automotivebriefs
9:56in productionCh. 1 · What it is/ 9:56 · ceiling 15 min
Supercars

Venturi 400

Gérard Godfroy · 1994

A French supercar built for the track first — and the road as an afterthought.

The Venturi 400 GT is a French-built, mid-1990s supercar designed around a race-proven V6 biturbo engine. Only about 15 were made for the road. Its styling deliberately echoes the Ferrari F40. It is rare, uncompromising, and unapologetically track-focused.

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Chapters & takeaways5
  1. 0:59
    What it is

    The Venturi 400 GT is a rare French-built supercar made between 1994 and 1997.

  2. 2:22
    How it works

    Its 2975 cm³ V6 biturbo engine produces 408 hp and 530 Nm — same as the race version.

  3. 3:44
    Why it stands out

    Its visual resemblance to the Ferrari F40 earned it the nickname 'the French F40'.

  4. 5:02
    How rare it is

    Only about 15 street versions were built — versus 73 race cars — making it exceptionally scarce.

  5. 6:14
    Who backed it

    Rocky Agusta funded much of its development into a racing car.

Worth your time?

Yes. Drive the whole thing.

3.5/ 5
What works
  • visual language of late-1980s/early-1990s supercars
  • track-derived aggression
  • F40-era aesthetics
What does not
  • practicality
  • comfort
  • service infrastructure
Drive it if
  • collectors
  • enthusiasts who value rarity and French engineering ambition
Skip it if
  • drivers seeking reliability or everyday usability
The written brief1 min read

What the car is and where it came from

The Venturi 400 GT is a French sports car. It is a road-legal coupe produced from 1994 to 1997. It shares its engine and layout with the 1992 Venturi 400 Trophy race car.

How it works, in terms someone would actually use

It uses a 2975 cm³ V6 biturbo engine. It delivers 408 hp and 530 Nm of torque. It accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.1 seconds.

What it gets right

It gets right the visual language of late-1980s/early-1990s supercars: low, wide, wedge-shaped, with aggressive aerodynamic cues and exposed carbon-fibre elements.

What it does not

It does not offer practicality, comfort or broad usability. It does not exist in significant numbers — only about 15 street versions were built.

What it changed

It gave France a credible, road-legal supercar contender at a time when few domestic manufacturers attempted one.

Who it is for, and who it is not

It is for collectors and enthusiasts who value rarity, French engineering ambition, and F40-era aesthetics. It is not for drivers seeking reliability, service infrastructure or everyday usability.

Is it worth your time

Yes — if you care about rare, French-built mid-1990s supercars that prioritise track-derived aggression over daily usability.

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