Imagine a supercar with the fundamental proportions and track manners of a Lotus Seven, but thoroughly updated in every way except altering that wild wheelbase. Yes, keep the twin bucket seats virtually atop the back axle, and keep the mid-mounted engine behind the front axle as far as possible.
But swap the floppy frame rails for a lightwieght and super strong chromoly racing frame. And lose those steel panels and retro lighting completely. While we’re at it, add a 380-hp Audi 2.5-liter turbo Ur-Quattro engine descendent.
A full exterior redesign and gangster stance thanks to a big jump in width and cut in overall windshield header height.
The result is a car with the squirmy, pivoty and wildly drifty manners of a classic track car. But on throttle, the speed and 2.8-second 100-kph sprint time of the best current supercars.
So learn this name. It is easier to fathom than Koenigsegg — and we’ve all come to love his cars too!
Along with the prestige of owning such a rare mashup of a hypercar… comes a pretty stiff price. Pounds $152,000 is the base price for the D8 GTO — and an easy $25k joining the party via the Performance trim or some of the many options.
For this all-new Bare Naked Carbon model? No price is immediately available… but $300k seems like a good ballpark for those considering this villainous retro rocket.
2016 Donkervoort D8 GTO Bare Naked Carbon Edition
2016 Donkervoort D8 GTO Bare Naked Carbon Edition
The Donkervoort D8 GTO family continues to grow, this time with the arrival of a brand new version: the D8 GTO Bare Naked Carbon Edition. The very first Donkervoort fully fitted with visible carbon fibre – a technique in which the unique and recognizable fibre structure of the material is exposed to view – not only accentuates the high-tech, super-fast character of the D8 GTO but also reveals a bit of its ‘dark side’. The first example of this eye catcher left the Donkervoort factory in the Netherlands this week, headed for Switzerland.
D8 GTO Bare Naked Carbon Edition
The new Bare Naked Carbon Edition emphasises the high-tech, ultra-light, super-fast nature of the D8 GTO through a unique combination of lightweight visible carbon fibre components and the powerful Audi 2.5L R5 TFSI pure sport engine.
The focus for this ‘cosmetic-only’ special edition is – you guessed it – the carbon fibre. Both the exterior and interior of this GTO consist almost entirely of this super-strong, ultra-light material. The exterior, in visible carbon fibre from nose to diffuser, gives an even more mysterious, dark look to the beautiful D8 GTO. The carbon-look is also carried through to the interior, in elements such as the seats, door panels, window frame, dashboard and door sills. Carbon fibre can be found down to the smallest details in the Bare Naked Carbon Edition – even the ignition cylinder housing, belt-and-roll bar trim and headlight housings are made of visible carbon fibre.
Every Bare Naked Carbon Edition undergoes a remarkable painting process, in which a unique UV-coating is applied to each carbon fibre component by hand, in either a matte or gloss finish, or even with a colour accent of the owner’s choosing. The use of visible carbon fibre components, rather than a traditional colour paint system, also results in several kilos of weight savings.
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Tom Burkart is the founder and managing editor of Car-Revs-Daily.com, an innovative and rapidly-expanding automotive news magazine.
He holds a Journalism JBA degree from the University of Wisconsin – Madison. Tom currently resides in Charleston, South Carolina with his two amazing dogs, Drake and Tank.
Mr. Burkart is available for all questions and concerns by email Tom(at)car-revs-daily.com.