---
title: 'This is the best car America has ever made!'
source: 'https://youtube.com/watch?v=c4S5BEpfpY8'
video_id: 'c4S5BEpfpY8'
date: 2026-08-03
duration_sec: 405
---

# This is the best car America has ever made!

> Source: [This is the best car America has ever made!](https://youtube.com/watch?v=c4S5BEpfpY8)

## Summary

The video reviews the Hennessy Blackbird, a new hypercar that deliberately strips away modern technology and complexity in favor of a back-to-basics, analog driving experience. Matt Watson argues that despite appearing as a downgrade on paper, the Blackbird's focus on comfort, engagement, and lightweight design makes it a superior and more purposeful machine, drawing parallels to Koenigsegg's philosophy.

### Key Points

- **The Blackbird's contrarian approach** [00:02] — While other manufacturers add power, grip, and technology, Hennessy has gone the opposite direction, making the car seem like a downgrade on paper.
- **Naturally aspirated V8 from UK** [00:14] — The Blackbird uses an all-new naturally aspirated V8 developed by Ilmer Engineering, a UK company known for Formula 1 and IndyCar engines.
- **Target power and performance** [00:29] — Target output is 800-850 horsepower without any electrical assistance, making it the highest revving and most powerful naturally aspirated V8 to the rear wheels only. It does 0-60 mph in 2.5 seconds, quicker than a Pagani Utopia and similar to a Koenigsegg CC850.
- **Six-speed manual gearbox** [01:10] — The car features a traditional six-speed manual gearbox, unlike the Koenigsegg's actuator trickery, and is described as 'proper old school'.
- **Lightweight construction** [01:26] — Weighing less than 1,360 kg thanks to carbon panels, the car achieves performance without batteries, motors, or screens.
- **No touchscreen inside** [01:42] — The interior has no touchscreen at all; dials are analog, and there's a phone mount for navigation and music, similar to an entry-level Dacia Sandero.
- **Old-fashioned key** [02:09] — Hennessy provides an old-fashioned key instead of a push-button starter, reinforcing the back-to-basics theme.
- **Interior design and gated shifter** [02:22] — The dashboard has a 'spaghetti tour' vibe with a gated shifter and carbon fiber knob. The author spots a face in the Hennessy badge and diamond-shaped air vents.
- **Sky glass roof and overhead switches** [03:02] — Optional sky glass roof and overhead switches/dials give a cockpit feel, reminiscent of an aircraft.
- **Exterior design details** [03:17] — Sculpted doors pinch in tightly, the car sits long and low, and rear stabilizers deploy at 71 mph at a 71-degree angle, with a button for manual deployment.
- **Purposeful details** [03:47] — Every detail, including diamond-shaped quad air vents and headlights, has a reason, which is explained later.
- **Not a downgrade, but a different job** [04:00] — The Blackbird is not a cheaper lesser version; it's built for a different purpose than the Venom F5, focusing on comfort and long-distance capability.
- **Comfort and practicality** [04:14] — It can cover 800 miles in a day in comfort, with suitcases, big windows, more interior space than the Venom F5, and four cup holders.
- **Ride and handling** [04:27] — Inboard suspension provides connection to the road while being comfortable; tuned for long-distance touring rather than just thrills at the limit.
- **America's Koenigsegg** [04:42] — Hennessy built its reputation on extreme versions of existing cars; the Blackbird is its first ground-up car, made around the driver, following the Koenigsegg playbook.
- **Price and availability** [05:08] — The Blackbird costs £2.5 million before taxes, deliveries start in 2029 after Venom F5 production, and only 71 will be made.
- **SR-71 inspiration** [05:23] — The car is named after the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird jet, explaining the design cues: pinched doors, rear stabilizers at 71 mph/degrees, sky glass roof, and diamond exhausts mimicking the Bell X-1 thrusters.
- **Top speed comparison** [06:01] — The SR-71 could do 2,200 mph, while the Hennessy does 220 mph, missing one zero.
- **Call to action** [06:16] — Matt asks for likes and comments, hoping to drag race the Blackbird in the future, and promotes a review of the Koenigsegg CC850.

### Conclusion

The Hennessy Blackbird is a deliberate departure from the hypercar norm, prioritizing analog purity, comfort, and long-distance usability over outright tech and power. Its SR-71-inspired design and back-to-basics philosophy make it a compelling, if expensive, statement about what driving should be about.

