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.
Corporate history
Donkervoort is a privately held company controlled by founder Joop Donkervoort until he retired in 2019 and his son Denis succeeded him as Managing Director in 2021. Marianne Donkervoort, who is married to Joop, and Amber, their daughter, also have played key roles in developing the business and branding of the company. Amber was an equestrian who joined the company as the marketing manager following an internship in China. The Donkervoort S8A was named for Amber, while the D8 was named for Denis'.
Joop started the company as a kit car importer in 1978, but upon learning he needed to make significant modifications to make the assembled kit cars street legal, began building the first S7 automobiles using a design derived from the Lotus Seven in a Tienhoven shed. In 1983, Donkervoort moved to a larger production facility in Loosdrecht, followed by another move in 2000 to its present headquarters and factory in Lelystad. Chassis production, which previously had been contracted to an external supplier, was brought in-house to Lelystad in 2003.
Automobiles
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:100%;"
|+Model overview
!Vehicle
!class="unsortable" | Image
!Year
!Engine
!Output
|-
|Donkervoort S7|S7
|frameless|150px
|1978–1984||1.6 L Ford OHV engine
|
|-
|Donkervoort S8|S8
| frameless|150px
|1980–1984||2.0 L Ford OHC
|
|-
|Donkervoort S8A|S8A
| frameless|150px
|1985–1993||2.0 L Ford OHC
|
|-
|rowspan=2 Donkervoort S8AT|S8AT
|rowspan=2 | frameless|150px
|rowspan=2 |1986–1994
|Turbocharged 2.0 L Ford OHC<br/>Garrett T3 turbocharger with intercooler
|
|-
|Turbocharged 2.2 L Ford OHC<br/>Garrett T3 turbocharger with intercooler
|
|-
|Donkervoort D10|D10
|
|1988–1989||Turbocharged 2.2 L (2,160 cc) Ford OHC<br/>(Garrett T3)
|
|-
|rowspan=2 Donkervoort D8 Zetec|D8 Zetec
|rowspan=2 | frameless|150px
|rowspan=2 | 1993–1998
|1.8 L 16V Zetec engine
|
|-
|2.0 L 16V Zetec engine
|
|-
|Donkervoort D8 Cosworth|D8 Cosworth
| frameless|150px
|1994–1998||Turbocharged 2.0 L DOHC Cosworth YB engine
|
|-
|Donkervoort D8 Audi (AGU)|D8 Audi (AGU)
|frameless|150px
|1999–2002||Turbocharged 1.8 L 20vT Audi engine
|
|-
|Donkervoort D8 Audi (E-gas)|D8 Audi (E-gas)
| frameless|150px
|2003–2012||Turbocharged 1.8 L 20vT Audi engine
|
|-
|Donkervoort D8 270 RS|D8 270 RS
| frameless|150px
|2005–2007||Turbocharged 1.8 L 20vT Audi engine, drive by wire
|
|-
|Donkervoort D8 270|D8 270
| frameless|150px
|2008–2012||Turbocharged 1.8 L 20vT Audi engine, drive by wire
|
|-
|Donkervoort D8 GT|D8 GT
| frameless|150px
|2007–2012||Turbocharged 1.8 L 20vT Audi engine, drive by wire
|
|-
|Donkervoort D8 GTO|D8 GTO
| frameless|150px
|2013–2022||Turbocharged 2.5 L TFSI 5-cylinder Audi engine
|
|-
|D8 GTO RS
| frameless|150px
|2016–2022
|Turbocharged 2.5 L TFSI 5-cylinder Audi engine
|
|-
|D8 GTO 40
| frameless|150x150px
|2018
|Turbocharged 2.5 L TFSI 5-cylinder Audi engine
|
|-
|D8 GTO JD-70
| frameless|150px
|2019
|Turbocharged TFSI 5-cylinder Audi engine
|
|-
|D8 GTO JD-70 R
|
|2020
|Turbocharged TFSI 5-cylinder Audi engine
|
|-
|D8 GTO Individual Series
| frameless|150px
|2021–present
|Turbocharged TFSI 5-cylinder Audi engine
|
|-
|F22
| frameless|150px
|2022–2025
|Turbocharged TFSI 5-cylinder Audi engine
|
|-
|P24 RS
|
|2026–present
|Twin-turbocharged 3.5 L Ford EcoBoost D35 V6 engine
|
|}
Current models
Donkervoort P24 RS (2026–present)
First teased in 14 March 2025, the P24 RS was introduced in 24 January 2026, serving as the successor to the F22. It was the first model to be powered by a Ford engine since the D8 Zetec and D8 Cosworth ended production in 1998, after having been powered by Audi engines since starting production with the D8 Audi in 1999 until 2025 when the F22 ended production.
The P24 RS is powered by a 3.5-litre twin-turbocharged Ford EcoBoost D35 V6 engine from the Ford GT, producing and while weighing in at , which creates a power-to-weight ratio of , than. It is equipped with a 5-speed manual transmission with Torsen limited-slip differential, and powers the rear wheels. Though the time is described by the manufacturer as "appropriate", therefore making it undefined, the car will go from in 7.4 seconds, reach a top speed of more than , and has a lateral acceleration of 2.3 G. The car can be optioned with power steering, anti-lock braking system (ABS), AP Racing carbon ceramic brake calipers (saves per corner), and a removable aero kit which adds of downforce. Production is only limited to 150 units.
