All good things come to an end, or so the saying goes. And now, after 13 years of warbling its merry way along beneath the bonnet of Donkervoorts, the Audi 2.5-litre inline five is no more for the esoteric Dutch sports cars. To send the engine off in an appropriate fashion, Donkervoort has created a limited edition. There are five of them (of course) called the F22 Final Five, and their creation - according to their maker, at least - ‘marks an undeniable transition toward hypercar prestige’.
Certainly there are a lot of exotic materials in an F22 FF, including a new, exposed carbon body like it’s a Pagani (a huge undertaking for five cars). The Final Fives also get carbon wheels and all the benefits they bring for unsprung mass, ceramic brakes that’ll help even further (saving 10kg on their own), plus a titanium exhaust to get that war cry out in all its glory. And drop another four kilos. Overall a Final Five is almost five per cent lighter than a standard F22, which is no mean feat given it was just 750kg before - this one is 34kg less, at 716kg.
Besides the exhaust, it sounds like the venerable five-pot turbo is in the same tune as in the existing model, though that hardly sells the Final Five customers short given it was already at 500hp. Seems like an apt number, and will mean that each of these F22s will reach 62mph in comfortably less than three seconds and be capable of 180mph. Watch out Stage 2 RS3s. ‘Its distinctive five-cylinder off-beat idle, turbocharger whistle and ever-evolving timbre make it a visceral experience. Each slight increase in rpm takes it from a deep idle to a silky bellow, then to a fierce howl at high revs’, reads the press release. You sense that Donkevoort has become very attached to these old Audi lumps.
The first of the Final Five cars has already been delivered to a brand ambassador, with specs locked in for the other four ‘to reflect their unique styles’. No price has been announced - because those buying probably don’t need to ask - but exposed carbon, ceramic rotors and titanium exhausts don’t come cheap. Then again, eras don’t come to an end all that often, either - this seems a fitting send-off. Since 2011 the five-cylinder has ensured the D8 GTO and F22 have offered up lightweight sports car experiences like no other, and will no doubt be sorely missed by their advocates. Don’t despair, however, as Donkervoort says it has a replacement lined up, which won’t be electric or significantly more expensive than the current car. ‘Soon, the exclusive club of hypercar brands will have something new to worry about and, for you, something new to dream about’, it reckons. Bring it on…
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