- Donkervoort
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Donkervoort Automobielen B.V. Industry Automotive Founded 1978 Founder(s) J.A. Donkervoort Headquarters Lelystad, the Netherlands Products Hand-built ultra-light weight sport cars 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 in The Netherlands. This car brand was founded in 1978 by Joop Donkervoort.
In 1996, Donkervoort's Ford engines were replaced by Audi engines. Donkervoorts motto - "No Compromise" - means driving without any electronic aids such as ABS (Anti-lock braking system), Electronic stability program (ESP) or power steering.
Contents
Previous models
Donkervoort S8A
- Donkervoort S8/S8A
The S8 and S8A were the first Donkervoorts, with the "Eight" implying an improvement over the Lotus Seven. The cars originally used a two-liter inline-four engine from Ford of Europe.
- Donkervoort S8AT
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.
- Donkervoort D10
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).[1]
Current models
Donkervoort D8 Wide Track- Donkervoort D8 Audi (E-gas) Wide Track (2003 - present)
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 kilogram, this results in an acceleration time from 0 to 100 km/h between 3,8 and 5,2 seconds depending on the type.
Donkervoort D8 270- Donkervoort D8 270 (2008 - present)
The Donkervoort D8 270 is available since the summer of 2008. This version of the D8 series became the successor of the D8 270 RS, the limited edition that was introduced in 2005. The D8 270 has a restyled nose and grill that refer directly to the D8 GT and accelerates from 0-100 km/h in 3,6 seconds.
This car was as of 2011 one of the ten fastest production cars on the famous Nurburgring Nordschleife at 7m14.9s. [2]
Donkervoort D8GT- Donkervoort D8 GT (2007 - present)
The Donkervoort D8 GT - introduced in 2007 - is the first closed Donkervoort. Compared to the open version of the D8, the D8 GT has entirely new front and rear wheel suspension, increased in track width by 8 centimer, larger brakes are applied for maximum delay and 17-inch aluminum wheels are fitted. With a total weight of 650 kg, the D8GT is the lightest GT in the world. This is mainly thanks to the use of carbon fiber: the entire roof, the entire rear and the doors and fenders of the car are made of this material.
Model Overview
Vehicle Year Engine S7 1978–1984 1,6 litre Ford OHV engine, 128 bhp S8 1985–1989 2 litre Ford OHC, 110 bhp (82 kW) S8A 1985–1993 2 litre Ford OHC, 117 bhp (87 kW) S8AT 1986–1994 Garrett T3 turbocharger, intercooler, 3 way catalytic converter, 170 bhp (130 kW) as a 2.0 L engine/ 190 bhp as a 2.2 L D10 1988–1989 2.160 cc Garrett T3 turbocharger, 190 bhp (140 kW) D8 Zetec 1993–1998 1.8 litre or a 2.0 litre 16V Zetec engine, 140 bhp (100 kW) or 160 bhp (120 kW) D8 Cosworth 1994–1998 2.0 litre DOHC engine, 220 to 280 bhp (210 kW) D8 Audi (AGU) 1999–2002 turbocharged 1.8 L Audi engine, 150-245 bhp, D8 Audi (E-gas) 2003–present turbocharged 1.8 L Audi engine, drive by wire, 150-270 bhp, D8 270 RS 2005–2007 turbocharged, 1.8 L Audi engine, drive by wire, 270 bhp (200 kW) D8 270 2008–present turbocharged, 1.8 L Audi engine, drive by wire, 270 bhp (200 kW) Special D8 GT 2007–present turbocharged, 1.8 L, 20v Audi engine, drive by wire, 270 bhp (200 kW) References
- ^ "D10-page". Donkervoort Automobilia. http://members.home.nl/wfvogd/Donkervoort/frames/D10.htm. Retrieved 2011-11-11.
- ^ "Fastest Production Car Lap of the Nurburgring". Bridgetogantry.com. 2011-03-18. http://bridgetogantry.com/2/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=178&Itemid=300060.
External links
- Official Website Donkervoort Automobielen B.V
- Donkervoort fan site with lots of independent information, pictures etc.
Categories:- Sports car manufacturers
- Roadsters
- Cars of the Netherlands
- Motor vehicle manufacturers of the Netherlands
- Dutch company stubs
- Motor vehicle company stubs
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