Venturi 260 Atlantique

Venturi 260 Atlantique

Venturi Automobiles was founded in 1984 by Claude Poiraud and Gérard Godfroy with a singular ambition: to create a true French sports car that could challenge the best from Porsche and Lotus. The Atlantique (also known as the 260) achieved this remarkable goal. Built around a backbone chassis with fiberglass bodywork and a mid-mounted turbocharged PRV V6 engine, the Venturi offered a compelling alternative to established sports car marques. The 260 horsepower engine, mounted behind the occupants in a mid-rear position, drove the rear wheels through a five-speed manual, providing a driving experience that combined the PRV's smooth, muscular power delivery with excellent chassis balance. The double wishbone suspension at all four corners, developed with input from racing engineer Marcel Hubert, provided handling that earned praise from the most demanding automotive journalists. The build quality was remarkably high for a small manufacturer, with well-trimmed interiors and solid panel gaps. Despite critical acclaim, Venturi struggled commercially — the brand was too unknown to compete with established names, and total production across all models was approximately 700 units. Venturi later pivoted to electric vehicles and currently builds the record-setting Venturi Buckeye Bullet electric land speed car.