Ford Focus RS gets a special touch from Hennessey

The Ford Focus RS is impressive as is it, with enough power and a tough character, playful, and not expensive to buy. For long I loved the RS badge on the Ford Focus. Well, now there is a more aggressive, more fun version of it, and it gets treatment from Hennessey itself.

Hennessey calls the tuning package added to the Focus RS : HPE400, so you guessed right, it will be making 400 bhp from its 2.3L turbocharged ecoboost engine and 577 Nm of torque. This boost in power is made thanks to a new engine management software, air induction systems, intercooler systems, stainless steel downpipes and exhaust upgrades, turbo system upgrades. For a bit more money, you can have parts fitted by Hennessey themselves for your Focus, with the badges.

Hennessey did not reveal much about the performance figures, but, they should be getting close or better to Mercedes Benz A45 AMG, The Audi RS3, and the BMW 2 series M package.

Bugatti Veyron replacement is coming….

Days after that the Hennessey Venom F5 was unveiled, Bugatti decided to unveil its weapon, the successor to the Veyron. The world does not know its name yet, but all we know that the duel between Bugatti and its rivals is getting hotter.

The announced new model will appear in 2016. Bugatti claims that it will have a top speed of around 460 kph, so claims Hennessey for its F5. It will go from stop to 100 kph in just 2.3 seconds. Thanks to a massive power unit : an 8.0L quad turbo W16 egine, the same as in the Veyron that generates 1500 bhp with a few bits of change. New technologies will be introduced to the it, like fuel direct injection, and electronic compressors, same as those tested by Audi in the RS5.. The car will have also a heavily revised electronically assisted powertrain. Power will be transferred to the wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox and a multi-plate-clutch four-wheel drive system.

As all Veyrons, The new car will have a carbon monocoque, a rear engine, will have 300 bhp more than the Super Sport though. The interior, it will be a luxurious cabin with the latest technologies, yet to be revealed by Bugatti. Bugatti will work also on the weight on the car, trying to go under the 1880 kg of the Veyron, thus reducing consumption (23.1L* to the 100) and CO2 emissions 539g/km*. Only 450 units will be made, to a price that is yet to be known.

* Super Sport numbers.

Hennessey Venom F5 confirmed for 2015

               The race to the world’s fastest car title is a never ending race, Bugatti, Hennessey, Koenigsegg are all contenders to the title. Now, it is detained by the Bugatti Veyron 267 MpH at Ehra-Lessien, The Venom Gt had their chance with a try, beat the record with one mile. Today, Hennessey is presenting its newest fire bullet, and obvious contender to the title.

                 Top Gear was the 1st to unveil Hennessey’s Performance newest toy to be, the Hennessey Venom F5. A name reference to the mightiest and most destructive type of Tornadoes, the F5, a storm which is estimated to have had winds in excess of 261 mph (420 km/h). Not strange to Hennessey’s aim of top speed, 290 MpH,  to destroy the old record detained by the Bugatti Veyron, 267.86 MpH at Ehra-Lessien. Although,Venom F5 older sister, the Venom GT had a try at it, beat it, by a mile, in the NASA-Kennedy Space Center, the Guinness book of records’ people were not there to see it, and the record stayed with Bugatti. Message made clear by Hennessey, we have a fast hyper car too, and we are ready to go further.

 

       The Venom F5 comes with a 7.0 L, twin turbo supercharged V8 engine, and that is claimed to deliver 1400 bhp (because let’s face it 1244 bhp wasn’t enough), giving it one of the highest power by weight rates : 1000 bhp to a tonne, while the Bugatti Super Sport has a rate of 630 bhp to a tonne. This power is reached by bigger turbos, upgraded fuel system, and a bigger intercooler. The aim of a speed of 290 MpH is no strange thing to Hennessey, having already the fastest 0 to 300 KpH record, done in 13.63 seconds, and an unregistered world’s fastest car, due to the non presence of Guinness book of record’s people, and the car had to make a come and go in the test, but Hennessey settled for just a one way test.  The car is fitted with a new single-clutch paddle-shifted transmission, which is faster than the optional manual 6 speeds gearbox. Both transmissions will transmit power to the rear wheels.

 

 

Looks: The Venom F5 won’t have the usual Lotus Exige Look, but will go for something more American, it is already clear, that is had the Chevrolet C7 headlamps. But it will keep the light Lotus Chassis.It is expected to weigh 1300 kg (2866 pounds), will have an entire carbon fiber body, which will reduce the drag coefficient from 0.44 to 0.40, but, John Hennessey guarantees it will have the required down force.
Only 30 exemplary will be made, and they are told to cost more than the Venom GT, deliveries will be made starting 2016.

On paper, Hennessey say they are working on the car to make the record, but will they find a straight line, long enough to reach 467 kph?

 

Sources :  Top Gear ;  Autonews ;  Planète-GT ;  Turbo