In 2018, I interned in Exterior Design at Donkervoort, the Netherlands' last car manufacturer. This family-run brand crafts just ca. 50 bespoke, hand-built "road rockets" annually for adrenaline junkies seeking an extreme, analog driving experience. Inspired by the Lotus 7, their artisanal, old-school design prioritizes lightweight construction and brutal driving dynamics, delivering over 2G of lateral acceleration.
My role was to explore a new market segment, proposing a completely different type of car and new platform (hydrogen-powered), whilst retaining the iconic Donkervoort DNA.
The latest model at the time I interned, the D8 GTO-40.
TRACK-ONLY SPEEDSTER
While most of the work is confidential, I could share the sketch below from a personal proposal - a more radical, track-only evolution of the D8 GTO-40 (see above).
Photo rights of D8 GTO-40 picture: Donkervoort Automobielen B.V.