The Hennessey Venom GT recently made news because it was recorded as being the fastest production vehicle on the planet. It was able to achieve a top speed of 270.49mph on a runway in Florida. With a $1million price tag it also is not cheap. The Nissan GT-R, nicknamed Godzilla by journalists and enthusiasts alike, is quite a performance bargain. It boasts being one of the fastest accelerating vehicles, regardless of price, and carries some Nissan practicality. Let’s take a look at the two and compare which one is better.
READ: Hennessey Venom GT Now Fastest Car in the World (Video)
The Hennessey Venom GT is the fastest production car currently available.
The Venom GT is a powerhouse, making 1244hp and 1155lbs/ft of torque. For everyday livability, the driver can adjust the power output from the cockpit between 800, 1000, or 1244hp. Power comes from a mid-engined 7.0L V8 that is twin turbocharged. All of this power is delivered to the rear wheels through a 6-speed manual transmission. Believe it or not, the fastest production vehicle in the world still requires a clutch pedal to operate!
The Nissan GT-R is known by the nickname Godzilla.
On the other hand, the GT-R makes its 545hp and 463lbs/ft of torque from a twin turbo 3.8L V6. Godzilla’s engine is front-mounted, and power is delivered to all four wheels by a technologically advanced all-wheel drive system. This system can send power to individual wheels in the rear to help with cornering. The 6-speed in the GT-R is a quick shifting, dual clutch automatic.
The Venom GT has a stereo upgrade option by Steven Tyler. (Photo: Top Gear Magazine)
According to Hennessey, the Venom GT will go from 0-60 in 2.7 seconds. Motor Trend’s long-term GT-R made the run to 60, in their testing, in 2.8 seconds. Anything under 3 seconds is extremely quick. In everyday driving, 60mph is near or exceeding the speed limit in many areas. The 1/4 mile is where the Venom GT starts to pull away, completing it in 9.92 seconds compared to Godzilla’s 11.1 seconds.
The Venom GT is built on top of a Lotus Exige. (Photo: Top Gear Magazine)
Optional extras on the Venom GT is an upgraded interior, from uncomfortably small to slightly more comfortably small, and a stereo system designed by Steven Tyler of Aerosmith. The GT-R features a full-sized trunk, leather seats, a set of rear seats, advanced stereo system with satellite navigation, automatic climate control, and more. Being built on its own platform, and not sharing its roots with the small Lotus Exige, the GT-R is much more livable day-to-day than the Venom GT.
Godzilla’s interior is fully-appointed and spacious.
At 1/10th the price of the Venom GT, the Nissan GT-R seems like a bargain. It is one of the few cars that are members of the 3 second 0-60mph club, and can very easily go grocery shopping or take the kids to school. The Venom GT is a vehicle to be driven during a special occasion, at the racetrack, where the other performance characteristics (aside from 0-60mph) can truly shine. While it is unlikely that someone would cross-shop a Venom GT and a GT-R, it is amazing at how good the GT-R still is for the money.