New Donkervoort D8 GTO

Donkervoort D8 GTO Seoul - Arabstoday If you like your Lotus 7-esque roadsters to have a bit of a Dutch twist, then there’s really only one place to go. And that’s to your nearest Donkervoort dealership. Since the brand was founded in 1978, the company have produced a range of models, including the D8 Audi E-gas, the D8 270 RS, and the D8 GT Coupe. Now, one year after it was first announced, the latest and greatest Donkervoort has arrived.The new Donkervoort D8 GTO is longer and wider than the company’s other models, and despite its similar appearance, it only shares around 5% of  its parts with the D8 270 RS and about 30% with the much more recent GT. The D8 GTO is also significantly more powerful than Donkervoort’s other models. Thanks to a modified Audi TT RS 2.5 litre TFSI engine, the D8 GTO offers up to 400 horsepower and 331 lb-ft (450 Nm) of torque. And when you consider that the D8 GTO weighs an anorexic 700 kgs  (1,540 lbs), then the cars performance potential becomes very clear indeed.The first 25 D8 GTOs have an engine which is 30 kg lighter than the standard Audi 2.5 TFSI. Joop Donkervoort, the company’s founder, commented on the limited edition upgrade: “This weight savings is obtained by redesigning several accessory parts of the motor together with the Audi technicians. For example, amongst others a new intake manifold was developed. Because the intake follows a more favourable route through the motor area it is not only lighter, but has a favourable effect on the achievements of the motor as well. The dashboard in this design of the GTO is equipped with a special race module switch, which can increase the capacity from 340 to 400 HP at once. Connected to this is another Donkervoort novelty: the first car from Lelystad that has ‘traction control’ on board. Only for when it is raining of course.”Approximately half of the first 25 specially designed GTOs were sold within the first few hours of the car going on sale!To keep the weight down, the D8 GTO is fitted with carbon composite body panels. Amazingly the one-piece doors weigh less than a kilo (2.2 lbs), yet they can withstand a sideways impact of 1,500 kgs (3,300 lbs). The styling is designed to be more functional than beautiful, yet there’s still a few well thought out touches, like the angled headlights and neatly integrated roll bar. The combination of the sinister slit like headlights and fangs of the grille give the car an unmistakable snake-like appearance when viewed from the front.Donkervoort say the  first D8 GTOs will be delivered by the summer of 2012. Pre-tax prices start at €100,000, and they keep going all the way to €150,000 – depending on how many options boxes are ticked.