Hennessey's new Blackbird hypercar is designed to be the driver-focused option amongst Hennessey's wild array of vehicles. The Blackbird puts numbers in the rearview, instead prioritizing driver involvement. To that end, it has a naturally aspirated 6.2-liter V-8, a gated six-speed manual, and rear-wheel drive. The engine is being developed with Ilmor Engineering, and Hennessey says it's targeting 800-850 horsepower from this 6.2-liter.
The Blackbird will make use of a new, bespoke carbon tub, and carbon fiber bodywork galore also contributes to the low weight. Inboard suspension architecture is paired with adaptive dampers, and Michelin Pilot Sport Cup2 tires will wrap one of two wheel options Hennessey will offer. You'll have both traction control and ABS, but that's it as far as control systems go.
View Price on AmazonAs you probably already guessed, the Blackbird name is derived from the SR-71 Blackbird. The car's design also pulls inspiration from the aircraft. Hennessey says the active vertical stabilizers you see deploy at 71 mph and sit at +/- 71 degrees. Another aircraft-derived feature is the quad exhaust exit design, which Hennessey says is meant to mimic the Bell X-1's exhaust ports.
Hennessey emphasized the Blackbird's interior as one of the most important parts of the experience. As you can see from the photos, there are no screens at all inside. That was intentionally done to offer a back-to-basics, driving-focused environment that Hennessey hopes will be timeless in design. Some of the highlights are the exposed linkage for the gated shifter, large central tachometer, and focus on visibility.
Long-haul driving was a priority for Hennessey with the Blackbird, as it says great effort was put into NVH and comfort for road trips. The car even has space for two small carry-ons in the front trunk, in addition to rear luggage pods. If you want one of these Blackbirds, there will be a fairly lengthy wait. Hennessey says it's targeting production from 2029-2030. The price is $2.5 million before options, and only 71 will be built.
Source: roadandtrack.com
