Donkervoort

Donkervoort Automobielen BV is a manufacturer of hand-built and ultra light weight sports cars based in Lelystad, Netherlands. The car brand was founded in 1978 by Joop Donkervoort. In 1996, Donkervoort's Ford engines were replaced by Audi engines. Donkervoort's motto – "No Compromise" – means driving without any electronic aids such as ABS (Anti-lock braking system), Electronic stability program (ESP) or power steering.

Donkervoort Automobielen B.V.
IndustryAutomotive
Founded1978
FounderJoop A. Donkervoort
HeadquartersLelystad, Netherlands
ProductsHand-built ultra-light weight sport cars
Regular vehicles (starting in 2021)
Number of employees
20–25
WebsiteDonkervoort site – English homepage

Previous models
Donkervoort S7
  • Donkervoort S7

The first Donkervoort – the S7 – was introduced in 1978. These cars have a Ford Crossflow 1.6 liter OHV engine with 90 PS (66 kW) and a four-speed manual transmission. Top speed was 170 km/h (106 mph).[1]

  • Donkervoort S8/S8A
Donkervoort S8A

Introduced in late 1983, the S8 and later S8A were the first Donkervoorts of notice, with the "Eight" implying an improvement over the Lotus Seven. Of exactly the same dimensions as the Donkervoort Super Seven, these cars originally used a two-liter inline-four engine from Ford of Europe.[1]

  • Donkervoort S8AT

Responding to the need for more power, a turbocharged version of the S8 soon appeared; this car is identifiable by a profusion of various vents and openings to cool the engine.

  • Donkervoort D10

This sleek, minimalist version was built in a very limited series of ten to celebrate Donkervoort's tenth anniversary in 1988. The cars lacked a spare wheel as well as a windshield, but benefitted from an enlarged (2,160 cc) version of the Ford engine with a bigger Garrett T3 turbocharger, producing 190 PS (140 kW). The last car was only built in 1994, with some of the later examples receiving Cosworth engines with up to 300 PS (221 kW).[2]

  • Donkervoort D8 Zetec (1993-1999)

From 1993 the new D8 was built, marking the continuing departure from being merely a Super Seven copy. The first D8s were the last Donkervoorts to receive Ford engines; 1.8 and 2.0-liter versions from the Zetec family.

  • Donkervoort D8 Audi (1999–2008)

During 1999, Donkervoort switched from Ford to Audi's 20-valve turbocharged 1.8-liter engine, available in a variety of outputs ranging from 150 to 245 PS (110 to 180 kW).

  • Donkervoort D8 Audi (E-gas) Wide Track (2003–2012)
Donkervoort D8 Wide Track

Since 2003, the Donkervoort is equipped with the Audi 1.8T 20V E-gas turbocharged engine. In the D8, the engine is available with 150 bhp, 180 bhp, 210 bhp and 270 bhp. Thanks to its total weight of 630 kilograms, this results in an acceleration time from 0 to 100 km/h between 3.8 and 5.2 seconds depending on the type.

  • Donkervoort D8 270 (2008–2012)
Donkervoort D8 270

The Donkervoort D8 270 is available since the summer of 2008. This version of the D8 series became the successor of the D8 270 RS, the limited edition that was introduced in 2005 and restricted to 25 numbered units. The D8 270 has a restyled nose and grill that refer directly to the D8 GT and accelerates from 0–100 km/h in 3.6 seconds.

This car was as one of the ten fastest production cars on Nürburgring's famous Nordschleife of 2011, at 7m 14.9s.[3]

  • Donkervoort D8 GT (2007–2012)
Donkervoort D8 GT

The Donkervoort D8 GT - introduced in 2007 - is the first closed Donkervoort. Compared to the open version of the D8, the D8 GT has entirely new front and rear suspension, increased track width by 8 centimeters, larger brakes for increased stopping power and 17-inch aluminum wheels. With a total weight of 650 kg, the D8GT is the lightest GT in the world. This is largely due to the extensive use of carbon fiber: the entire roof, the entire rear and the doors and fenders of the car are made of this material.

Current models
Donkervoort D8 GTO
  • Donkervoort D8 GTO (2013–present)

The Donkervoort D8 GTO is a completely new creation. The engine, a 2.5L TFSI 5-cylinder turbocharged Audi engine, has a power output of 250-280 kW (340-380PS/335-375bhp) and 450Nm of torque at 1600rpm, and the whole car weighs less than 700 kg. This low weight is due to composite materials such as the full carbon fibre body of the D8 GTO. With a power-to-weight ratio of just 1.8 kg/PS the car accelerates from 0–100 km/h in 2.8s and from 0–200 km/h in just 8.6s.

