Last August, Donkervoort announced a special edition of its D8 GTO to celebrate founder Joop Donkervoort's 70th birthday. The model was dubbed the D8 GTO-JD70, and befitting the best birthday commemorations, it took awhile to complete. The roadster's final form is now ready, the boutique Dutch maker claiming it has outdone everything else on the road.

The centerpiece is the Audi 2.5-liter turbocharged five-cylinder making 415 horsepower, 21 more ponies than the mill provides to the current Audi RS 3, and 384 pound-feet of torque. Yet the JD70 weighs nearly a ton less than the Audi, 1,543 pounds for the flying Dutchman compared to 3,494 pounds to the Teuton's relative battleship. That's partly how the Donkervoort pulls 1.02 g of straight-line acceleration dashing to 62 miles per hour in 2.7 seconds, a ripper accomplished with a close-ratio five-speed manual gearbox with rev-matching downshifts and full-throttle upshifts. That's 1.4 seconds quicker than the Audi. Achieving 124 mph needs just 7.7 seconds, on the way to a 174-mph terminal velocity.

Naturally, the tires play their small part in those latter numbers. Donkervoort said it switched OEM spec to the semi-slick Nankang AR-1 tire on staggered wheels, the road-legal sticky rubber supposedly able to get the D8 GTO-JD70 beyond 2 g's of lateral acceleration in standard showroom spec. The company calls its creation "The first 2G super sports car." This model is the first with electrically-assisted power steering, with modes to vary steering weight. The firm says it also switched to Tarox brakes with six-piston calipers on 310-mm front rotors, single-caliper units on the 285-mm rear discs.

Between the engine and the tires, designers toyed with new bodywork fitted to the tubular steel, aluminum, and carbon fiber chassis to make the open-top more efficient through the air. A weave of carbon fiber and kevlar makes up more than 95% of the body panels that include aero touches like louvers on the wings over the front wheels to create another 110 pounds of downforce, and a second rear diffuser that adds 176 pounds of downforce. The European Union directive for vehicles to use gas particulate filters allowed Donkervoort to bring side pipes back; the filter muffled the sound enough to satisfy EU sound laws, and the free space down the middle of the chassis made room for the double diffuser.

Donkervoort will assemble just 70 JD70s, with more than half the production already sold. Each model starts at €163.636,36 ($185,367 U.S.) before taxes.

If the Donkervoort D8 GTO-JD70 wasn’t extreme enough for you, Donkervoort has news you’ll want to hear today. The Dutch company just released details on a track-only R version with even higher limits than the street car.

Donkervoort’s big number it bragged about previously was the 2.0 Gs of lateral grip it was capable of in corners. With the R, Donkervoort says it’s up to 2.25 Gs. You may need stronger neck muscles to effectively drive this car on track.

The improved performance comes from improvements and modifications made all around the car. It gets stiffer four-way adjustable dampers, stiffer springs, stiffer bushings, stiffer anti-roll bars and a lower ride height. To top it off, it’s fitted with Nankang slicks from the factory. Wet tires are available, too.

Steering is improved with an optional shorter and adjustable power steering rack. A new 12-stage racing ABS braking system is onboard. Donkervoort also fits racing pads, fills it with racing brake fluid and has upgraded the rear brakes to a six-piston caliper design to match the six-piston clampers up front. Donkervoort says that the braking performance is much improved now that it doesn’t need to make the brakes perform on the street.

Power still comes from the same Audi 2.5-liter turbocharged five-cylinder (415 horsepower and 384 pound-feet of torque), but Donkervoort has replaced the five-speed manual transmission with a paddle-shifted, six-speed sequential gearbox. Donkervoort claims the car is quicker, but the 0-62 mph time is unchanged from the manual at 2.7 seconds. Top speed is also the same at 174 mph. Regardless, the faster gear changes on track will likely save precious tenths or hundredths of a second. Plus, you can change up gears without having to lift. Donkervoort says the entire drivetrain has been strengthened to handle the extra demands on track.

This car is safer in a crash than the street car, too. Side impact protection is increased by a higher percentage use of carbon fiber. It also adds a roll cage, six-point harness, FIA homologated bladder-style fuel tank with fuel absorbing foam and a kevlar-carbon-fiber protection blanket. Lastly, it has an upgraded fire extinguisher system (FIA spec), and Donkervoort will be working with drivers to get them custom race suits and helmets with HANS devices.

One negative that comes with all this extra equipment is more weight. The D8 GTO-JD70 R is 55 pounds heavier than the standard car, but that means it still only weighs 1,598 pounds. If you buy one of these, you can also expect the full hand-and-foot treatment from Donkervoort. They can provide every owner with data analysis and coaching while on track. You’ll also get help with logistics, as Donkervoort will provide a full selection of spare parts, tire services and transportation of the car to and from the track. You can even option a pit-to-garage communication system, allowing you to communicate to the pit wall while you’re out on track.

All of this will cost you €198,000. That’s the equivalent of $234,328, and that’s the price before tax. You can go crazy from there with different levels of track support and options.

If you're one of the Americans who's been waiting patiently for niche car builder Donkervoort to come state-side, today is your lucky day. For decades, the Dutch firm has gotten attention from abroad with its extremely quick, bare-bones cars, but thus far they have not been officially available in the U.S. Until Now.

Donkervoort has announced that its D8 GTO Individual Series will be the first model to be offered in America. It's powered by the turbocharged 2.5-liter Audi five-cylinder found in the RS3. According to Donkervoort, it makes over 400 horsepower, which can push the sub-1,500-pound car to 62 mph from a standstill in just 2.7 seconds. To reach 124 mph (200 kph), it takes as much time as a normal car gets to 60, just 7.7 seconds.

If you're unfamiliar with the brand, here's a brief history lesson. The company was established in 1978 by a man with the exceedingly fantastic name of Joop Donkervoort. Like many great performance cars, the first Donkervoorts were inspired by the Lotus Seven. Early Donks were powered by Ford engines, but Donkervoort began sourcing them from Audi in the 1990s.

The cars have evolved too, with current models resembling what a Lotus Seven might look like if it had continued over the decades. However, Donkervoort insists that its motto of "No Compromise" has been maintained throughout. That means the cars have minimal electronic assistance and weight. It wasn't even until 2007 that they added a closed roof version.

“Inquiries from the U.S. rank second behind only Europe, despite our supercars never being sold there, so we know enthusiasts in the United States are aware of what Donkervoort delivers,” says managing director Denis Donkervoort.

To get the cars distributed in the U.S., Donkervoort has partnered with Bespoke Motor Group. Apparently, it was a long-held dream to get the brand over here, but the company says it wanted to find the right partner that could offer the same level of service and customization.

There are already three orders on the books. The first three cars are being sent to Florida, Colorado and California. Donkervoort says there's a two-year waiting list in Europe, but production allocations have been carved out for the U.S. launch, so American buyers won't have to wait that long.

The price: $240,000 not counting options, taxes and fees.