The manual transmission is believed to be dying out. Apparently, no one had the courage to tell Hennessy.
The Texas hypercar maker has taken a 2,031-horsepower, rear-wheel-drive roadster, fitted it with a six-speed gated manual, and is set to debut it at the Goodwood Festival of Speed on July 9. Because apparently the real problem with over 2,000 horsepower was that drivers weren’t engaged enough.
The new machine, called the Venom F5-M, is officially described by Hennessey as the world’s most powerful production manual road car. Only 12 examples will be built, with prices starting at $2.65 million before taxes. Naturally, the expensive stuff is always at the bottom of the menu.
A manual gearbox mated to 2,031 horsepower
At the heart of the F5-M is Hennessey’s familiar 6.6-litre twin-turbocharged “Fury” V8, now producing 2,031 bhp. All that power goes to the rear wheels, while the traction control and engine management systems do an incredible job of keeping the entire operation roughly in the driver-chosen direction.
BMW may cover every possible powertrain base with the 2027 BMW X5, but Hennessey’s product-planning meeting seems quite short.
manual?
manual.
How much power?
Yes.
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The six-speed gearbox isn’t some last-minute nostalgia package either. Hennessey redesigned the cockpit around this, installing a billet aluminum shifter and a precision-milled metal gate designed to deliver a proper mechanical clink with every gear change. A six-speed manual may be the closest thing to a passive anti-theft system in modern America.
At Goodwood, professional racing driver Alex Brundle will drive the F5-M up the famous hill twice daily during the four-day festival. This seems sensible. At least for the first public appearance, Hennessey found someone who actually lists “racing driver” on his resume.
Texas may require professional supervision
Chevrolet is making a lot of noise about V8s coming to the 2027 Chevrolet Silverado, while on the other side of Texas, Hennessey appears to be yelling, “It’s cute.”
If the Silverado proves America’s V8 obsession is still alive, the Venom F5-M suggests it may need professional supervision.
Then there’s the bodywork. The F5-M is an open-top roadster, but Hennessey added a massive 55-inch dorsal fin running toward the rear deck. The company says this helps manage airflow at speeds in excess of 200 mph and works with an integrated roof scoop to deliver cool air toward the engine bay.
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There’s no roof, but Hennessey found room for a 55-inch dorsal fin. No one can accuse the Texans of losing focus.
The first F5-M, built for a UK customer and debuting at Goodwood, wears exposed purple carbon with gold accents. Special details include a 24-karat gold nose badge, while Hennessey’s Maverick division personalized the car inside and out. The remaining cars in the 12-unit production run have been allocated to customers around the world, led by owners in the United States.
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In a world full of cars designed to make driving easier, quieter and more automated, hennessy has made something Which asks its owner to operate the clutch while managing 2,031 horsepower through the roof.
It’s excessive, unnecessary, and probably one of the most absurd new cars of 2026.
We’re so glad it exists.
