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.
Future plans
Donkervoort announced on their website that is expanding its worldwide locations and services, most recently being available as a car brand in the US.
Automobiles
Current models
Donkervoort F22 (2022)
Donkervoort announced in October 2022 on their website that has ended the production of D8 series and is planning to produce a new model, Donkervoort F22. It will be less than 800 kg and will have similar features to the previous models. 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 just 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 tout 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.
Previous models
Donkervoort S7/S8
Donkervoort 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 .
Donkervoort 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. In 1985, the S8 was upgraded with a five-speed gearbox, a Donkervoort front axle, and a rear axle from the Ford Capri. The S8A also was introduced that year with a wider front track and an independent rear suspension, distinguished by refreshed styling and new adhesive-based manufacturing. Production of the S8 ended in 1989, and the S8A was discontinued in 1993.
Donkervoort S8AT
Responding to the need for more power, a turbocharged version of the S8A was introduced in 1986; this car is identifiable by a profusion of various vents and openings to cool the engine. Power output rose to . The S8AT was improved in 1988, receiving the chassis and larger engine from the D10 until it was discontinued in 1994.