Previous models
Donkervoort S7/S8
S7
The first Donkervoort – the S7 – was introduced in 1978. It is an ultra-light weight sports car manufactured in Tienhoven between 1978 and 1982. It was replaced by the Donkervoort S8 in late 1983. These cars have a Ford Crossflow 1.6 liter OHV engine with and a four-speed manual transmission, or a 2.0 liter Ford OHC engine with . Mechanically, the car used a Triumph front axle and an Escort rear axle. Top speed was .
S8/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. Donkervoort offered a "Sport" version that changed to cycle-style front fenders and reduced weight through the use of carbon fibre body parts.
D8 Audi (1999–2008)
During 1999, Donkervoort switched from Ford to Audi's 20-valve turbocharged 1.8-liter R4 engine, available in a variety of outputs ranging from .
D8 Audi (E-gas) Wide Track (2003–2012)
Since 2003, the Donkervoort is equipped with the Audi 1.8T 20V E-gas (electronic throttle) 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 , this results in an acceleration time from between 3.8 and 5.2 seconds depending on the type. The Wide Track models can be distinguished from earlier Audi-powered models by the front light arrangement.
D8 270 (2008–2012)
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 (62 mph) in 3.6 seconds.
This car was the seventh fastest production car on Nürburgring's famous Nordschleife of 2011, at 7m 14.9s.
D8 GT (2007–2012)
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 , 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.
Donkervoort D8 GTO
D8 GTO (2013–2022)
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/335-375 bhp) and of torque at 1600 rpm, 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 1.8 kg/PS, the car can accelerate from 0–100 km/h (62 mph) in 2.8 seconds and from 0–200 km/h (124 mph) in 8.6 seconds.
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.
D8 GTO RS (2016–2022)
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. It is not street legal. Further details were provided in a November press release announcing the F22 will be launched on December 10, 2022. Donkervoort stated the F22 would be faster, larger, more rigid, and more efficient than the D8 GTO. Initial reports, which stated the F22 would weigh less than and boldly advertised "it will be worth the weight", caused speculation the F22 would be considerably heavier than the D8 GTO; Donkervoort later clarified the target weight was "considerably less than" .
As announced in December 2022, the F22 was a limited-production model with 75 examples produced; of these, 50 were sold already. The vehicle is long and the chassis uses steel tubes and the company's "Ex-Core" carbon fibre sandwich technology, bringing the total weight of the vehicle to . The drivetrain uses a five-cylinder engine from Audi that develops / and drives the rear wheels through a five-speed manual transmission. Donkervoort touted it as having improved "practicality, comfort, and ease of use", featuring the car's trunk. It is named for Filippa, the daughter of managing director Denis Donkervoort, born in 2022.
Donkervoort D20 (1998)
Intended as the 20th anniversary special, the D20 was developed in conjunction with Audi under the sponsorship of CEO Dr. Franz-Josef Paefgen. Until the D20, all Donkervoorts had the engine and gearbox in the front, but the D20 had the engine in the front and the gearbox in the rear as a transaxle. The D20 was the first Donkervoort with a V6 engine, which was actually intended for larger, more comfortable Audi cars. The engine was modified to produce . The D20 was built as a prototype, but never went into production as it was unable to meet emissions standards with the larger engine.
Donkervoort J25 (2003)
Intended as the 25th anniversary special, the J25 used the nose and doors from the D20 with modernized styling and was the first Donkervoort to develop . A prototype was built but it never entered regular production.
Donkervoort D8 GTO-40 (2018)
thumb|right|Donkervoort D8 GTO-40
For the firm's 40th anniversary, the GTO-40 was released as a limited edition of 40. Weight has been reduced by compared to the conventional GTO through the use of carbon fibre sandwich panels (branded and patented by Donkervoort as EX-CORE) and an optimized steel tubular chassis.
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, again making use of Donkervoort's EX-CORE technology. In total, there were 70 produced, including the Bare Naked Carbon Edition and JD70 R sub-variants. The Bare Naked Carbon Edition highlighted the extensive use of carbon fibre body panels by changing the painted finish to a clear coat, and was offered in four levels corresponding to the degree of paint reduction, ranging from "Exposed Carbon" (matte or gloss clear coats over the side panels, engine-bay wings, bonnet scoop, triangular cover scoops, and interior) to "Full-Exposed Coloured Carbon" (tinted clear coat finish over all carbon fibre parts). The JD70 R is a track-tuned edition with racing-specific improvements, and Donkervoort includes driver coaching and data analysis services with the purchase of the car.
Donkervoort F22 Art Edition (2024)
The F22 Art Edition was created for the brand's ambassador and the car's owner Cees Lubbers. The design was created by Dutch artist and winner of the 2006 Royal Dutch Award for painting Anneke Wilbrink, however the representation of the artwork wasn't told by the creator. It is currently on display at the owner's gallery.
References
External links
- Introduction, history and overview of Donkervoort by Carfection (video)
- Donkervoort D8 GTO First Heartbeat
- Donkervoort D8 GTO-RS test-drive by Carfection (video)
- Donkervoort - 24H Dubai
- Donkervoort Discovery Channel
- Donkervoort fan site with much independent information, pictures etc.