Dutch sports car maker Donkervoort taking NZ orders for 780kg, 450kW P24 RS

Dutch boutique sports car maker Donkervoort has confirmed New Zealand buyers can now order its latest P24 RS directly from the factory, with the lightweight supercar becoming the company's first-ever right-hand drive model.

The move opens the door for Kiwi enthusiasts to buy the hand-built Dutch sports car as Donkervoort expands beyond its traditional European customer base.

New Zealand joins Australia, the United Kingdom, Japan, Singapore, and Hong Kong as right-hand drive markets for the P24 RS, though production will remain extremely limited.

Fewer than 30 right-hand drive examples will be built globally as part of an overall production run of just 150 cars. The company has not announced New Zealand pricing for the P24 RS. However in Europe, the model starts at €298,500 (~NZ$585,000) before local taxes and options.

The company says it has already begun taking orders from right-hand drive markets, with prospective buyers having started the vehicle's highly personalised specification process.

The P24 RS was revealed earlier this year and marks a major departure for the Dutch manufacturer, featuring an all-new twin-turbocharged 3.5-litre V6 developed in-house.

Featuring what the company has dubbed 'Power To Choose' (PTC) engine mapping settings, the system allows drivers to switch between 400hp (298kW), 500hp (372kW) and 600hp (447kW) outputs at the touch of a button. At full power, it also produces 800Nm of torque.

Weighing just 780kg dry, Donkervoort claims the P24 RS is the only production car producing 600hp while weighing less than one tonne.

The company claims the P24 RS can sprint from 0-200km/h in 7.4 seconds before reaching a top speed of more than 300km/h, while generating more than 2.3g of lateral cornering force.

Despite its uncompromising performance, Donkervoort says the P24 RS retains everyday usability with 298 litres of luggage capacity, a removable twin-targa roof, and adjustable suspension, traction control, and engine power settings.

The P24 RS is built around a hybrid tubular chassis reinforced with the company's Ex-Core carbon-fibre technology, measuring 4000mm long with a 2420mm wheelbase.

Donkervoort managing director Denis Donkervoort said demand from overseas customers helped justify engineering the P24 RS for right-hand drive.

"We are excited that we can finally show car lovers in RHD markets what Europe, the Middle East and North America have understood for a long time – that Donkervoorts prioritise driver engagement over everything else, making every drive an unforgettable event," he said.

"Right-hand drive was an opportunity that came with the P24 RS's all-new PTC [Power To Choose] engine, and our own research and continuous phone calls and demands from potential customers demonstrated a clear demand for it."

Founded in 1978, Donkervoort has built a reputation for ultra-lightweight sports cars, extreme levels of customer customisation, and low-volume production.

According to the company, more than 99 per cent of every Donkervoort it has built remains on the road today.