Venturi 400 GT Phase 2

Venturi 400 GT Phase 2

The Venturi 400 GT represents the pinnacle of the Venturi marque's ambitions, a twin-turbocharged grand tourer that produced supercar performance from a French manufacturer working with a fraction of the budget of its Italian and German rivals. With 408 horsepower from its twin-turbo V6, the 400 GT was one of the most powerful European sports cars of the mid-1990s and could genuinely compete with contemporary Ferraris and Porsches.

Venturi was founded in 1984 by Claude Poiraud and Gerard Godfroy, with the ambition of creating a French sports car brand to rival the established Italian and British marques. The company progressed through several models before reaching the 400 GT, which represented the most extreme development of the Venturi concept.

The 400 GT used the PRV (Peugeot-Renault-Volvo) 3.0-liter V6 engine, fitted with twin Garrett T25 turbochargers to produce a stunning 408 horsepower and 530 Nm of torque. This was an extraordinary output from a 3.0-liter V6 in the mid-1990s, and it required extensive development work to achieve reliability. The engine was mid-mounted behind the cockpit, driving the rear wheels through a five-speed manual gearbox.

The chassis was a steel backbone frame with fiberglass bodywork, following a construction method similar to that used by Lotus and TVR. Double-wishbone suspension at all four corners provided excellent handling, and Brembo brakes ensured adequate stopping power for the car's performance potential. The overall weight of 1,280 kilograms was competitive with contemporary mid-engined sports cars.

Performance was remarkable. The 0-100 km/h sprint took approximately 4.9 seconds, and the top speed approached 290 km/h. These figures placed the 400 GT firmly in supercar territory, matching the Ferrari F355 and approaching the performance of the Ferrari 550 Maranello. For a small manufacturer working from a factory in western France, this was an extraordinary achievement.

The Phase 2 version, introduced in the late 1990s, received revised bodywork with a smoother, more integrated design, improved cooling, and minor mechanical refinements. The interior was upgraded with better materials and more comprehensive equipment, though it remained distinctly artisanal compared to major manufacturer rivals.

Only approximately 73 units of the 400 GT were produced across both phases, making it one of the rarest European sports cars of its era. Venturi's perpetual financial difficulties limited production volumes, and the company eventually ceased producing combustion-engined cars, transitioning to electric vehicles under new ownership.

Today, the Venturi 400 GT is a fascinating and extremely rare collector's car. Its performance remains impressive, its rarity is extraordinary, and its story as the product of an ambitious French startup adds romantic appeal. Finding parts and specialist maintenance can be challenging, but for those who appreciate underdogs and automotive ambition, the 400 GT is a compelling machine.