BOLD RIDE
There’s nothing warm and cuddly about the automotive creations which bear the Donkervoort moniker. Rather, the minimalist sports cars weigh next to nothing, sport titanic power, and come fitted without modern electric driver aids and power steering. Pure driving performance, indeed.
But in recognition of the famed Mille Miglia Brescia-to-Rome road race, the Dutch carmaker is dialing back the intensity for one special edition model. It’s called the Donkervoort D8 GTO ‘1000 Miglia Edition’ and it aims to increase ease of use and overall comfort in the grand touring tradition. Just don’t expect a reversal of the firm’s ‘no compromise’ motto. It’s still very much a heavy hitter.
Like the standard Donkervoort D8 GTO, the 1000 Miglia Edition sports a potent Audi 2.5-liter five-cylinder engine under the bonnet, however power in the new guise has been tuned from 340hp down to a milder (but still heady) 310hp. Overall weight changes as well, now up to 1,675 pounds through the use of more comfortable and likely quieter materials, and it complements a ride height increase, along with additional infotainment and navigation features.
The special edition was born following Donkervoort’s entry into the recent Mille Miglia as the event’s official support car. Given the 1,000 mile length of the event, it’s a good thing that it was prepped with comfort in mind.
The cost? The absolutely knee-shaking Donkervoort D8 GTO Bilster Berg Edition retains for €194,000 in Europe ($218,000), including a 21 percent value added tax. By comparison, this 1000 Miglia Edition slots in at a more reasonable €139,150 with tax included ($156,000)… though that still won’t make it any more accessible to the US market.
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