Mind-boggling 1336kW new car revealed: American hypercar manufacturer delivers the most powerful manual production car ever

American hypercar manufacturer Hennessey is a brand known for its purist-oriented, ultra-performance cars.

It shouldn't come as a surprise then that it has delivered the most powerful manual production car in history.

Designed to exceed 300mph (482km/h), the Venom F5 M roadster is built with the same twin-turbo 6.6-litre V8 engine – an engine the company says is fit for a jet aircraft – as the original Venom F5 Roadster.

The difference is that it adds an ‘M’ to the name, signifying a six-speed manual transmission, which transmits a mind-boggling 1336kW/1717Nm to the rear wheels.

The company’s founder and CEO, John Hennessey, said to Top Gear UK the inspiration for a manual gearbox came from the unmatched physical connection between driver and car that is lost with electronic gearboxes.

“It’s a true manual. So when your left foot pushes the clutch in, there’s a cable connected to the transmission, and it’s not being interfaced through a computer that’s trying to interpret what it thinks you’re trying to do. It’s very much as old school and analogue as it gets.

“We always felt like having a manual truly connects the driver to the car. To have access to a physical lever on top of the throttle and the brakes and so on just adds to the enjoyment. It’s something we’ve always wanted to do, and customers have been requesting it from the start,” he said.

2025 Hennessey Venom F5-M

The company hasn't issued an official 0-62mph (0-100km/h) time. The coupe version is reported to complete the benchmark sprint in 2.6 seconds and more impressive is it can hit 400km/h from a standstill in 15.5 seconds, which is as long as it takes a 2002 Nissan Micra to get to 100km/h.

Hennessey has confirmed it will stage an attempt to steal the record of its own Venom GT Spyder, which set a record for the world’s fastest convertible road car at 265.5mph (426km/h). It too sports a manual gearbox.

Hennessey likes its chances of securing another record top speed with the addition of a 55-inch fin, which is of course decorated with the US flag. Hennessey says the fin improves stability with the roof off, particularly at speeds of above 250mph (402km/h).

It’s just one of several modifications added to the manual version over the original roadster. There’s a brand-new roof scoop, which feeds more cooling air into the engine, as well as carbon fibre canards inserted onto the front splitter to create more downforce.

2025 Hennessey Venom F5-M

The monocoque carbon tub remains the same as the original Venom F5 Roadster, which sits on aluminium alloy subframes and wheels forged of the same material. The car’s mid-positioned engine can be viewed through a removable carbon fibre cover.

A redesigned interior adds an aluminium and carbon fibre gear stick, along with carbon fibre air vents and ‘jet-fighter inspired’ switches for the windows.

As with the original roadster, the interior is a smattering of carbon fibre and Alcantara upholstery, while the steering wheel looks like something out of a Formula One car.

Just 12 examples will be produced from the company’s factory in Texas, each of which will be uniquely customisable to their respective owner’s design preferences.

Each will be priced at $2.65 million ($3.98 million), but don’t dust off your cheque book, it’s already sold out.