The very first GTOs were produced in a limited series of 25 Premium D8 GTOs in 2013. The production of the regular D8 GTO, available in a Touring or a Performance version, started in 2014.

  • Donkervoort D8 GTO Premium (2013)

The Premium D8 GTO's were the first GTO's to be produced. After a sneak preview event introducing the D8 GTO in December 2012, existing customer were able to obtain one of these full option GTO's. The Premium D8 GTO were built as a limited series of 25 cars and had a little more power (380+ BHP) than e.g. the D8 GTO Performance.

  • Donkervoort D8 GTO Bilster Berg Edition (2014–2015)

In September 2014, the Donkervoort D8 GTO broke the lap record at the German Bilster Berg Drive Resort. The 380 hp Performance version set the new record for street-legal production cars at 1 minute 46.12 seconds. To celebrate this milestone – along with the opening of a Donkervoort subsidiary at that same location that year, Donkervoort introduced the Bilster Berg Edition, which was based on the record-breaking test car and built in a limited series of just 14 cars, a number that represented the successful year 2014. Technical developments included the further development and fine-tuning in the areas of chassis and road-handling. Furthermore, this edition is easily recognisable by its dark nose section, made entirely of carbon fibre.[4]

  • Donkervoort D8 GTO RS (2016–present)

Donkervoort introduced the D8 GTO RS in October 2016 as the successor to their D8 270 RS. Donkervoort states that they have reduced the D8 GTO's drag coefficient by 20 percent. The GTO RS offers a new suspension system as an additional option, and also offers a dual-clutch automatic transmission setup.

  • Donkervoort D8 GTO JD-70 (2019)

For the founder's 70th birthday, Joop Donkervoort a special edition called Donkervoort D8 GTO JD-70 was produced.

  • Donkervoort D8 GTO JD-70 R (2020)

Another edition was produced a year later, called Donkervoort D8 GTO JD-70 R following the success of previous edition.

Model overview
Vehicle Year Engine
S71978–19841.6 L Ford Crossflow OHV engine, 90 PS
S81980–19842.0 L Ford OHV, 103 PS (76 kW)
S8A1985–19932.0 L Ford OHC, 117 PS (86 kW)
S8AT1986–1994Garrett T3 turbocharger, intercooler, 3 way catalytic converter, 170 PS (125 kW) as a 2.0 L engine/190 PS as a 2.2 L
D101988–19892,160 cc Ford Garrett T3 turbocharger, 190 PS (140 kW)
D8 Zetec1993–19981.8 L or 2.0 L 16V Zetec engine, 140 PS (103 kW) or 160 PS (118 kW)
D8 Cosworth1994–19982.0 L DOHC engine, 220 to 280 PS (206 kW)
D8 Audi (AGU)1999–2002Turbocharged 1.8 L 20vT Audi engine, 150-245 PS
D8 Audi (E-gas)2003–presentTurbocharged 1.8 L 20vT Audi engine, 150-270 PS
D8 270 RS2005–2007Turbocharged 1.8 L 20vT Audi engine, drive by wire, 270 PS (199 kW)
D8 2702008–presentTurbocharged 1.8 L 20vT Audi engine, drive by wire, 270 PS (199 kW)
D8 GT2007–presentTurbocharged 1.8 L 20vT Audi engine, drive by wire, 270 PS (199 kW)
D8 GTO2013–presentTurbocharged 2.5 L TFSI 5-cylinder Audi engine, 250-280 kW (340-380 PS)
D8 GTO RS 2016–present Turbocharged 2.5 L TFSI 5-cylinder Audi engine, 284 kW (386 PS)
D8 GTO JD-70 2019–present Turbocharged TFSI 5-cylinder Audi engine
D8 GTO JD-70 R 2020–present Turbocharged TFSI 5-cylinder Audi engine

References
  1. Mastrostefano, Raffaele, ed. (1985). Quattroruote: Tutte le Auto del Mondo 1985 (in Italian). Milano: Editoriale Domus S.p.A. p. 261. ISBN 88-7212-012-8.
  2. "D10-page". Donkervoort Automobilia. Retrieved 2011-11-11.
  3. "Fastest Production Car Lap of the Nurburgring". Bridgetogantry.com. 2011-03-18.
  4. "Donkervoort D8 GTO breaks lap record at Bilster Berg Drive Resort". CARSGM. 17 September 2014. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
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