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The tasteful third album: Hennessey Blackbird launched

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The tasteful third album: Hennessey Blackbird launched

By Luke Wilkinson


Published: Today 14:00

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► Meet the 220mph Hennessey Blackbird
► Great name, huge performance, manual gearbox
► Just 71 will be built, each costing $2.5 million

Hennessey has unveiled a new hypercar. It’s called the Blackbird – and it draws heavy styling inspiration from the Mach 3 stealth aircraft of the same name. Despite its fast badge, though, it marks a significant change of direction for the brand.

The Blackbird is powered by a naturally aspirated 6.2-litre V8 that’ll produce somewhere between 800 and 850bhp. That’s roughly half what you get from the Venom F5, which develops an obscene 1,792bhp and has a V-max that flirts dangerously close to 300mph.

But the Blackbird is altogether more sensible. Hennessey says it’ll have a 0–60mph time of 2.5 seconds and a top speed of 220mph, which are both pretty pedestrian figures given the company’s past achievements.

Hennessey Blackbird (2026): front three quarter static, high angle, silver blue paint

However, Hennessey says the Blackbird ‘measures performance differently’ to its other cars, focusing on the quality of the connection between the driver and the machine rather than chasing outright speed records.

It’s built around a new carbon fibre tub that’ll help keep its kerb weight down to just 1360kg – and it’ll get fancy adaptive dampers that can balance comfort and handling. What’s more, you get some useful storage cubbies in the cabin and enough space for a pair of carry-on cases. The idea was to create a car that owners would be encouraged to use every day.

That focus on usability extends to the cabin. The Blackbird does away with all the things that make modern cars annoying to live with. Just look at the images of its interior. There isn’t a touchscreen or haptic sensor in sight, and you get old-fashioned buttons and dials for everything from the air conditioning to the radio.

Hennessey Blackbird (2026): dashboard and steering wheel, tan leather upholstery

Mercifully, Hennessey hasn’t completely lost its mad streak. That new engine will rev to more than 9000rpm and it’ll send all its power to the rear wheels via a six-speed manual gearbox with a gated shifter. It has an exposed linkage, too, like a Pagani Utopia.

The company’s founder and CEO, John Hennessey, explained the change in direction. ‘Blackbird isn’t just the next chapter in the Hennessey story,’ he said. ‘It represents the beginning of a new book. Our third hypercar, Blackbird, is unexpected by design, yet it’s exactly what I wanted to create and what our customers have been asking for. Challenging expectations has always been part of our DNA.

‘From the beginning, Blackbird was guided by a simple idea: to deliver an analogue experience where beauty and drama define every moment. This is not a numbers car. We set out to create an unparalleled emotional experience; from the first time you see it to the moment you take the wheel and feel the connection between driver and machine.’

Hennessey Blackbird (2026): rear three quarter static, low angle, silver blue paint

Hennessey has obviously seen the writing on the wall – and it’s reacting to the shift away from digitalisation much faster than its heritage supercar rivals, Ferrari and Lamborghini.

What’s more, this change in ethos will become the cornerstone of the company’s business model. The Venom F5’s production run will end in 2028, meaning the Blackbird will soon step into the limelight as Hennessey’s flagship performance product.

The Blackbird will make its public debut on 14 August at The Quail, during this year’s Monterey Car Week. Just 71 examples will be built, each costing $2.5 million (£1.8 million) before taxes. The first examples are set to roll down Hennessey’s production lines in either 2029 or 2030 – and almost all the build slots have already been sold.

Hennessey Blackbird (2026): front three quarter static, silver blue paint, Blackbird jet in background

We’re big fans of the Blackbird. Partly because it looks like a stealth fighter and partly because it proves we’re barking up the right tree. Digitalisation isn’t the right move for performance cars – and supporting feedback from Hennessey’s customers have pushed the brand to resist the movement.

The analogue supercar isn’t dead yet.

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By Luke Wilkinson

Deputy Editor of Parkers. Unhealthy obsession with classic Minis and old Alfas. Impenetrable Cumbrian accent

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