Donkervoort’s newest supercar has arrived. It’s called the F22, but it’s not named after the United States Air Force’s fifth-generation stealth fighter. It is named after CEO Denis Donkervoort’s firstborn daughter, Filippa, who was born on May 22, 2022. While it may resemble the company’s D8 GTO, not a single nut, bolt, or body panel is shared. This is a new generation of supercar.
With a power-to-weight ratio of 666 horsepower per metric tonne, it qualifies as a supercar. That’s more than a Bugatti Veyron, and it’s powered by an Audi-sourced 2.5-liter turbocharged inline-five with 492 horsepower (367 kilowatts). That power is routed to the rear wheels in the traditional manner, via a five-speed manual transmission linked to a Torsen limited-slip differential. It can reach 62 mph (100 km/h) in 2.5 seconds in skilled hands. The F22’s top speed is 180 mph (290 km/h), but it isn’t designed for pure speed.
The impressive power-to-weight ratio is due to more than just the aforementioned engine. Donkervoort prioritised weight reduction when developing the F22, and the result is a road-legal two-seater weighing 1,653 pounds. The chassis combines thin-wall tubular steel and carbon fibre to create a car that is twice as rigid as the outgoing D8 GTO. This also improves steering and handling, allowing the wide Nankang tyres (18-inch front, 19-inch rear) to grip paved surfaces with tenacity. According to Donkervoort, the F22 can pull 2.15g in turns.
Steel brakes with 4-piston callipers provide 1.2g of deceleration when it’s time to stop. But be prepared to work that pedal because the F22’s brakes lack power assist. In fact, servo assistance for rack and pinion steering is optional. As a result, there are no stability control systems, but there are adjustable traction control settings. The independent suspension has an optional hydraulic system that raises the car 35 millimetres to clear speed bumps, but it’s otherwise an analogue car in a digital world.
This is also true for the interior, where an optional integrated iPad infotainment system is available. For instrumentation, the driver has a small digital display, and there are only a few buttons around the shifter to manage various systems. The carbon fibre roof panels are manually removed and stored in the back. Six-point harnesses are available for both road and track use on Recaro seats. It also has butterfly doors.
It also has a starting price of €245,000 in Europe, with a long list of options that can easily add another €100,000 to the total. It’s a cheap two-seater, but the automaker sold out its initial planned run of 50 vehicles before this debut. Another 25 will be produced, bringing the total number of cars produced to 75, and they will be available in various markets around the world. The first deliveries will take place in January 2023.