Donkervoort is a small Dutch car manufacturer specializing in cars inspired by the “mythical” Lotus Seven, a small boat sold between 1957 and 1973 known for its agility and lightness.
The latest lineup from the carmaker is the Donkervoort D8 GTO-JD70, a special series derived from the D8 GTO for the 70th birthday of their founder, Joop Donkervoort
This model is already distinguished by its sisters but the company gets on to change a few aerodynamic modifications including a redesigned nose and perforated front wings, which will guarantee 80 kg of support on the rear axle and 50 kg of support on the front axle.
The Donkervoort D8 GTO-JD70 moves the performance bar even higher, thanks to the modifications made to the Audi 2.5-cylinder 5-cylinder turbo engine: the engine is capable of spits 421 HP, against the 380 of the less powerful GTOs, and the torque increases from 450 to 520 Nm.
The Donkervoort D8 GTO-JD70 has also revised the exhaust system and the catalyst, to make the car fit into the Euro 6D-Temp emission standard which means that this car is very efficient.
The gearbox is a 5-speed manual, combined with a Bosch “rev-matching” system to optimize the passages from one ratio to the other in more decisive braking. What’s specific for the D8 GTO-JD70 is the limited-slip rear differential. Indispensable to avoid loss of grip on the rear wheels in tight corners.
The manufacturer also intervened by redesigning the front of the Donkervoort D8 GTO-JD70 and the wheel covers: resulting in an increase in downforce, or the thrust that the air generates on the bodywork to crush the car when it travels to the ground strong speed.
The D8 GTO-JD70 has seats with a carbon-fiber structure and 95% of the bodywork in the same material, all to keep the mass below 700 kg. The dashboard is also in carbon fiber. Among the gems of this limited edition is the quick release for the steering wheel, a detail borrowed from racing cars.
Some of the other features such as the Wide-Track suspension system with adjustable anti-roll bars and a traction control system are also on the menu of this Donkervoort D8 GTO-JD70 which will also be intended for use on the road.
The favorable power-to-weight ratio allows the Donkervoort D8 GTO-JD70 to perform at the level of the best supercars, in addition to a road-holding comparable to racing cars: the Dutch company declares over 2G of lateral cornering grip.
This shows that the D8 GTO-JD70 is not a car for everyone: moreover, the traction control is present among the equipment, but it is the driver’s job to decide at every time the engine is started whether to activate it and to what extent.
The carmaker is planning to build 70 Donkervoort D8 GTO-JD70 which commemorates each year of their founder’s life. The car costs 164,000 euros ($ 180,698) per unit to which must be added local taxes, the company claims that the Donkervoort D8 GTO-JD70 will be delivered in spring 2020.
