Hennessey Special Vehicles has confirmed the production-spec Venom F5-M Roadster for its global public debut in the Supercar Paddock of the Goodwood Festival of Speed on July 9, 2026. With 2,031 bhp routed through a fully mechanical six-speed gated manual gearbox, the F5-M supersedes every previous production car ever built with a manual transmission.
2,031 bhp Through a Real Three-Pedal Gearbox
The F5-M’s 6.6-litre twin-turbocharged ‘Fury’ V8 delivers 2,031 bhp (2,059 PS / 1,515 kW) on E85 — the same output as the current F5 Evolution and the one-off Revolution LF — but for the first time in a series-production hypercar, that power is transferred to the rear wheels through a six-speed manual transmission with a machined aluminium gated shifter and a physical clutch pedal. Hennessey has re-mapped the ECU to match the new gear ratios and to build torque progressively across the ratios rather than dumping it in a single hit.
The gearbox is a fully mechanical unit — a real clutch, a real linkage, and a direct mechanical connection to the rear axle. Hennessey has quoted torque figures of 1,445 lb-ft (1,959 N·m) for the Evolution-spec Fury V8, all of which is transferred rearwards without the intervention of an automated shift actuator or dual-clutch cassette.
Venom F5-M vs Ferrari 12Cilindri Manuale — Mechanical Manual vs ‘Manuale by Wire’
Ferrari’s 2027 12Cilindri Manuale reintroduces the gated shifter to Maranello for the first time since the 599 GTB Fiorano in 2012, but its ‘Manuale by Wire’ system is an electronic simulation layered on top of the eight-speed dual-clutch automatic; there is no mechanical connection between the shifter and the powertrain. The Venom F5-M, by contrast, is a fully mechanical six-speed gated manual with a real clutch and a direct link to the rear wheels — a distinction Hennessey highlights explicitly in its Goodwood press material.
Ferrari itself confirms that its system uses the “first six of the transmission’s eight speeds laid out in an H-pattern” and that changing gears through the gate sends the driver’s hand movement to the DCT via an electrical connection Ferrari calls “Manuale by Wire”. The 12Cilindri Manuale delivers 819 hp from a 6.5-litre naturally aspirated V12; the Venom F5-M delivers 2,031 bhp from a 6.6-litre twin-turbo V8 through a genuine three-pedal transmission — a mechanical fact, not a software layer.
Design — 1,400 mm Dorsal Fin, Integrated Roof Scoop
The F5-M debuts a 1,400 mm dorsal fin running from a new roof-mounted air intake to the trailing edge of the rear deck. The fin channels air along the flanks, feeds the engine bay through the integrated scoop and enhances high-speed aerodynamic stability beyond 200 mph. Owners can commission hand-painted flags on either side of the fin’s trailing edge; chassis number 1 displays the Union Jack, reflecting its British first owner.
Fury V8 — The Same Engine as the F5 Evolution and Revolution LF
The Fury V8 is a bespoke 6.6-litre twin-turbocharged 90-degree pushrod V8 with a cast-iron block, aluminium cylinder heads and Inconel exhaust valves. It weighs 280 kg (617 lb) in complete form and produces its peak 2,031 bhp on E85 fuel; on 91-octane pump gas the standard tune delivers around 1,542 hp. The engine revs to 8,500 rpm in F5 mode and drives the rear axle through the new six-speed mechanical manual.
Hennessey Venom F5-M Full Specification Table
| Specification | Hennessey Venom F5-M Roadster (2026) |
|---|---|
| Engine | 6.6L (6,555 cc) twin-turbocharged 90° pushrod V8, cast-iron block, aluminium heads |
| Peak Power | 2,031 bhp (2,059 PS / 1,515 kW) on E85 |
| Peak Torque | 1,445 lb-ft (1,959 N·m) |
| Maximum RPM | 8,500 rpm (F5 mode) |
| Transmission | 6-speed mechanical gated manual (real clutch pedal, direct linkage) |
| Layout | Rear mid-engine, rear-wheel drive, 2-seat |
| Body | Roadster (open top), new carbon fibre tub and bodywork |
| Aerodynamics | Bespoke package with 55-inch (1,400 mm) dorsal fin and integrated roof scoop |
| Suspension | Adaptive, drive-mode dependent (first Venom application) |
| Production | 12 units worldwide (all allocated) |
| Base Price | from $2.65 million before taxes and customisation |
| Global Debut | Goodwood Festival of Speed — July 9, 2026 |
What John Hennessey Said
“We’ve always believed the Venom F5 delivers the most intense performance experience on the planet — but with the F5-M, we’ve gone even further. A gated six-speed manual puts the driver completely in control, while the open-top design brings the Fury V8 sound directly into the cockpit. The noise, the feel, and the power delivery are raw and unfiltered.”
— John Hennessey, Founder & CEO, Hennessey Special Vehicles
Nathan Malinick, Director of Design at Hennessey Special Vehicles, added that offering the manual gearbox “fundamentally changed the Venom F5”, promoting driver interaction and engagement to the primary focus and enabling a fully re-designed centre console around the new mechanism.
Goodwood Debut, Chassis 1, and Future Variants
Chassis number 1 — the very car pictured — is being delivered to a British owner and will attempt the Goodwood hill climb twice a day over the four-day event, with racing driver Alex Brundle at the wheel. All 12 F5-M Roadsters are spoken for at a base price of $2.65 million before taxes; standard Venom F5 Coupes remain available from approximately $2.1 million, and Hennessey has confirmed the manual configuration will subsequently be offered across the F5 Coupe, Roadster and track-focused Revolution models through the Maverick special-projects division.
To date, Hennessey has delivered more than 40 Venom F5 hypercars worldwide.
Sources & Verification
Technical figures, production numbers and pricing verified against the following primary and secondary sources: Hennessey Special Vehicles press release via GlobeNewswire (July 6, 2026), Top Gear, CarBuzz, Motor1, Auto Express, Wikipedia — Hennessey Venom F5 technical reference, and Car and Driver — Ferrari 12Cilindri Manuale technical breakdown. All performance and dimensional figures are manufacturer-quoted at time of publication.
