NORTH-AMERICAN DEBUT FOR SPYKER C8 PRELIATOR SPYDER
Spyker have returned to the New York International Automobile Show with the C8 Preliator Spyder featuring its most significant technological advancement since the inception of the Dutch creator of hand-built super sports cars in 2000.
Spyker Founder and CEO Victor R. Muller announced at the Geneva International Motor Show last month, that Spyker has signed an Engine Supply Agreement with Christian von Koenigsegg, Founder and CEO of Koenigsegg Automotive AB (“Koenigsegg”) from Angelholm, Sweden. Both the Spyker C8 Preliator as well as its Spyder version, making its North American debut at the New York International Automobile Show today andon display with Manhattan Motorcars, will be propelled by the new V8 engine.
Victor R. Muller, Spyker’s Founder and Chief Executive Officer, said: ”Spyker is delighted to be back at the New York International Automobile Show to unveil the new Spyker C8 Preliator Spyder in one of its most important markets, New York. Historically Spyker has sold half of its production to the United States of America of which a very large number of cars were sold in this state through Spyker’s first dealer in the USA, Manhattan Motorcars”.
The normally-aspirated, dry-sump 5-litre V8 engine boasts 600 hp and 600 NM of torque. Koenigsegg has developed this engine specifically to meet Spyker’s needs and the Koenigsegg V8 will be installed in every Spyker C8 Preliator, both the Coupe, which was launched in March 2016, and the new Spyder, and replace the Audi V8 powertrain as from car one. The engine will be mated to a six-speed manual transmission.
Spyker translated its timeless aviation inspired design to the ultimate convertible, culminating in the Preliator Spyder. The design reflects the progress made with the Preliator from concept towards a production car. The Spyder, in Ascot Bronze, on display at the New York International Auto Show features an automatic soft top and a saddle Litano leather interior with honeycomb contrasted stitching.
Spyker’s production of the C8 Preliator Spyder will be limited to 100 units only.
Victor R. Muller, Spyker’s Founder and Chief Executive Officer, said on the occasion: “This is our single most important advancement in technology since I founded Spyker in 2000. I have always admired the amazing technologies developed by Christian von Koenigsegg and his dedicated team creating one of the most sophisticated cars and engines on the planet, and I am convinced our Spyker C8 Preliator clients will tremendously enjoy the huge performance leap.
The 600 horsepower V8 engine with manual gearbox, ticks all the boxes of the Spyker brand; it’s Bold, Pure, and Engaging but foremost hyper-exclusive hence a perfect match to the Spyker C8 Preliator coupe as well as the Spyder we unveil this morning. In fact, this is the only 600 horsepower series produced sports car available with a manual gearbox on the market today. Although our peers believe the manual is virtually dead, and many have vowed we would never see them again, our discerning clients have clearly spoken out in favour of the manual: the Koenigsegg powered Spyker C8 Preliator Spyder will provide an engaging purist driving experience second to none tantalising all senses. The howling sound of this normally aspirated engine will be unmistakable and thrilling.
The “Preliator” name, which means “fighter” or “warrior” in Latin, pays tribute to Spyker aviation heritage: “Fighters” are warplanes as made by Spyker between 1914 and 1918. But even more so, “Preliator” symbolises the battles Spyker faced and won in the past.
The Spyker C8 Preliator Spyder, of which we will make a mere 100 units and production will start by summer 2018, is made for discerning owners who appreciate our attention to detail and the bespoke features we have offered them for over a decade and a half now. Our dedicated crew will assemble the cars in Coventry, UK, together with CPP Metalcraft, our very first partner since we started Spyker back in 2000, as of the last quarter of this year. All Preliators will feature carbon fibre bodies.
Preliator owners may now operate their favourite music apps, including Spotify and Apple Music, with simple, memorable hand gestures via the integrated controlled Head-Up Display. The system brings entirely new mobile- and digital experiences to Spyker C8 Preliator owners.
When I designed the Spyker C8 Preliator Spyder I wanted it to ooze the sheer tenacity and determination with which we created a new dawn for our company and by launching it here today we pay homage to the Latin axiom which has adorned the Spyker propellor logo since 1914 “Nulla tenacia invia est via” – for the tenacious no road is impassable”.
Christian von Koenigsegg, Founder and Chief Executive Officer: “I have known Victor and Spyker for way over a decade, and we obviously share the passion for handcrafted and bespoke automobiles. I have always admired Spyker’s tenacity and their commitment to building one-of-a-kind cars that stay true to a well-honed ethos and always been impressed by their amazing craftsmanship and beauty. The attention to detail is amazing. Spyker cars have always been bespoke in every aspect apart from their drivetrain. Therefore it gives us great pleasure to work with Spyker to design and produce an engine specifically for them that will suit the handcrafted, luxurious and high-performance nature of all Spyker cars. In terms of performance the introduction of our light, responsive and powerful engine will transform the driving experience of the Preliator.”
