Hennessey Venom GT claims top speed record for USA at 270 mph

[joseephuss]

http://www.foxnews.com/leisure/2014...t-claims-top-speed-record-for-usa-at-270-mph/

Hennessey Venom GT claims top speed record for USA at 270 mph


The Hennessey Performance Venom GT has claimed the title of “World’s Fastest Production Car” for the United States, but not without some controversy.

This past Valentine’s Day, racing driver/test engineer Brian Smith piloted the 1,244 hp supercar down the Kennedy Space Center’s 3.2-mile Space Shuttle landing runway to a maximum velocity of 270.49 mph, and was still accelerating when he ran out of room and had to hit the brakes.

 

[Nova]

The problem I have with this is that I can't really consider it a production car since it's really a heavily, heavily modified Lotus chassis [which is of course British] with a Viper engine if I'm not mistaken.

They have no affiliation with Lotus, and probably no real affiliation with Chrysler either.

Because they produced 29 of these doesn't mean it's a production car, in my opinion.

Still a nice achievement.

 

[Aikmaniac]

I'm guessing they are using the term "production" as loosely as possible. Meaning that anyone with the proper funds can go buy one and drive it legally on state roads.

 

[Nova]

I'm guessing they are using the term "production" as loosely as possible. Meaning that anyone with the proper funds can go buy one and drive it legally on state roads.

Right. And I get that. I'm okay with that since it is literally a 'production' car. But when I (and probably others) think production car, I think 'stock' and mostly engineered from scratch by a credible source.

 

[Aikmaniac]

Right. And I get that. I'm okay with that since it is literally a 'production' car. But when I (and probably others) think production car, I think 'stock' and mostly engineered from scratch by a credible source.

Totally agree. That's why the Veyron is so incredible.