Overview
- Hennessey disclosed Monday that the Blackbird uses an Ilmor‑developed 6.2‑liter naturally aspirated V8 targeted at roughly 800–850 horsepower with a redline above 9,000 rpm.
- The car pairs that engine with a gated, exposed‑linkage six‑speed manual and a rear‑wheel drive layout while removing built‑in screens in favor of analog dials, physical switches, a traditional key, and a smartphone holster.
- Hennessey has set performance targets of about 0–60 mph in 2.5 seconds and a top speed near 220 mph while pursuing a light carbon‑fiber chassis to keep dry weight under about 1,360 kg.
- Production will be limited to 71 cars priced from $2.5 million before taxes, Hennessey says more than two‑thirds are already allocated, the public debut is scheduled for The Quail on August 14, and customer deliveries are planned for 2029–2030.
- The Blackbird is framed as a road‑focused alternative to the company’s past speed‑record projects with luggage space and refinement for long drives, a move that could encourage more engagement‑focused supercars and appeal to buyers who value driving feel over headline figures.