Donkervoort P24 RS Debuts as a 591-HP Supercar That's Lighter Than a Miata

A Lightweight Specialist Tries Something New

Donkervoort is as niche as they come. The Dutch brand is known as a purveyor of ultra-lightweight sports cars with direct steering, almost no driver aids, and the kind of road feel you just don’t get in most modern performance cars. The F22, with its Audi-sourced turbo five-cylinder, was the purest version of that approach so far – and it didn’t take long to sell out.

The new P24 RS doesn’t throw out the Donkervoort formula, but it does tweak it in a big way. The familiar Audi five-cylinder is out, replaced by a twin-turbo V6. That’s a bold move for a brand so closely tied to Audi engines, but the result justifies the move: more power, more flexibility, and better packaging, all while keeping weight in check.

V6 Power in a Featherweight Package

Under the hood, the P24 RS packs a 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 – the same power plant used by the second-generation Ford GT but heavily modified in-house. In its most powerful configuration (customers can choose), it makes up to 600 metric horsepower – 591 hp on this side of the world – and 590 lb-ft of torque. Power is sent to the rear wheels through a five-speed manual gearbox. Just as you’d expect from Donkervoort, there’s no stability control, only adjustable traction control if you want a bit of backup. It’s all about keeping things as analog as possible.

Dry weight comes in at just 1,720 lbs, and even with fluids, it stays well under 1,900 lbs. That’s lighter than the lightest Mazda MX-5 Miata ND, but with more than three times the power. The power-to-weight ratio is right up there with today’s hypercars, and Donkervoort gets there without any electrification or hybrid trickery. The company says it’ll do 0 to 124 mph in about 7.4 seconds, and top speed is over 186 mph.

The chassis is just as focused. Up front, you get double wishbones; in the back, a multi-link setup. Active dampers and big brakes are all part of the package, but the real story is how much of the grip comes from hardware, not software. Even the dry-sump oiling is there to keep the engine low and responsive when you’re pushing hard through corners.

Limited to Just 150 Units Worldwide

The P24 RS keeps the classic Donkervoort look with exposed front wheels, but now the lines are sharper, and the aero is more integrated. It comes with swing-out headlights that help manage airflow when you don’t need them. If you want more grip, there’s an optional track aero that adds real downforce without making the car look overdone.

Inside, you get a digital cluster, real buttons for the important stuff, lightweight seats, and enough room for taller drivers. And, with the carbon fiber targa roof removed, headroom's infinite. There’s even close to 10 cubic feet of luggage space, which is more than you’d expect from the outside.

Donkervoort will build just 150 of these, all by hand in the Netherlands. Prices start at €298,500 (about $353,000 at today's exchange rates) before taxes. The P24 RS is available in Europe, the US, and a few Middle Eastern markets, but several slots are already taken.

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