Hennessey Special Vehicles has taken the wraps off the Venom F5-M, a limited-production hypercar that revives one of the oldest forms of driver engagement in an era dominated by paddle shifters and automation. Revealed ahead of its public debut at the 2026 Goodwood Festival of Speed, the Venom F5-M combines a traditional six-speed manual gearbox with over 2,000 BHP, making it the world’s most powerful manual production car.
Only 12 examples of the Venom F5-M will be built, each designed for customers who value involvement behind the wheel just as much as outright performance. According to Hennessey founder and CEO John Hennessey, the project was inspired by enthusiasts who wanted a more immersive driving experience without compromising on the extraordinary performance the Venom F5 is known for.
Power comes from Hennessey’s familiar 6.6-litre twin-turbocharged ‘Fury’ V8, now upgraded to Evolution specification. Running on E85 fuel, the engine develops 2,003 BHP and 199.8 kgm, making the Venom F5-M one of the most potent road cars ever created. Despite the addition of a manual transmission, Hennessey says the car retains the staggering performance expected from the Venom F5 family.
The headline feature, however, is the gearbox. Instead of relying on the seven-speed automated transmission found in the standard Venom F5, the new model features a six-speed manual with an exposed aluminium gated shifter. The open gate has become increasingly rare in modern performance cars, and Hennessey says it was chosen to make every gear change feel mechanical, deliberate and rewarding.
The cabin has been redesigned around this new transmission. The polished metal shift gate sits proudly at the centre of the interior, becoming the focal point of the driving experience. Rather than chasing ever-faster shift times, the Venom F5-M encourages the driver to play an active role in extracting the car’s immense performance.
Beyond the new transmission, the Venom F5-M also receives several visual and aerodynamic revisions. The most striking addition is a large dorsal fin running from the roof towards the rear deck, inspired by endurance racing prototypes. Hennessey says the feature improves high-speed stability while giving the car an unmistakable silhouette. New aerodynamic enhancements have also been developed specifically for the manual variant, ensuring it remains composed at extreme speeds.
The Venom F5-M continues to use Hennessey’s lightweight carbon fibre monocoque chassis, helping keep weight to a minimum despite the introduction of the manual gearbox. Suspension and chassis settings have also been recalibrated to suit the more involved driving experience, allowing the driver to better exploit the immense performance available from the twin-turbocharged V8.
Production will be limited to just 12 units worldwide, making the Venom F5-M one of the rarest cars ever to wear the Hennessey badge. Every example will feature bespoke finishes and customer-specific details, reflecting the company’s focus on exclusivity alongside performance.
The Venom F5-M will make its public debut at the 2026 Goodwood Festival of Speed, where it will take on the famous hill climb in front of thousands of enthusiasts. The event provides an ideal backdrop for a car that deliberately celebrates analogue driving in a world increasingly dominated by electronics.
For Hennessey, the Venom F5-M is more than simply another derivative of its flagship hypercar. It is a statement that driver engagement still has a place, even at the very highest levels of performance. While most manufacturers continue to pursue faster automated transmissions, Hennessey has chosen a different path, combining one of the world’s most powerful combustion engines with a traditional manual gearbox. The result is a hypercar that promises not only breathtaking numbers, but also a level of interaction that has become increasingly difficult to find in the modern automotive world.
