It might be no oil painting, but this Donkervoort D8 GTO, the latest creation from the Dutch specialist sports car maker, would probably be a tad more effective at a track day than the Mona Lisa.
At around 350mm longer and 150mm wider than its predecessor, the D8 GTO is no longer particularly tiny, but at 700kg it's still pretty lightweight, a weight that comes courtesy of a steel-tube frame is wrapped in carbon panels and a one-piece door that swings up, Lamborghini-style.
And there's a good reason for the car's increased size - it's been designed to accommodate the five-cylinder 2.5-litre turbocharged engine from the Audi TT RS. That means a 340hp power output (with 400hp available at the flick of a switch) and torque at a healthy 332lb ft from just 1600rpm.
It's also the first Donkervoort to be fitted with traction control. 'Only for when it is raining ,of course," says Donkervoort's press release...
An initial run of 25 cars is already half sold, and if you want to get your hands on one of them you'll need between 100,000 euros (£84k) and 150,000 euros (£126k) - before taxes. Not cheap, then. Production of this first batch begins next year, with 'regular' cars (of an engine as yet unknown) following on in 2013.
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