The Hennessey Blackbird Is a $2.5 Million Supercar With a Stick

Supercars have gotten too good for their own good. They are faster than ever — with 1,000-horsepower motors and 250 mph top speeds almost common these days— but often joyless to drive.Everything is controlled by computers and so refined that they can seem more like amusement park rides than something that requires effort and skill to tame. Cruising around at city and highway speeds can be absolutely numbing. When I’m in one, I sometimes find myself using the paddles on the steering wheel to shift through the gears and rev the engine unnecessarily in traffic just to feel something.The arms race among automakers seeking ultimate performance has made things worse each year, but things may have finally reached a tipping point. Much as high-end watch enthusiasts prefer mechanical timepieces to cold, but more accurate digital devices, a growing number of exotic car buyers are pushing back on technology. Their voices are being heard.Ferrari has revealed a simulated manual interface for the automatic transmission in one of its models which incorporates a digital clutch pedal and a gear shift lever to enhance the engagement between driver and machine, but several of its competitors are doing it the old-fashioned way.The Gordon Murray Automotive T.33 trades maximum performance for driver engagement. Gordon Murray AutomotiveBritain’s Gordon Murray Automotive sells several models that only come with stick shifts and naturally aspirated V12 engines that sing through their exhaust pipes without any turbochargers muffling their voices. It has sold hundreds to date at prices ranging from $1.8 million to more than $3 million. Now it’s America’s turn. Specifically Texas.Houston-based Hennessey made its name modifying American muscle cars, trucks and SUVs with absurdly powerful engines, but also builds its own two-seat supercars from scratch. The latest is called the Blackbird. It was inspired by the iconic SR-71 supersonic spy plane and borrows the jet’s signature inward-canted tail stabilizers for its design. Its sleek but curvaceous carbon fiber bodywork is highlighted with side pods and winglets like those seen on Formula 1 and Le Mans race cars.However, while the Hennessey Venom F5 that came before it is available with a seven-speed automatic transmission, a 2,031-horsepower twin-turbocharged V8 and a projected top speed in excess of 300 mph, the Blackbird’s specifications seem mild by comparison.It has a six-speed manual and a new 6.2-liter V8 that drops the turbos and settles for a mere 850 horsepower. The top speed is a relatively pedestrian 220 mph. But this is all with intent.The Hennessey Venom F5 Evolution is an extreme supercar with a 2,031-horsepower engine and projected top speed in excess of 300 mph. Hennessey“From the beginning, Blackbird was guided by a simple idea: to deliver an analog experience where beauty and drama define every moment,” Hennessey founder John Hennessey explained. “This is not a numbers car. We set out to create an unparalleled emotional experience, from the first time you see it to the moment you take the wheel and feel the connection between driver and machine.”The Blackbird’s cabin uses analog gauges and controls to create a timeless design. HennesseyThe interior is entered through gullwing doors, but as retro as the powertrain. It has buttons, knobs and analog gauges. The only touchscreen is on the phone you bring with you. The linkage below the shift lever is exposed like the movement in a transparent caseback tourbillon for your visual and auditory pleasure.The Blackbird remains very much a car that you can take to the track, but is meant to be more of a grand tourer used for transcontinental trips. It has an adaptive suspension that reads the road for imperfections, space for two carry-on bags and four cupholders for its two passengers.The Blackbird’s styling was inspired by the SR-17 spy plane. HennesseyIf you do a lot of that type of travel, you might want to comparison shop some private jets, because the Blackbird has a starting price of $2.5 million before any bespoke requests, which are common for this class of car. Hennessey will build only 71 as a tribute to the Blackbird, and two-thirds have already been reserved.Unfortunately, the vehicle is still in development, and the production run is slated for 2029 to 2030, but that does give prospective customers plenty of time to save up.

The Hennessey Blackbird Is a $2.5 Million Supercar With a Stick

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