The savage new Hennessey Venom GT has finally been unveiled to the world. Basically a lengthened Lotus Elise laced with chemical mutagen, this hand-fettled exotic slayer comes loaded with a supercharged 6.2 liter V8 Corvette engine that produces no less than 540-kilowatts worth of power. But if for some reason you think that’s not enough, Hennessey will soon be offering 745- and 894-kilowatt twin-turbo versions of the same engine. The latter, coincidentally, gives the 1071kg Venom GT a better power-to-weight ratio than the fastest Bugatti Veyron. But regardless of which V8 you finally pick, all three will send their unworldly grunt to the rear wheels via a race-spec Ricardo six-speed gearbox.

Of course being so immensely quick in a straight line, the GT’s engineers have fitted this machine with a Brembo braking system that comprises of 6-piston calipers up front and 4-piston calipers at the rear. Both clamp down on fade-resistant, 15-inch carbon ceramic rotors. Riding atop an adjustable suspension system that allows on-demand ride height adjustments to suit your current speed and driving conditions, the new Hennessey Venom GT wears a price tag of $600 000 – or R4 452 000. At the moment production is limited to just 10 vehicles per year and already the company has four on their order books.