1,200 bhp twin-turbocharged engine, you will have the esteemed privilege to use the entire range of the speedometer.

Combined with a super-light curb weight of under 2,685 lbs (1,220 kilos), the Venom GT offers an unmatched power-to-weight ratio.

The Venom GT incorporates an active aerodynamic system that allows for real-time down force adjustments based on actual driving conditions. “The Venom GT is a purpose built thrill ride designed to dominate the competition” says John Hennessey. “This car is for a very select client who demands ultimate performance, but with absolute exclusivity.”

F1 meets road car. To maximize the power-to-weight ratio, the Venom GT utilizes some of the most hightech racing components available today. This includes the use of carbon fiber body panels and hybrid wheels constructed of both carbon fiber and forged-aluminum. Massive Brembo 6-piston alloy brake calipers combine with lightweight carbon-ceramic rotors to give the Venom GT world-class stopping power while simultaneously minimizing curb weight and rotational mass.

The Venom GT has an active suspension system that adjusts ride height according to varying conditions. The system allows a range of adjustment up to 2.4 inches (6 cm), enabling the driver to raise the Venom GT in order to navigate items such as a driveway or a parking garage.

All components aboard the Venom GT are built for purpose, not flash. Lightweight carbon fiber surrounds an alloy shifter that actuates a Ricardo 6-speed manual gearbox. An AP Racing multi-disc clutch transfers the engine’s copious power while remaining easy to modulate.

With lateral acceleration well exceeding 1 g-Force, body support for occupants comes in the form of race-spec, deep-side bucket seats that are constructed of carbon fiber and covered in fine leather.

[sources: LuxuryAutoDirect via Hennessey Performance]

Image: HPE, LLC

That sounds like a simple enough question to answer, right? Especially when you factor in that the station wagon has a slushbox, and is going head to head against the AWD supercar commonly known as “Godzilla”. Let me throw out a warning here: things arem’t always as simple as they first appear, and in this case the station wagon in question is a Cadillac CTS-V, equipped with a Hennessey V650 upgrade. That means it makes 650 horsepower at the crank, instead of the stock 556 horsepower. It’s also wearing drag radials, since it sends power to the rear wheels only. Still think this is an easy kill for the guy in the GT-R? Watch the video to see what happens.

As races go, it doesn’t get much closer than that. Both cars were dead equal to 60 miles per hour (3.5 seconds), but the Caddy tripped the wire in 11.7 seconds at 122 miles per hour. Godzilla managed 11.8 seconds, and a trap speed of 120 miles per hour. As Autoblog points out, the test may have ended differently if Hennessey had run against a 2012 GT-R, which puts out an additional 45 horsepower and is quicker both to 60 miles per hour and in the quarter mile. I say that misses the point entirely, since it’s easy to throw numbers down on paper. Whether you like station wagons or hate them, you’ve got to be impressed with a wagon that goes as fast in a straight line as a Nissan GT-R.

Source: You Tube, via Autoblog

Just for sh*ts and giggles, why not race the new Cadillac CTS-V Wagon against a Porsche 911 Turbo (997)? It was bound to happen. The guy in his new family station-wagon would not only want to stage against a Porsche 911 Turbo, but he would like to annihilate it also. That is where John Hennessey and his team come into play. They take the new Cadillac CTS-V Wagon and turn it into an even angrier beast with a big-ass to put the smack-down on a Porsche 911 Turbo. Will it do the job? Let’s just say this baby not only has a nice plump ass, but she has the long legs to match.

John Hennessey and his crew never stop tuning the latest offerings from General Motors and this time they choose to reveal the Hennessey HPE700 Camaro Convertible sporting 755 horsepower. Just like the previous HPE700 Camaro coupe, the new convertible features a ‘CarbonAero’ body kit, 20-inch wheels wrapped in Pirelli P-Zero tires and the Corvette ZR1’s LS9 engine under the hood.

To push the HPE700 Camaro over the normal ZR1 power numbers, Hennessey upgraded it with a cold-air induction system, upgraded pulleys, and high-flow fuel injectors. Usually this kind of stuff does the trick for such a beast-of-a-motor. Not to mention, the other upgrades include adjustable coil-over suspension, upgraded sway bars and a Brembo braking system with 15-inch rotors.

The output of the HPE700 Camaro Convertible V8 enigine is 755hp and 763 foot-pounds of torque. The HPE700 Camaro Coupe already could acceleration from 0 to 60mph in 3.3 seconds and run the quarter mile in 10.9 seconds at 130mph.  Hopefully the convertible version will be close to those figures.

755HP 2011 HPE700 LS9 Camaro Press Release

The 755HP 2011 HPE700 LS9 Camaro

Limited Edition: Only 24 to be Built for 2011 Model Year
Now Available in Hardtop and Convertible

Power:
755 bhp @ 6,400 rpm
763 lb-ft Torque @ 3,200 rpm

Performance (Hardtop):
• 0 – 60 mph: 3.3 sec*
• 1/4 mile: 10.9 @ 130 mph*
• Skidpad: 1.01 g
• 60 – 0 mph braking: 104 ft.
* with optional Nitto Drag Radial tires

Camaro HPE700 Package Includes:
• Base 2011 Camaro SS with 6-speed Manual Transmission (convertible or hardtop)
• LS9 6.2L Supercharged Engine with Intercooler
• HPE Cold Air Induction
• Supercharger Pulley Upgrade
• High-Flow Fuel Injectors
• Fuel System Upgrade
• Intercooler System Upgrade
• CarbonAero^TM Bodywork: Front Splitter, Rear Bumper Diffuser & Side Rocker Panels
• Long Tube Stainless Steel Headers
• HPE Extreme Duty Clutch & Flywheel Upgrade
• HPE Race Shift Knob and Short Throw Shifter Upgrade
• HPE Light Weight Alloy Wheels
• 20 x 11 inch (rear); 20 x 9.5 inch (front)
• Pirelli P-Zero Tires, 275/35-YR20 (front); 305/35-YR20 (rear)
• Brembo Front Brake Upgrade: 6-Piston Calipers with Light Weight 15 inch Cross-Drilled Rotors
• Brembo Rear Brake Upgrade: 4-Piston Calipers with 15 inch Light Weight Rotors
• KW / HPE Variant 3 Adjustable Coil-Over Suspension Upgrade
• KW / HPE Front & Rear Sway Bar Upgrades
• Painted Hockey Stick Side Stripe with LS9 logo
• Hennessey Embroidered Head Rests & Floor Mats
• Limited Edition HPE700 Dash Plaque & Hood Plaque
• HPE700 & Hennessey Logos Painted on Rear Deck Lid
• Hennessey Letter of Authenticity
• HPE700 buyers will also receive a 1-day performance driving course at Lonestar Motorsports Park – a 1/4 mile dragstrip facility located adjacent to Hennessey’s 30,000 square foot production facility
and showroom.

[source: Hennessey]

John Hennessey and his crew are known for taking already fast cars and making them scary faster. One of the latest creations is the Hennessey V700 Cadillac CTS-V. With over 700hp on tap this monster has been shaped into an angry monster. Inside Line had the chance to put it through the paces with 0-60 times reaching 3.8 seconds and the quarter mile in 11.5 seconds. The 20-inch forged wheels do look good but they didn’t do anything to improve the handling over stock form.

Check out the video below and view the full review at Inside Line

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