The brand new Donkervoort P24 RS is a light-weight two-seater for driving purists

This cartoonishly styled two-seater is the latest supercar from Donkervoort, the low-profile Dutch supercar maker that’s identified solely to a small coterie of fans looking for out extremely stylised, high-performance machines. Based by Joop Donkervoort in 1978, the primary Donkervoorts have been based mostly on the evergreen Lotus Seven (the light-weight sports activities automotive that additionally birthed Caterham within the UK). The corporate has made than 2,000 vehicles in that point, every hand-built at its manufacturing facility in Lelystad.

Simply after the flip of the century, nevertheless, Donkervoort diverted radically from the unique Seven blueprint. Beginning with the D8 270RS in 2005, the corporate’s output has develop into ever extra outlandish, and the brand new P24 RS is the end result of this slavish adherence to the leading edge.

The corporate is now overseen by Joop’s son, Managing Director Denis Donkervoort. Sticking strictly to combustion-engined energy with actual wheel drive, the brand new automotive retains the long-nosed, two-seater type issue of Colin Chapman’s unique but provides sculptural bodywork, scissor doorways and detachable targa roof panels.

Carbon fibre is the order of the day, and loads of it, serving to make the diminutive machine weigh in at simply 780kg. The automotive additionally makes in depth use of Donkervoort’s personal Ex-Core, a fabric shaped from bonded foam and carbon fibre that permits for extra energy and unconventional types that wouldn’t in any other case be doable.

Within the shark-like nostril is a twin-turbo, 3.5-litre V6 with Donkervoort’s ‘Energy to Select’ (PTC) expertise that permits drivers to dial in outputs of 400, 500 or 600hp. The best setting offers the P24 RS an influence to weight ratio of 770hp per tonne, on par with the Bugatti Chiron. The P24 RS may be very a lot an analogue supercar, nevertheless, retaining the purist really feel generated by low weight, minimal inertia and ultra-quick steering and throttle response.

On the entrance, the open entrance wheel wings give the driving force an unprecedented view down the bonnet, serving to excellent positioning on the street or monitor. The entrance ‘Aero Blade’ headlights fold away when not in use to maximise airflow, swinging out horizontally from behind the grille.

The latter expertise might be bolstered by the choice of a detachable aero package, with twin rear wings and a deep entrance spoiler offering elevated downforce. For extra sensible on a regular basis use, there’s a modest baggage space (298 litres) and the cockpit is designed to accommodate driver heights of over 6’6” (strive doing that in a Caterham). The straightforward digital instrument cluster is supplemented by an optionally available iPad Mini multimedia system, with buttons and dials readily available for key controls.

Customisation choices go far past the usual color and trim decisions and embody steering rack, braking system and different track-related upgrades. Hardcore drivers may even delete the air-con system for a small weight saving.

Donkervoort continues to be very a lot a household affair – the ‘D’ within the present D8 line of vehicles is known as for Denis Donkervoort, whereas the P24 RS is known as after Donkervoort’s second baby, Phébe. The P24 RS can be made in an version of 150, 50 of that are already spoken for.