Hennessey Venom 800: fancy a pickup that goes 0-60 mph in 3.4 seconds?

Is the Ford Ranger Wildtrak too tame for you? Look no further. The Hennessey Venom 800 has taken things a step further; set to supercharge your 9 to 5 and beyond.

Based on the F-150, the Hennessey Venom 800 is a supercharged monster which makes every Ford Ranger, and even the highest spec Ford Raptor — the R edition — seem pedestrian. Is it practical for the average work shift? Maybe not. But it could help get things done in record time…

Unleashing the beast

The Venom 800 has barged onto the scene as the Raptor R's more muscular, attention-grabbing cousin — boasting some aggressive styling, to say the least. 

Menacing front and rear steel ‘Venom’ bumpers bookend the giant pickup, with a prominent single-piece carbon fibre grille, and ‘LED off-road lights’ all combining to create an imposing presence. 

And if that’s not enough of an intimidation factor, Hennessey may as well as have put the Venom 800 on stilts. Thanks to a six-inch suspension lift, and some 20-inch Hennessey wheels wrapped in 35-inch off-road tyres, the American pickup really looms over its competition. 

This of course bumps up the all-terrain performance, which is carried over from the pickup’s foundations, and backs up the Hennessey’s utilitarian appearance. When it comes to off-road rubber, something like the Yokohama Geolandar A/T4 tyres we put through their paces in the Arctic circle might do the trick. Even if that was on a comparatively docile Ranger Raptor.

Putting the 'super' in super truck

Under the bonnet, the Venom 800 packs a serious punch. 

Hennessey takes the standard F-150 engine and adds a 3.0-litre supercharger, upgraded intercooler, high-performance fuel injection, high-flow air induction, and a performance exhaust system. This results in a heart-stopping 800 bhp and over 1000 Nm of torque, rocketing the truck from 0 to 60 mph in a blistering 3.4 seconds. For context, that's only 0.7 seconds slower than the ferocious new Lamborghini Temerario — impressive considering the visible aerodynamic disparity between the two.

A touch of class

John Hennessey (Founder and CEO) reckons that the Venom 800 represents “the perfect combination of performance, utility, and luxury” and this luxuriousness is perhaps most evident in the interior. Inside, the Venom 800 features premium touches like embroidered headrests, all-weather floor mats (see — there is some utility), and a serialised plaque, reminding you that you're behind the wheel of something a little bit special. There are also American flag inserts in the cabin, if that’s what you’re into.

The Hennessey Venom 800 isn’t for the faint of heart. It’s a statement piece for those chasing a unique blend of performance and presence. And if you find yourself in that category, there is a catch: only 250 units will be produced globally for 2024, and you can expect the price tag to match this exclusivity. 

For now, we reckon we’ll have to settle for the Ford Ranger Wildtrak —  as taken for a spin by DriverReviews’ Vicki Butler-Henderson — to scratch our premium pickup itch in the UK, but could you be tempted to turn things up a notch? And would you use your Venom 800 for business or pleasure?

Hero image credit: Hennessey