The Donkervoort D8-GTO JD70 is a very fast car. Using a slightly beefed-up version of Audi’s award-winning 2.5-litre five-pot turbo, it claims to accelerate from 0-100km/h in 2.7s. Hell, it’ll do 0-200km/h in 7.7s and top out at 280km/h.

But that’s not the party trick. This JD70 – built in honour of Donkervoort founder Joop’s 70th birthday – will pull 2G through the corners. Might want to keep a towel handy to wipe the remnants of your face from the side windows.

So, this new JD70. Only 70 will be built, each featuring that Audi five cylinder 2.5-litre turbo kicking up 420hp and 520Nm of torque. It’s matched to a reinforced Tremec five-speed manual gearbox, and a new exhaust system incorporating those all-important side-exit exhaust pipes. This is a good thing.

Moving the pipes has allowed the fitment of another rear diffuser, delivering 80kg of extra downforce, while a new nose and louvres improve the downforce by 50kg at the front.

There’s an electric power steering system on offer, three-way adjustable Intrax dampers, Donkervoort-specific springs, adjustable front and rear anti-roll bars, and a variable traction-control setup. Also brakes. Big ones, with a Bosch ABS system bolted on too.

Everything is then bolted inside a tubular steel chassis with carbonfibre reinforcements, and covered in carbonfibre/Kevlar panels. All told it weighs around 700kg or under, depending on options. Oh yes, there are many options you can choose from, though ‘reconstructive facial surgery following vigorous cornering’ is conspicuous by its absence…

Each one starts from €163,636 before tax, but Donkervoort does say it’s not a track-honed nutjob, but rather a road-going performance toy. A really, really fast one.

STORY Vijay Pattni