Hennessey has unveiled the Venom F5 Evolution, a track-focused iteration of its hypercar. Boasting 2,031 horsepower from its twin-turbocharged V8, the Evolution is claimed to accelerate from 0 to 200 mph in under 10 seconds. While top speed hasn't been tested yet, it's projected to surpass the standard F5's 300+ mph. Aerodynamic enhancements, including a larger rear wing and dive planes, improve downforce for track performance. Production is limited to just 24 examples, each priced at $2.7 million.
Vidformer is a drop-in replacement for OpenCV's (cv2) VideoCapture class that significantly accelerates video annotation scripts by leveraging hardware decoding. It maintains API compatibility with existing cv2 code, making integration simple, while offering a substantial performance boost, particularly for I/O-bound annotation tasks. By efficiently utilizing GPU or specialized hardware decoders when available, Vidformer reduces CPU load and speeds up video processing without requiring significant code changes.
HN users generally expressed interest in Vidformer, praising its ease of use with existing OpenCV scripts and potential for significant speed improvements in video processing tasks like annotation. Several commenters pointed out the cleverness of using a generator for frame processing, allowing for seamless integration with existing code. Some questioned the benchmarks and the choice of using multiprocessing over other parallelization methods, suggesting potential further optimizations. Others expressed a desire for more details, like hardware specifications and broader compatibility information beyond the provided examples. A few users also suggested alternative approaches for video processing acceleration, including GPU utilization and different Python libraries. Overall, the reception was positive, with the project seen as a practical tool for a common problem.
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https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43751820
Hacker News users discuss the claimed performance of the Hennessey Venom F5 Evolution, expressing skepticism about the feasibility and practicality of achieving 0-200 mph in 10 seconds. Several commenters question the lack of independent verification, noting Hennessey's history of ambitious claims. Some highlight the challenges of tire technology keeping up with such extreme acceleration and the immense forces involved. Others debate the relevance of these extreme performance figures for real-world driving, suggesting that top speed is a more meaningful metric. There's also discussion about the diminishing returns of increasing horsepower beyond a certain point and the importance of handling and braking capabilities for a complete performance package. A few users simply express awe at the sheer power of the vehicle.
The Hacker News post titled "2,031-HP Hennessey Venom F5 Evolution Claims 0 to 200 MPH in 10 Seconds" has generated a modest number of comments, primarily focused on the practicality and target audience of such a vehicle.
One commenter questions the real-world use case of a car with such extreme performance capabilities, pointing out the limitations imposed by traffic, speed limits, and the potential dangers associated with driving at such high speeds. They essentially argue that the car's performance is largely theoretical and unusable in most situations.
Another comment builds on this sentiment, suggesting that the Venom F5 Evolution caters to a very specific niche – individuals wealthy enough to afford it and with access to private tracks or closed courses where its performance can be safely explored. They imply that for the average person, the car's capabilities are irrelevant.
Further discussion revolves around the comparison of the Venom F5 Evolution to the Rimac Nevera, an electric hypercar. One commenter highlights the Nevera's superior acceleration, specifically its 0-60 mph time, implying it might be a more technologically advanced and impressive feat of engineering. This sparks a brief debate about the different performance characteristics of gasoline-powered versus electric vehicles.
A separate thread discusses the challenges associated with tire technology keeping pace with increasing vehicle performance. One commenter expresses concern about the stresses placed on tires during extreme acceleration and deceleration, suggesting that this might be a limiting factor for hypercars like the Venom F5 Evolution. They question the longevity and reliability of tires subjected to such forces.
Finally, there's a brief mention of Hennessey's reputation and past controversies, with one commenter expressing skepticism about the company's claims and delivery history. This adds another layer to the discussion, bringing into question the credibility of the performance figures being advertised.
Overall, the comments section reflects a mixture of awe at the car's raw performance and pragmatic considerations about its real-world applicability and value proposition. There's a clear understanding that the Venom F5 Evolution is a highly specialized machine targeted at a select few, and its extreme capabilities are unlikely to be fully utilized in everyday driving scenarios.