Ford introduced the 14th generation F-150 earlier in 2020, so it was only a matter of time before a line of immensely powerful trucks emerged from the aftermarket and followed in its wake. Texas-based tuner Hennessey shot first by releasing a limited-edition pickup called Venom 800 that offers supercar-like power and acceleration.
Hennessey starts with a 2021 F-150 SuperCrew equipped with the proven 5.0-liter V8 and all-wheel drive. It then demonstrates the Coyote’s dazzling tunability by complementing it with a 3.0-liter supercharger that delivers an 8 psi boost and upgrades a long list of parts, including the intake, fuel pump and fuel injectors. Breathing out through a stainless steel exhaust system, the eight-cylinder easily makes 805 horsepower at 6,200 rpm and 727 pound-feet of torque at 4,100 rpm when fed with E85 pump fuel. It gives the Venom a 102 horsepower advantage over Ram’s Hellcat-powered 1500 TRX, and about twice the horsepower available in an unmodified F-150 with the V8.
All told, the Venom 800 takes 3.6 seconds to reach 60 mph, a figure that makes it three tenths of a second slower than the Mustang GT500 and nearly a full second faster than the 1500 TRX, although we suspect the published 4.5 seconds by Aries is seriously understated. It shoots through the quarter mile in 11.9 seconds at 116 mph.
Brembo brakes (including six-piston calipers and 15.1-inch front rotors) bring the behemoth to a halt. Suspension adjustments are also part of the package, but you’re knocking on the wrong door if you’re looking for a buttoned-up truck that takes a bend like a train. Hennessey instead increased the F-150’s off-road prowess by adding a six-inch lift kit, heavier shocks with external reservoirs, and 20-inch wheels wrapped in 35-inch tires.
LED lighting embedded in a specially designed front bumper, a model-specific grille and an assortment of emblems and decals round out the customizations. Inside, the tuner adds a numbered plaque to the dashboard.
Hennessey will build only 100 units of the Venom 100 for the 2021 model year. The super truck is on sale now, directly through Hennessey or through select Ford dealers, and costs $ 149,500. That figure includes the donor F-150 and a three-year, 36,000-mile warranty, but excludes delivery and options.
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