Duch automaker Donkervoort has taken the wraps off the F22, its first all-new product in more than a decade that effectively replaces the D8 GTO. The supercar is a clean-sheet design with a new chassis, open-wheel styling, an Audi-sourced engine producing 492 hp, and a weight of just 750 kg.
The F22 was named after the daughter of
Managing Director Denis Donkervoort (Filippa) born earlier this year. Despite
being a new design, it is instantly recognizable as a Donkervoort product
thanks to the exposed wheels, the long bonnet, the side-mounted exhaust pipes,
and the aggressive styling cues. The rear wheels are better integrated into the
body thanks to the wider fenders, improving stance and aerodynamics. The 4,039 mm long sports car also comes with butterfly doors, full-LED
lighting, and a removable Twin Targa carbon-fiber roof converting it into a
roadster.
The Dutch automaker suggests that the F22
brings improvements in “practicality, comfort, and ease of use” compared to its
predecessor, albeit without losing its supercar focus. Thanks to the larger
footprint the two-seater cabin is more spacious than before, featuring custom
Recar seats with optional six-point harnesses approved for racing and road use.
The dashboard is quite minimal with a digital instrument cluster, an optional
iPad mini serving as an infotainment touchscreen, an optional air conditioning
system, and most controls integrated into the steering wheel. The boot has a
capacity of 298 lt.
Donkervoort continues the tradition by
using an Audi-sourced turbocharged 2.5-liter five-cylinder engine producing 492
hp and 640 Nm of torque. This represents an
increase of 57 hp and 70 Nm compared to the outgoing
Donkervoort D8 GTO Individual Series. Power is transmitted to the rear axle
through a lightweight short-throw five-speed manual gearbox featuring Bosch
rev-matching technology, with the help of a Torsen limited-slip differential.
Electronics are limited to a multi-step traction control system and an optional
race-grade Bosch ABS. According to the maker, it can accelerate from 0-100 km/h in 2.5 seconds, and from 0-200 km/h in 7.5 seconds
before reaching a top speed of 290 km/h. More importantly though,
Donkervoort claims that the F22 delivers up to 2.15g of lateral acceleration,
showing its handling-focused nature.
The all-new hybrid chassis is made of
tubular steel and ex-core carbon fiber (carbon sandwich system), doubling the
torsional and bending rigidity compared to its predecessor, while improving
safety. The F22 tips the scales at 750 kg, which makes it 70 kg heavier than the model it replaces. Still, the increased power
output gives it an impressive power-to-weight ratio of 666 PS per tonne. The
suspension – double wishbones front and rear – comprises TracTive adaptive
shock absorbers and an adjustable hydraulic system raising or lowering the car
by up to 35 mm (1.4 inches). Braking is taken care of steel discs measuring 330
mm (13 inches) at the front, and 279 mm (11 inches) at the back, with
four-piston calipers by AP Racing. Steering can have servo assistance or power
assistance according to the preferences of the owner.
Production of the Donkervoort F22 will be
limited to 75 units, with 50 of them already sold out. The company is accepting
orders for the remaining units and the next supercar which will be presumably
based on the F22. Pricing starts from € 245,000 (US$ 258,266) excluding taxes for
European markets, while it will also be available in North America and in the
Middle East. Rivals include the KTM X-Bow GT-XR and the BAC Mono, as well as
similar proposals from Caterham, and Radical.
