Brand new Donkervoort F22 is literally a neckbreaker

Donkervoort

It is not often that Donkervoort presents a new model. Not surprising, because in the production hall in Lelystad, Donkervoort Automobielen builds only about 40 to 50 sports cars annually. A total of some 1,500 cars have been built since 1978 under the direction of Joop Donkervoort. Son Denis took over in 2021, and the first completely new model under his reign is now a reality: the F22.

D8 GTO

The F22 is the successor to the D8 GTO, which entered the market in 2012. At 750 kilograms, it weighs a little more than its 695-kilogram predecessor, but that should not spoil the fun. In fact, it is more powerful and twice as rigid as the D8 GTO-JD70. That one could pull up to 2G lateral forces in the turn, the F22 does not budge up to 2.15G. So the F22 is literally and figuratively a neck-breaker

Performance

The F22 boasts more power than the D8 GTO. The engine is originally from Audi Sport and has been tuned for even more power. It puts out 500 hp – in a car that weighs only 750 kg. For this power you do need to check the free-flow exhaust on the options list, as it provides 30 extra horsepower. The result is not nauseating. Or did, actually. The 0-100 sprint is completed in just 2.5 seconds. A sprint to 200 km/h goes in 7.5 seconds. The top speed is 290 km/h.

Manual

Shifting is done – as it should be in a street-legal track car – with a five-speed manual transmission. Why only five gears? Not only is the five-speed transmission at least 12 kilograms lighter than a six- or seven-speed transmission, but its compact size also contributes to weight distribution. As a driver, you don’t have to have sublime whole-and-together technology, because the gearbox uses rev-matching technology from Bosch as standard.

Filippa

Oh, and what about that name exactly? If you read the name of the car and look at the pictures, you will probably immediately think it is named after an F-22 fighter jet, but that is incorrect. He is named after Denis’ daughter born in 2022: Filippa. In fact, it is a tradition within the company to use a son or daughter’s name for the cars. The D8 – which has been on the market since 1988 – was named after Denis and the S8A and S8AT were both named after Amber, the daughter of founder Joop Donkervoort.

Excluding

With the F22, Donkervoort wants to compete with real supercars again. Like many super- and hypercars, the F22 is exclusive. Donkervoort builds only 75 examples. The new model is on sale almost all over the world, from North America to the Middle East to Europe. Interested parties should be quick, though, because according to the brand, the model is already almost sold out. On the European market, prices start at €245,000, including roadworthiness costs but excluding taxes and registration fees.

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