Donkervoort JD70: The birthday present we'd all like to receive

The Donkervoort JD70 arrives to celebrate the 70th birthday of the brand’s founder with a brutal power-to-weight ratio.

Life in the world of supercars goes beyond the typical brands such as Ferrari, Porsche and Lamborghini. There are also much lesser-known and, therefore, exclusive alternatives that are capable of putting the biggest smile on your face.

This is where Donkervoort comes into play, a sports car manufacturer founded in 1978 that employs no more than 25 people. Its philosophy has always been clear: to focus firmly on the lightness of its cars and the purest driving experience, leaving out all kinds of driving aids.

Of course, its cars needed a powertrain that would set the heart racing for anyone who got behind the wheel, so until 1996 it was Ford that supplied its engines, and from then on, the job passed to Audi.

Donkervoort has once again unveiled the latest interpretation of its purist philosophy. We don’t yet have many details, but what we do know is that its name is JD70, which is a clear tribute to the company’s founder, Joop Donkervoort. It should be said that it is not a car created entirely from scratch, as it is based on the Donkervoort D8 GTO that debuted in 2011.

The Donkervoort JD70 will be a featherweight

As it could not be otherwise, the Donkervoort JD70 will tip the scales at under 700 kilos and under its bonnet it will have a Audi engine, specifically the 2.5 TFSI block –the one used in the Audi RS3 or the Audi TT RS.

The five-cylinder engine from the brand with the four rings will be tuned by the manufacturer itself, so we don’t know the exact power the Dutch firm will extract from it. However, we do know that the Donkervoort D8 GTO offers no less than 380 horsepower, accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in under 3 seconds and is capable of reaching 270 km/h. Therefore, we will have to see whether this very special birthday present surpasses these figures.

What is surprising is that the company has shared figures about its price, as the Donkervoort JD70 will cost around 165,000 euros. In addition, the manufacturer has made a clear statement of intent, since its model “will swim against the mainstream of sports cars by minimising electronic driver aids.”

There is no doubt that exclusivity is its flagship feature, as Donkervoort intends to assemble only 70 units of the JD70. These can already be reserved, although the lucky buyers will have to wait until 2021 to have their Donkervoort JD70 in their garage. Therefore, the Caterham Seven 485 CSR, a featherweight with more than 400 horsepower, already has a rival to fight with in the ring.