Venturi 400 GT: The forgotten French thoroughbred
Image: Top Gear
Origination.
Born out of Venturi’s single-make racing program, the 400 GT is the road-going offshoot of the Venturi 400 Trophy—a fearsome early-’90s racer created for the Gentlemen Drivers Trophy series. Unveiled for the road in 1994 at Venturi’s Couëron base, the 400 GT retained much of the Trophy’s hardware but was trimmed and homologated for public roads. Production was tiny: fewer than 100 in total, with roughly 15 street cars and the rest competition variants, making any 400 GT sighting rare even in supercar circles.
Powertrain & performance.
At its core is the famous PRV 3.0-liter V6—twin-turbocharged, intercooled, and mid-mounted—rated at about 408 PS (402 bhp) and ~520–530 Nm. A 5-speed manual sends power to the rear wheels. Contemporary figures have the 400 GT at 0–100 km/h in ~4.7 s with a top speed near 290 km/h (180 mph)—squarely supercar numbers for the era.
Braking firsts & chassis.
The headline tech wasn’t just the power—it was the standard carbon (carbon-ceramic) brakes, developed with Carbone Industrie. The 400 GT is widely credited as the first production road car to fit carbon brakes as standard, years before the big names normalized the technology. Underneath, the car used a steel monocoque with double-wishbone front suspension and a sophisticated multi-link rear, paired with lightweight composite bodywork—an unmistakably race-bred package tuned for precision and stability.
Durability & ownership.
The PRV V6 had already earned a reputation for robustness across many European cars, and in Venturi tune it proved stout when maintained to race-car standards—regular turbo health checks, quality oil, and cooling vigilance are key. The carbon brakes—glorious on circuit—are durable at speed but can be expensive to service and are less happy with short, cold stop-start use. In short: the drivetrain is tough, but consumables and parts sourcing reflect the car’s rarity and motorsport DNA. (Today’s specialists and the enthusiast network ease the burden compared with the 1990s.)
How it drove.
Period testers praised the 400 GT’s immediacy and mechanical grip. The turbos deliver thick mid-range shove; steering feel and traction were competitive with the era’s best, and the brake performance—fade-free and consistent—was a revelation for road use. Lap-time databases and period reports corroborate its pace and predictability on track.
Rivals then (and now).
In period, the natural cross-shop set included Ferrari F355, Lotus Esprit V8, and Porsche 911 (993) Turbo. Against the Ferrari, the Venturi traded high-rev theatrics for turbo torque; against the Esprit it offered similar mid-engine balance with rarer cachet; versus the 993 Turbo it delivered comparable straight-line pace with a more exotic, homologation-style vibe. Today, collectors also compare it with the Ferrari F40 thematically—thanks to the 400 GT’s squared-off silhouette, rear wing, and raw, race-car feel—though outright performance still favors the Maranello legend.
Consumer preferences & who bought them.
The original buyers were a small set of enthusiasts who valued French motorsport heritage, ultra-low production, and cutting-edge tech over dealership networks and brand prestige. That profile hasn’t changed: today’s shoppers are collectors who want something different from the predictable “blue-chip” Italian or German choices—something with Le Mans-flavored engineering, standard carbon brakes, and true scarcity. Auction stories and specialist write-ups show values responding to that story: limited supply, clear provenance (especially ex-Trophy cars converted for the road), and originality matter most.
Other notable features.
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Race-to-road lineage: The 400 GT’s connection to the Trophy one-make series (and Venturi’s broader BPR/Le Mans exploits) gives it authentic competition credibility.
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Packaging: Mid-engine layout, compact footprint, and aero-led styling made it a serious driver’s car rather than a grand tourer.
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Rarity & support: With so few road cars built, parts and expertise are specialized, but a dedicated community and a handful of marque experts keep them running beautifully.
Verdict.
The Venturi 400 GT is one of the 1990s’ most compelling “if-you-know-you-know” supercars: race-bred, tiny-volume, and technologically pioneering. It delivered bona fide supercar performance, introduced standard carbon brakes to the street, and offered a uniquely French take on the era’s mid-engine formula. For drivers and collectors who prize rarity and engineering character over badges, the 400 GT remains a deeply satisfying, under-the-radar icon.
SOURCES
(Ultimatecarpage.com, Petrolicious)
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