Donkervoort ‘up for the challenge’ of getting F22 on Australian roads

Family-owned Dutch sports car manufacturer Donkervoort has unveiled its next vehicle, the ultra-lightweight F22.

The car is named after the firstborn child of managing director Denis Donkervoort, Filippa, who was born on May 22, 2022.

Denis Donkervoort took over from his father, Joop Donkervoort, in 2021, and has now unveiled the 750kg supercar which will characterise the brand’s new era by being the lightest road-registered, two-seat supercar in the world. 

Under the bonnet is a 2.5-litre five-cylinder turbo engine sourced from Audi, which Donkervoort engineers have tuned for more low-end drivability. 

The F22 will be able to reach a top speed of around 290km/h and generate up to 2.15 of lateral G. 

The engine will provide 373kW of power, good for a power-to-weight ratio of 497kW per 1000kg. It’s mated with a five-speed manual gearbox, rear-wheel drive, and a limited-slip Torsen differential. 

F22s have already been reserved in major markets including North America, the Middle East, and Europe, with a starting price of €245,000 ($A380,000) before on-road costs.

An additional €100,000 ($A155,000) of customisation options are available.

A Donkervoot spokesperson confirmed to CarExpert the F22 can be shipped to Australia – although it hasn’t been homologated for the region outside of track use.

If you’re really keen, the brand is “up for the challenge” of getting the F22 registered should an Australian enthusiast have their eyes on the model. 

The F22 has double the torsional and bending rigidity of the outgoing D8 GTO, thanks to a chassis constructed of steel tube and Ex-Core carbon fibre.

Ex-Core is a Donkervoort spin-off that manufactures a carbon fibre sandwich product designed to be stronger and more rigid than regular CFRP, and has been used in Formula 1, racing yachts, and other hypercars. 

“The key to everything we do is weight. The less weight you carry, the less weight you have to stop, turn and accelerate, and the less fuel you use and the more intimate the car can be,” Denis Donkervoort explained. 

There is also an adjustable hydraulic ride-height system that can raise the F22 by as much as 35mm.

The interior finish is mostly at the discretion of the owner, but Donkervoort is recommending lightweight Recaro seats with six-point harnesses that have been approved both for racing and road use. 

A clean dash features a small digital display for the driver. An iPad Mini infotainment system is an optional add-on, and the manually-removable roof can turn the F22 into a convertible. 

The initial production run of 50 units was boosted to 75 after the initial run sold out based on teaser sketches alone. 

Deliveries of the F22 will begin in January 2023.