Donkervoort D8 GTO favors substance over style

By Amir Iliaifar December 21, 2011

It would appear that Dutch cars are coming out of the woodwork this week. Yesterday we got a glimpse at the Savage Rivale Roadyacht GTS and today we bring you the Donkervoort D8 GTO.

We’ll be the first to admit that the Donkervoort isn’t your typically beautiful sportscar. If you like your cars with a prominent beak and a wide frame then the D8 GTO will definitely suit your tastes. But of course what is equally, if not more, important is what the Donkervoort D8 is sporting under its elongated hood. The D8 features a modified Audi TT RS 2.5 liter TFSI engine that offers up to 400 horsepower and 332 lb-ft of torque.

Weight ratio plays an important part in the D8’s design and thanks to a steel tube frame and the use of carbon composite panels the Donkervoort D8 manages to weigh in at svelte 1,540 lbs. It’s clear that the styling of the D8 was designed with function over form in mind, but while we freely admit that the D8 GTO won’t be winning any beauty pageants any time soon, we can’t help but stare at this Dutch masterpiece and grow increasingly fond of it.

As for availability, no word yet on whether the D8 will make it stateside, but for now European readers should take note that the first D8 GTO’s will be delivered in the summer of 2012 with prices starting at €100,000.

Topics

Photo Galleries

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Associate Automotive Section Editor for Digital Trends, Amir Iliaifar covers the ever increasing cross-section between tech…

Cars

Tesla’s fix for faulty Cybertruck pedal is simpler than you might think

Tesla Cybertruck

Less than five months after handing over the first Cybertrucks to customers, Tesla has had to recall the electric pickup to fix an issue with the accelerator.

In a notice issued on Friday, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said that the recall impacts Cybertruck vehicles manufactured from November 13, 2023, to April 4, 2024. This suggests that all -- or almost all -- of the 3,878 Cybertrucks being recalled are those that have been manufactured to date.

Cars

Ford Mustang Mach-E 2024 vs. Mach-E 2023: What’s new in Ford’s electric Mustang?

Blue Ford Mustang Mach-E on a rooftop

The Ford Mustang Mach-E is easily one of the best EVs for the price, offering a solid range, sleek design, and pretty good tech on the inside. In recent years, it has gotten even cheaper -- thanks in large part to a price war between it and the Tesla Model 3. And, the company just took the wraps off of the latest and greatest version of the Mach-E, labeled as the 2024 model.

The 2024 Mustang Mach-E is notably different from the 2023 iteration in some meaningful ways. So much so that we decided to take a look at the two head-to-head -- to see if it was better to pay for the 2024 model or save some cash on any remaining 2023 stock.
Design
The Mustang Mach-E looks relatively unique -- in a good way. And thankfully, Ford has largely kept the overall design the same for the 2024 model, at least when it comes to the more consumer-focused models. The car retains the slatted taillights and crossover size. It also offers a large selection of colors, including the very blue Grabber Blue Metallic, as well as Rapid Red Metallic. It's a good selection of colors, and there should be an option for most buyers.

Cars

Tesla to begin production on new, more affordable models

Tesla Model 3

With competition increasing from Chinese and other automakers, Tesla boss Elon Musk revealed on Tuesday that his company is planning to begin production of new, more affordable models in “early 2025, if not late this year.” Notably, that's earlier than the previously stated date of late 2025, though whether Musk actually succeeds in meeting the earlier production time frame is another question entirely.

The news came as Tesla released its latest quarterly figures. Revenue for the electric vehicle maker came in at $21.3 billion, down from the $23.3 billion it reported for the same three-month period a year earlier and also down from the $25.2 billion reported in the previous quarter. Profit reached $1.1 billion, marking a 55% fall compared to the same period a year ago.