Hennessey Blackbird: an 850 HP Manual Hypercar Bets Against Turbos and Screens

Hennessey has traded the horsepower arms race for a more mechanical connection between driver and car. The new Blackbird gets a naturally aspirated 6.2-liter V8, rear-wheel drive and a six-speed manual with an exposed shift gate. However, the claimed 800–850 hp, a 0–60 mph time of 2.5 seconds and a top speed of 220 mph remain target figures for the future production car.

According to 32CARS.RU, the engine is being developed together with Ilmor Engineering and is expected to rev past 9,000 rpm. That’s a fundamentally different approach from the Venom F5, where a 6.6-liter twin-turbo V8 produces more than 2,000 hp. The Blackbird trails it significantly on output, but does without turbocharging or an automated transmission.

The target dry weight is under 1,361 kg (3,000 lbs). To get there, Hennessey is using a carbon-fiber monocoque and carbon body panels. At the upper limit of 850 hp, the power-to-weight ratio could exceed 624 hp per tonne, though the final weight hasn’t been confirmed by certification testing.

Instead of a large rear wing, the Blackbird gets two active vertical aerodynamic surfaces. They rise automatically at around 71 mph and are a nod to the Lockheed SR-71 reconnaissance aircraft the car is named after. Four diamond-shaped exhaust tips are inspired by the experimental Bell X-1.

The cabin is built without fixed infotainment screens. An analog tachometer sits at the center, the shifter is linked to an exposed gate mechanism, and the engine starts with a traditional turn-key. A smartphone slots into a dedicated mount and handles navigation, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Hennessey says the Blackbird is meant for more than short blasts. The cabin includes four cupholders, and the luggage compartments hold two carry-on bags. The company claims the car is engineered for daily drives of around 800 miles (1,287 km), though real-world ergonomics can only be judged once running prototypes appear.

Production will be capped at 71 units. The starting price is $2.5 million before taxes and options. More than two-thirds of the run is already spoken for. Production is set to begin in 2029, after Venom F5 output wraps up, and continue into 2030.

The Blackbird’s public debut is set for August 14, 2026, at The Quail during Monterey Car Week. With roughly three years left before production starts, power, weight, performance and equipment could still change. Buyers are effectively reserving a place in line for a project with preliminary specs, not a finished production car.