## Transcript

Koigseg. But there's a problem. While all the other manufacturers are building cars with more power, more grip, and more technology, Hennessy [music] has gone the other way. On paper, this car seems like a downgrade. But in this
video, I'm going to explain why I don't think that's actually the case. [music] I'm Matt Watson and you're watching Car Wow. makes everything else make sense. The Blackbird uses an allnew naturally
[music] aspirated V8 engine. Sounds as American as apple pie, right? Well, actually, this V8 was developed by Ilmer Engineering, a company based [music] in the UK. They built engines for Formula 1 and Indie Car, so they know a thing or
two about developing one hell of an engine. The target power output is 800 to 850 horsepower, all without any [music] electrical assistance, and it'll make it the highest revving and [music] most powerful natural aspirated V8 ever
to the rear wheels only. And yet, [music] the Blackbird will still do naugh to 60 mph in 2.5 seconds. That's quicker than a Pagani Utopia [music] and about the same as a Koix CC850. One of my favorite cars that I've ever
a six-speed [music] manual gearbox. Though this one is more traditional and and actuator trickery of the Koix Egg. This one is a proper old [music] school accidentally money shift it. The Blackbird will do 220 mph, which is
competitors. Part of the trick is that it'll weigh less than 1,360 kg thanks to panels. Turns out that if you leave the batteries, the motors, and the screens a big power number for ultimate performance. The going backwards theme
really kicks in when you open the door. The Lamborghini Rowto has almost 30 in worth of screens in it. The McLaren Archura has 18 in. The Hennessy Blackbird has none. That's right. There [music] isn't a single touchcreen in
this car. The dials are all analog and you get a mount for your phone called [music] like satellite navigation and music. Um, to be fair, Hennessy weren't [music] you get the similar setup in an entry-level Dacia Sanderero. Hennessy
school theme. They've even gone as far to give you an old-fashioned key instead of a push button starter just to really drive home the back to basics [music] I'm so glad they didn't go down the Porsche route of replacing the [music]
position of the key or worse still a physical key that goes into the ignition Kudos to you, Hennessy. I'm getting some serious spaghetti tour vibes from this the dashboard swoops around from each side before flowing into the center
console. And in that center console, you get a gorgeous gated [music] shifter with a manual gearbox topped off with a carbon fiber knob. I did think the well, but then I spotted something. And I don't mean the stson between them.
Look at the two holes and the leather pad between them. Then look at the Hennessy badge. [music] It's a face with a giant nose, isn't it? Now I can't see look at the central air vents. They're [music] in the shape of a diamond. And
then there's the optional sky glass roof and these overhead switches and dials be cleared [music] for takeoff. Someone please fetch me my aviators. The outside the sculpted doors and [music] the way they pinch in tightly at the sides. Also
admire how long and low this thing sits. Then there's the rear stabilizers. No, Budgie. These stick up from the rear of the car at 71 mph and sit at a 71 degree you drove this car in the UK, you'd be telling everyone exactly when you're
thought of this. There's a button to deploy them at any speed you want. So posers rejoice. Around the back, you'll notice the diamond [music] shaped quad air vents inside. And that motive turns [music] up in the headlights as well.
Every one of those details is there for a reason, but we'll come back to that. downgrade. Because yes, Hennessy has taken stuff [music] out of the car, but this is in a cheaper lesser version of what they've already built. Because this
different job. I've driven a Hennessy Venom F5, and that car is totally bonkers. It's [music] really exciting, but it's loud, it's intense, and it's needed a little sit down after driving it. The Blackbird is different, though.
It's built to be able to cover 800 miles in a day [music] in comfort, which is suitcases, big windows to give you a good view out, and more interior space than the Venom F5. It also has four cup holders between two seats, [music] and
one of those big gulp sodas you get in the States. It's got inboard adapted you feel connected to the road while also being comfortable on those long designed for thrills when you're right on the limits, the Blackbird is tuned to
And that's exactly why I called it America's Koixig at the start of this video. Hennessy built its reputation taking cars that already existed and making them more extreme. The Venom F5 was its first [music] from the groundup
built car. But this Blackbird takes it a step further. All new engine, carbon made around the person driving [music] it. That's the Koix playbook. A small independent outfit building in small numbers, making some of the most
there's just one small problem. It'll cost £2.5 million before taxes. That's near as makes no difference to £2 million. And deliveries don't start until 2029 after production of the Venom F5 finishes. And finally, only 71
number isn't an accident [music] because this car is named after the Locked SR71 by the US Air Force from the late [music] 1960s until 1998. Suddenly then,
it all makes sense. Those [music] pinched doors mimic the jet's tightly comes from the plane as well. The rear stabilizers deploy at 71 miles an hour and sit at 71 degrees in reference to the SR71. That sky glass roof inspired
[music] by the canopy of the SR71. And those diamond shaped exhausts aren't just a shape. They look like the thrusters [music] on the Bell X1 rocket plane. The one Chuck Jagger used to break the sound barrier way back in
1947. The SR71 was a longrange [music] jet. The Hennessy Blackbird is a long-d can't match is the top speed. [music] You see, the SR71 Blackbird could do You see, the SR71 Blackbird could do 2,200 mph, whereas the Hennessy does 220
mph. So, it just is lacking one [music] zero from the end. And I'm sure if we video, John Hennessy will let me test this car out in [music] a drag race in the future. So, make sure you do like and comment on this video and subscribe
race and whatever else I might be drag [music] racing soon. However, if you'd better than the Konise CC 850, then in-depth review of that car. It will blow your mind. Thanks for watching and
blow your mind. Thanks for watching and I'll see you next