ORIGINAL STORY, AS REPORTED 24/10/2019:
In the pantheon of great automotive anniversaries, the 70th birthday of Joop Donkervoort may not figure all that highly. But still, 70 years old is 70 years old, and to mark the occasion Donkervoort has produced what might be its craziest car yet (some achievement given they’re all pretty bonkers): the D8 GTO-JD70.
The D8 GTO has been around since 2013, powered by the 2.5-litre Audi engine that’s in the RS3. It’s been tweaked and tinkered with since then, with cars like the RS, 40th Edition and Bilster Berg Edition, but this is the most extreme D8 yet.
Now with 420hp (but also Euro6D-Temp compliance, and less than 200g/km), the JD70 is capable of more than 1G in accelerative force from a standing start. A 0-62mph time hasn’t yet been released, though you’d have to assume the Donkervoort will be pretty rapid given the power and the sub-700kg kerbweight – 95 per cent of it is carbon, and the seats and battery are lighter than ever – despite only having a five-speed manual gearbox.
The JD70’s dynamics are where it looks like being the most astonishing, though, with more than 2G of cornering force claimed on standard tyres. This will be thanks to the wide-track suspension (with adjustable anti-roll bars and dampers, of course), and aerodynamic improvements: a redesigned front end, louvres in the wings and a new side-exhaust – permitting the introduction of a larger rear diffuser – mean that there’s a maximum of 50kg (front) and 80kg (rear) of downforce to be exploited.
Furthermore, if the spec doesn’t quite do it for you, and neither do the pictures of a car that looks like the Green Goblin’s track hack, then consider what Donkevoort says about how its cars are built: “A supercar for people who ache for the days of heightened senses and utter purity of unfiltered driving experiences, allowing drivers to form an unshakeable bond with their machines.” In addition, while there is traction control and rev-match/flat-shift software, that can all be disengaged. Why? To “maximize the challenge, involvement and purity for its drivers.” The idea being to create something like a classic experience, but with modern safety and reliability. Which sounds rather excellent, does it not?
Donkevoort will – you’ve guessed it – make 70 of these GTOs, with production beginning next spring. The price will be €163,636 before tax; at the current exchange rate that’s just over £140,000, or nearer £170,000 once VAT has been added. Which is a lot. Still, it’s rare, fast, looks amazing and should drive brilliantly – just the thing for scaring supercars on a track day.
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