Donkervoort has seen the success of its F22 supercar skyrocket, with the initial run of seventy-five vehicles selling out immediately. The high demand has led to the marque extending its production run by an additional twenty-five F22s. Jeremy Webb looks at what the latest Flying Dutchman has to offer.
The F22 from Donkervoort does not get its name from the American fighter jet; it comes from a family tradition of naming models after family members. The F22 is named after Filippa, born in 2022, the first child of Donkervoort Managing Director Denis Donkervoort.
Amber Donkervoort, the daughter of Joop Donkervoort, the company Founder, gives her name to the Donkervoort S8A and S8AT. Denis Donkervoort, Donkervoort’s Managing Director, is connected to the “D” from the D10 lineage onwards.
Donkervoort will expand the total F22 production from the initial 75 models announced last December to 100. Production is taking place at pace, and the first cars have been delivered to their proud owners.
The Dutch car maker sold out of the initial F22 run almost instantly and allocated some additional F22s before announcing their existence. The company intended F22 production to end in 2024, but the additional cars mean production continues until mid-2025.
Donkervoort has traditionally had strong demand from western Europe, but the F22 has seen purchases and interest from North America, the UAE, the UK, southern Europe, Scandinavia and even Israel. Five cars have been allocated to the US.
Managing Director Denis Donkervoort explained, “We are in an unprecedented situation at Donkervoort, and it’s a testament to the design and engineering teams behind the F22 that demand is so strong. We had hoped people would appreciate the F22, and they did.
They appreciated it so much we had to turn back to our logistics chain to source enough high-quality pieces to create another 25 cars after all the regular production slots had been filled. This is where it ends, though. It has been a unique time at Donkervoort, and the buzz behind the F22 has introduced a new buyer group to our brand to broaden our extended customer family.”
The turbocharged, in-line, five-cylinder engine produces over 500 horsepower for the 750kg supercar. The sportscar flies to 100km/h in just 2.5 seconds and continues to 200km/h in under nine seconds, thanks to an impressive power-to-weight ratio of 666hp per tonne.
The extra twenty-five F22 models will have the same torque, power, weight and performance specifications as the initial seventy-five F22s.
Donkervoort has torn up the supercar rulebook with the F22. It is a supercar that sets new standards in handling, driving purity, speed, design and usability, yet it retains solid visual cues to the Dutch brand’s open-wheel heritage.
An innovative removable Twin Targa carbon-fibre roof, active suspension, and hydraulic ride-height adjustment improve on D8 GTO Individual Series in ease of use, practicality, and comfort without losing any of its focus.
Donkervoort F22’s powertrain is the heart of the supercar and is a front mid-engined five-cylinder turbocharged engine. Producing an impressive 500 horsepower, the rear-drive F22 delivers an excellent power-to-weight ratio of 666hp per tonne – in a machine weighing 750kg.
The F22 has a top speed of around 290km/h, and superb braking performance improved by 30% to 1.12g.
The ultra-lightweight, combined with excellent torque, means the F22 can utilise weight efficiencies and the size of the five-speed gearbox. At least 12kg of weight is saved compared to a six or seven-speed gearbox, so the F22 benefits from the packaging and weight-distribution advantages of the much shorter gearbox.
The short-throw gearbox utilises Bosch rev-matching technology as standard, which can be switched off so drivers can use their heel-and-toe skills.
To cope with the high performance, the F22 has been designed with your safety in mind.
The Donkervoort F22 has changed the game for ultra-lightweight supercars with its active and passive safety. data showed that 98% of buyers opted for the optional six-point harness instead of the three-point harness for their D8 GTO-JD70s, so the company worked with their supplier to certify a new six-point harness for all types of use.
The F22 integrates ultra-strong Ex-Core sandwich-construction carbon-fibre segments with tube-steel sections in hybrid chassis construction. Most Ex-Core pieces are around the cabin, the doors, the windscreen frame, the side panels, and the reinforcing bar for the Twin Targa roof.
The Donkervoort F22 is arguably the most driver-focused supercar on the market, with a uniquely pure level of driver involvement.
The F22 also opens the door to hypercar customisation at a supercar price. Core choices for F22 buyers include a steering system with no servo assistance or a lightweight, electronically powered, adjustable power-assistance system.
There is a choice between an electrically powered air conditioning system or the slight weight advantage that comes without it.
There are other driver-choice options, like a Bosch ABS, for those who frequently enjoy track days. Beyond that, even the smallest detail of the F22 can be customised, from one-off paintwork and interior design to embossing the owner’s initials or business logo into the seat trims.
Another critical point with ownership is the incredible longevity, and repairability of Donkervoorts means more than 99% of all cars ever built are still on the road as appreciating assets.
For more information on the F22, please visit www.donkervoort.com.
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