Donkervoort’s D8 GTO Bilster Berg Edition is 380 horsepower of tongue-twisting fun

By Andrew Hard Published January 7, 2015

Some people like cars that ferry them along in luxury, and others prefer the automotive equivalent of a punch to the face.

Look at the Donkervoort D8 GTO. Inspect its rough, brawny lines, and listen to its name rattle and clang around inside your head. This is not a car; it’s blunt force trauma.

For fans of this type of transportation, the D8 GTO may remind you of the iconic Caterham Seven or the Lotus Seven that came before it. There’s little comfort, refinement, or practicality to speak of inside each vehicle, but the Dutch GTO takes it to the next level.

Under the elongated, vented hood sits a modified version of the 2.5-liter turbo four that powers the Audi RS3 and TT RS. It sends 380 horsepower back through the rear wheels, allowing the shooting brake silhouette to rocket from 0 to 60 mph in just 2.8 seconds.

It’s fast, yes, but not just in a straight line. Donkervoort has just announced a special version of the D8 GTO called the Bilster Berg Edition.

Bilster Berg is a high-speed circuit in Driburg, Germany, one Donkervoort happens to hold the production car lap record at.

Donkervoort D8 GTO Bilster Berg Edition

Donkervoort D8 GTO Bilster Berg Edition

Donkervoort D8 GTO Bilster Berg Edition

Outside of a racing clutch, the limited edition supercar features no major upgrades to the powertrain. After all, it’s already comparable to a McLaren P1 in a drag race.

However, its suspension and chassis have been tweaked for hardcore track performance. It wears semi-slick Hankook tires, and the car is about 22 pounds lighter with the use of carbon fiber seats. It also equips a dashboard data logger and GPS.

The Bilster Berg Edition features styling only a hardcore gearhead could love, with a chunky profile, menacing front end, and fabric-wrapped shooting brake caboose.

To say the least, the car is a bit rough around the edges. We’ll actually love the massive, Viper-esque side exhausts (just don’t wear shorts), but the chintzy-looking dash and interior quality are a tad questionable.

But hey, when you’re screaming around a hairpin corner at a bazillion miles an hour, you probably won’t care about saggy leather.

Only 14 examples of the special GTO will be produced for a whopping 194,000 Euros ($229,000). This is clearly a ride like no other, but considering the Caterham Seven 620R produces similar performance for $72,900, do you think it’s worth it?

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Andrew first started writing in middle school and hasn't put the pen down since. Whether it's technology, music, sports, or…

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Jeep Compass EV breaks cover—but will it come to the U.S.?

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Jeep just pulled the wraps off the all-new Compass EV, and while it’s an exciting leap into the electric future, there's a catch—it might not make it to the U.S. anytime soon.
This is a brand new electric version of the Jeep Compass, and being built on Stellantis' STLA platform—the same architecture underpinning models like the Peugeot E-3008 and E-5008—it looks much slicker and packs a lot more inside than previous versions of the Compass.
Let’s start with what’s cool: the new Compass EV is packing up to 404 miles of range on a single charge, a 74 kWh battery, and fast-charging that gets you from 20% to 80% in about 30 minutes. Not bad for a compact SUV with Jeep's badge on the nose.
There are two versions: a front-wheel-drive model with 213 horsepower and a beefier all-wheel-drive version with 375 horsepower. That AWD setup isn’t just for looks—it can handle 20% inclines even without front traction, and comes with extra ground clearance and better off-road angles. In short, it’s still a Jeep.
The design's been refreshed too, and inside you’ll find the kind of tech and comfort you’d expect in a modern EV—sleek, smart, and ready for both city streets and dirt trails.
But here’s the thing: even though production starts soon in Italy, Jeep hasn’t said whether the Compass EV is coming to America. And the signs aren’t promising.
Plans to build it in Canada were recently put on hold, with production now delayed until at least early 2026. Some of that might have to do with possible U.S. tariffs on Canadian and Mexican vehicles—adding a layer of uncertainty to the whole rollout.
According to Kelley Blue Book, a Stellantis spokesperson confirmed that the company has “temporarily paused work on the next-generation Jeep Compass, including activities at” the Canadian plant that was originally meant to build the model. They added that Stellantis is “reassessing its product strategy in North America” to better match customer needs and demand for different powertrain options.
So while Europe and other markets are gearing up to get the Compass EV soon, American drivers might be left waiting—or miss out entirely.
That’s a shame, because on paper, this electric Jeep hits a lot of sweet spots. Let’s just hope it finds a way over here.

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Tesla just scrapped the Cybertruck range extender

Tesla CEO Elon Musk behind the wheel of a Cybertruck.

The writing was pretty much on the wall for the Cybertruck range extender last month when Tesla removed the option from its website. Now, it’s officially scrapped it and is refunding the $2,000 deposits that customers put down for the $16,000 battery pack.

“We are no longer planning to sell the range extender for Cybertruck," Tesla said in a message to customers on Wednesday, adding, "As a result, we will be refunding your deposit in full.”

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Zoox recalls robotaxis after Las Vegas crash, citing software fix

Amazon's self-driving vehicle unit, Zoox, has issued a voluntary safety recall after one of its autonomous vehicles was involved in a minor collision in Las Vegas. The incident, which occurred in April 2025, led the company to investigate and identify a software issue affecting how the robotaxi anticipates another vehicle’s path.
The recall, affecting 270 Zoox-built vehicles, was formally filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Zoox said the issue has already been addressed through a software update that was remotely deployed to its fleet.
Zoox’s robotaxis, which operate without driving controls like a steering wheel or pedals, are part of Amazon’s entry into the autonomous driving space. According to Zoox’s safety recall report, the vehicle failed to yield to oncoming traffic while making an unprotected left turn, leading to a low-speed collision with a regular passenger car. While damage was minor, the event raised flags about the system’s behavior in complex urban scenarios.
Establishing safety and reliability remain key factors in the deployment of the relatively new autonomous ride-hailing technology. Alphabet-owned Waymo continues to lead the sector in both safety and operational scale, with services active in multiple cities including Phoenix and San Francisco. But GM’s Cruise and Ford/VW-backed Argo AI were forced to abandon operations over the past few years.
Tesla is also expected to enter the robotaxi race with the launch of its own service in June 2025, leveraging its Full Self-Driving (FSD) software. While FSD has faced heavy regulatory scrutiny through last year, safety regulations are expected to loosen under the Trump administration.
Zoox, which Amazon acquired in 2020, says it issued the recall voluntarily as part of its commitment to safety. “It’s essential that we remain transparent about our processes and the collective decisions we make,” the company said in a statement.