The French car brand Venturi was founded in 1984 by Claude Poiraud AND Gérard Godfroy in France. The brand focused on producing grand tourers that can take on their Goliath rivals such as Aston Martins and Ferraris from the date they were found to Early 2000’s and they’ve been involved in their series of ‘’Global Challenges’’ that aims to demonstrate the durability of electric cars. Let's take a look at the cars they've made to make the market notice the brand as a competent one, and see what the French brand is up to recently.
Venturi produced grand-touring coupés like the 260 SPC from the late 1980's to mid-1990's using Renault transmissions mated to turbocharged engines. The 260 SPC was one of their first models that settled Venturi's design language for the next models. Its marvellous sleek design combined with pop-ups certainly take inspirations from its rivals such as the Ferrari 348, but garnishing it with smoother edges and a rear end that bears resemblance to another 90's rival of Venturi, De Tomaso Guara. The 260 SPC wasn't just a pretty face though, the rear-wheel drive 260 SPC had a 2.6L V6 producing 260 HP that can do 0 to 60 in 5.3 seconds to a top speed of 270 km/h (167 mph). Despite being less powerful than a 348, the 260 SPC was much lighter than the Ferrari as it weighed just 1255 kg (2766 lbs), which is 241 kg (531 lbs) lighter than the 348. This immense weight diet is achieved through the usage of composites, making the car much more nimble and engaging than its heavy rivals through its double wishbone suspension as well. The 260 SPC laid down the foundations of the future Venturi models through the priority of pursuit of lightness and agility over sheer power.
The Venturi 400 GT (GT Trophy in the pic) in its full glory.
Venturi stepped up their game with the introduction of the 400 GT. Only a total of 25 produced in total between 1994-1997 with three different versions; 400 GT, 400 GT Challenge which is a track-focused hardcore version and the GT Trophy, a road-going version of the racer with the same name. What set the 400 GT apart from the other models was its carbon brakes equipped as standard and its 3.0L twin-turbo V6 engine producing 400 mad French horsepowers and 520 nm of torque. This allowed the mid-engined 400 GT to finally catch up with the power figures of the Ferraris of its era, but remember, Venturi cars were designed to be as light as possible, and the 400 GT was basically a cloud as it only weighed 1,000 kg (2204 lbs), this lightweight body combined with a 400 HP powerhouse that can do 0 to 60 in 4.7 seconds and a top speed of 275 km/h (171 mph) made the 400 GT one of the fastest French cars ever made, giving its rivals shivers. The styling of the car was just as mad as its power figures as it had a large rear spoiler giving it a massive downforce and huge side vents providing cooling for the roaring V6.
The Venturi 300 Atlantique.
The Venturi 300 Atlantique, produced between 1996-1998, sits in the perfect medium between a lightweight sports car and a two seater grand tourer. The Atlantique, compared to former Venturi cars, has a more refined curvy styling while still featuring the iconic pop-up headlights. The Atlantique also featured a 3.0L V6 engine albeit with a single turbocharger to maintain efficiency, but the results were still impressive as it produces 282 HP and 420 nm of torque and can do 0 to 60 in 5.2 seconds. Despite producing less than the hardcore 400 GT, the Atlantique actually has a higher top speed of 280 km/h (173 km/h). Atlantique made up for its lack of power compared to Aston V8 Coupé with its paper weight through the usage of fiberglass body and with a kerb weight of just 1250 kg (2755 lbs). Despite these impressive figures and big praises from Jeremy Clarkson, however, the Atlantique never caught on, always overshadowed by more popular models of its segment like the Aston DB7 or Ferrari 550. It was a flop, but it surely showed that the French could also make just as good grand tourers as the rival big brands.
Since the early 2000's, Venturi focuses on a series of challenges to demonstrate the capabilities of electric engines. Such challenges include breaking the speed record on the Bonneville Salt Flats with their Buckeye Bullet record car (548 km/h, 341 mph) and a trip from Kilimanjaro to Okavango, named ''Mission 04'', with a Venturi powered electric Citroen Berlingo. Venturi also introduced a series of concept cars that include the inconveniently named Fetish concept, the America model mostly based on the Fetish concept design, the 2008 Volage concept and the Astrolab. The America and Volage models featured electric powertrains, supporting Venturi's pursuit of glorifying electric powertrains, while Astrolab was an experimental two seater solar-electric hybrid car. Venturi's achievements for the last two decade illustrate their enthusiasm towards the electric powertrains and who knows, Venturi might join the growing EV grand tourer market and rival Polestar and Porsche Taycan, what's certain is that Venturi started their journey with a great sense of vision, and they've kept their forward thinking to this day.
Venturi 400 LM.
What do you think about Venturi's cars or challenges? Do you like their car designs? Share your thoughts and opinions with us on the comments! Until next one!
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