Donkervoort

Donkervoort is an automobile mark Dutchwoman created at the end of the Années 1970 by Joop Donkervoort.

History

Joop Donkervoort wanted to create a sport scar while taking as a starting point the mythical the Lotus Seven of Colin Chapman. It began its activity in the garage from its house and the first cars were produced in 1978. In 2000, the company settled in new buildings. More than 1.000 cars were produced to date.

The first models (series S) used engines Ford and, since 1998, the series D Donkervoort uses engines Audi (after signature of a trade agreement).

Philosophy

The philosophy of the mark is simple: " No compromise" , i.e., thorough sportivity and automobile pleasure to the extreme, without compromise. Also, Donkervoort are noticed by a rustic and extremely stripped appearance. These cars can thus be regarded as with opposite of the orientation of the modern car, which tends to make increasingly comfortable and sophisticated vehicles, to the detriment of the pleasure of control. The characteristics of these cars are thus explainable:

not of roof (replaced by hoods in fabric, lighter);
not of doors on certain models (replaced by fabric still);
not of power-assisted steering or ABS;
a trunk reduced to its more simple expression;
etc

Moreover, the slack demand for this kind of vehicles, required quality and the possibility of personalization, make that the vehicles of the mark are almost entirely assembled to the hand (except machine elements provided by external companies, like the engine).

The models of Donkervoort are thus parts rare and ignored, and generally reserved for impassioned enlightened.

Current models

Currently 3 models are available: D150, D180 and D210 which share a great number of characteristics (of which the engine) and who are characterized mainly by the adjustments from turbo (pressure going of 0.95 bar with 2 bar with intercooler).

The current engine is the 4 cylinders Audi of 1,8 liters, 20 valves, with turbo.

Built on a tubular covered steel frame of aluminum panels, Donkervoort weigh only 650 kg, which allows them very high performances (0 to 100 km/h in 4 S. for D210). They are cars 2 places, built for the only pleasure of leading.

To celebrate the record of the turn for a mass-production car established in Nurburgring in 2005, a series limited to 25 specimens at summer manufactured; D8 270 RS. As its name indicates it, this version proposes 270 horses.

See too

Caterham, another manufacturer of derived from the Lotus Seven.

External bonds

Official site of Donkervoort
S8 of 1986

Random links: