Donkervoort
 |
|
| Industry | Automotive |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1978 |
| Founder | J.A. Donkervoort |
| Headquarters | Lelystad, Netherlands |
| Products | Hand-built ultra-light weight sport cars |
|
Number of employees
|
20–25 |
| Website | Donkervoort Official Site |
Donkervoort Automobielen BV is a manufacturer of authentic 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.
The first Donkervoort – the S7 – was introduced in 1978. These cars have a Ford Crossflow 1.6 liter OHV engine with 90 PS (66 kW) and a four-speed manual transmission. Top speed was 170 km/h (106 mph).
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.
Responding to the need for more power, a turbocharged version of the S8 soon appeared; this car is identifiable by a profusion of various vents and openings to cool the engine.
This sleek, minimalist version was built in a very limited series of ten to celebrate Donkervoort's tenth anniversary in 1988. The cars lacked a spare wheel as well as a windshield, but benefitted from an enlarged (2,160 cc) version of the Ford engine with a bigger Garrett T3 turbocharger, producing 190 PS (140 kW). The last car was only built in 1994, with some of the later examples receiving Cosworth engines with up to 300 PS (221 kW).
From 1993 the real Donkervoort was built. A monsterous drive with outrageous character and a marvelous sound: The Donkervoort D8 1.8 and 2.0 ZETEC. When you see a Donkervoort tour, with several types, you can hear the Zetec. A very specific deep sound, that gives you the shiver and goosebumps when you are in the drivers seat. The ZETEC is a drivers car for the grand tour. Not a car for the circuit, but hot to handle at fast corners and delightfull in sharp steering.
Since 2003, the Donkervoort is equipped with the Audi 1.8T 20V E-gas 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 630 kilograms, this results in an acceleration time from 0 to 100 km/h between 3.8 and 5.2 seconds depending on the type.
...
Wikipedia