For years, Donkervoort’s ultra-lightweight sports cars have remained out of reach for many enthusiasts in right-hand-drive markets.
That changes with the arrival of the Donkervoort P24 RS, which has been engineered from the outset to accommodate right-hand drive, opening the Dutch manufacturer’s latest model to buyers in the UK and several other key markets.
The company says the move follows sustained interest from customers outside mainland Europe and North America, with Managing Director Denis Donkervoort revealing that repeated enquiries from prospective owners played a major role in bringing the project to life.
The switch has also been made possible by the P24 RS’s new Power To Choose (PTC) engine system, allowing engineers to package the car for both left- and right-hand-drive production without compromising its driver-focused philosophy.
That philosophy remains at the heart of the P24 RS. Weighing just 780kg dry, the lightweight machine stays comfortably below the one-tonne mark even when fully fuelled, while the innovative PTC system allows drivers to select between 400hp, 500hp or the full 600hp output at the press of a button.
Donkervoort also claims it is the only production car producing 600hp while weighing under 1,000kg, a figure that helps set it apart in a market increasingly dominated by heavier, technology-laden performance cars.
UK customers will be able to place orders through official retailer Premier GT, although exclusivity remains a major selling point.
Production of the P24 RS is limited to 150 examples worldwide, with only around 30 cars expected to be built in right-hand drive.
That rarity places the Dutch sports car alongside niche performance icons rather than mainstream rivals, although its combination of extreme lightness and huge power inevitably invites comparisons with British favourites from Caterham and Ariel.
Denis Donkervoort says every aspect of the car has been designed to maximise driver engagement, highlighting its lightweight construction, compliant suspension setup, adjustable traction control and configurable engine output as defining characteristics.
Despite its uncompromising performance, the P24 RS also offers a degree of everyday usability thanks to 298 litres of luggage capacity and a removable Twin Targa roof.
Performance is every bit as dramatic as the specification suggests. Donkervoort claims the P24 RS reaches 124mph in just 7.4 seconds before continuing to a top speed of more than 186mph.
Buyers will, however, need deep pockets, with prices starting from £302,400. Even so, the manufacturer believes the model’s limited production numbers will help preserve strong residual values, making it as exclusive an investment as it is an exhilarating driver’s car.
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