THE SPYKER C8 PRELIATOR SPYDER
The Spyker C8 Preliator’s contemporary design is heavily inspired by Spyker’s aviation
heritage, with a clear emphasis on the typical aircraft air intakes, the so-called NACA ducts,
and represents the latest evolution of Spyker’s signature architecture.
In the first-generation Spyker cars (C8 Spyder and Laviolette), the propeller design was
consistently applied to many elements of the cars. The second generation cars (C8 Aileron)
showed a transition to turbine engine inspired design. Within the design of the new third
generation cars, the Spyker C8 Preliator, the emphasis has shifted to submerged air intakes,
the so-called NACA ducts, as used in the aviation industry.
Several changes in styling were made to enhance the aerodynamic performance of the car.
Small ailerons were added to the front splitter and side skirts to redirect the airflow
optimally. The shark-like gills have been abandoned, which results in a cleaner, smoother
appearance. The trademark V-shaped grille with honeycomb mesh is now characterised by
the central pillar first seen on the Spyker B6 Venator concept car shown here in 2013. Also,
the rear diffuser was redesigned for improved functionality. Small winglets mounted on the
front splitter and side skirts optimise the airflow.
The CNC-machined stainless steel rear lights are made of LEDs (light-emitting diodes)
emulating fighter jet afterburners. LED lights were also used for the indicators and the
sidelights in the headlight units. The brake light has been sculpted into the rear panel so as
to ensure smooth flowing design lines. Elegantly aggressive 19” Turbofan™ wheels are
shown in a mirror polish finish.
All-Aluminium Space Frame Chassis
The Spyker C8 Preliator Spyder’s all-aluminium space frame composed of extrusions and
folded sheet aluminium and extruded aluminium side-impact bars and integral rollover bars
was redesigned with the objective to further increase torsional rigidity and to incorporate the
Lotus supplied suspension system. These characteristics provide an ideal foundation for
enhanced vehicle dynamics.
Moreover, the C8 Preliator Spyder’s dimensions have been optimised, the car is longer than
its predecessors, providing for more driving comfort and stability at high speeds.
Spyker has put tremendous efforts in the space frame performance of the C8 Preliator,
specifically the structure’s efficiency. The utilisation of modern finite element and numerical
optimization methods has allowed Spyker’s engineers to arrive at an exceptionally stiff
structure. Rigid-node and load-path technology has been employed in order to ensure that
the minimum amount of aluminium is used to achieve this performance, thus reducing the
overall weight of the vehicle. The dynamic stiffness characteristics of the structure have been
carefully tuned in order to minimize unwanted cabin noises and vibrations, which may
otherwise detract from the driving experience. These technologies and measures have
allowed Spyker to arrive at the most efficient chassis in its history.
Colours & Trim
The Spyker C8 Preliator Spyder is available in 34 standard colours, but customers may
choose any colour they wish as an option, as well as the sporty Spyker Squadron GT2 colour
scheme. The C8 Preliator Spyder shown at the Geneva Show has a new colour called Ascot
Bronze. Spyker will meet any demand of its discerning owners to create an absolutely
bespoke car of which he or she will never find another one at the traffic light.
Soft-top
The Spyker C8 Preliator Spyder sports a semi-automatic canvas soft-top. The roof’s
operation is electric / hydraulic, secured by one central latch operated manually.
Once folded, the soft-top is totally enclosed within the body of the car, allowing for an
undisturbed profile. The roof retracts under an aluminium tonneau, with two buttresses
upholstered in quilted Litano leather (matching the car’s interior) and featuring the
company’s motto “Nulla Tenaci Invia Est Via” — For the tenacious, no road is impassable. The
soft top has a glass rear window and is available in eight colours.
Interior
The interior, with its typical Spyker attention to detail, is made of the highest quality full grain,
semi-aniline leather available in the market. Spyker uses Rompa Leder’s Litano leather in its
interior since its inception in 2000. The smooth finish is enhanced with a special tanning
process to produce rich colour palettes and an irresistible silk like warm touch.
The bull hide leather used in the Spyker C8 Preliator Spyder is crafted in a state-of-the-art
tannery, a 4th generation family business with a history that dates back until 1906 when the
grandfather of the current owners started a vegetable-tannery, located in the south of
Holland.
The leather interior is available in 15 standard colours, but any other colour – if desired by
the customer – can be ordered as an option. The car on display has a Saddle interior with
white honeycomb stitching (matching the mesh in the grille) and an ivory leather headlining.
The dashboard was redesigned to suit the new exterior design and to improve ergonomics
and functionality. Air vents are designed in turbine style, and the performance and
distribution of the air conditioning were improved significantly. Machined Chronoswiss dials
and switches are available as an option.
In-Car Entertainment & Audio System
With larger numbers of cars going into the market and the increased popularity of the Apple
iPhone and similar products, the demand for a standard sound system fitted by the factory
increased. As a result, every Spyker C8 Preliator Spyder will be equipped as standard with a
high-end sound system, incorporating a digital DAB+ (region dependent) radio, Bluetooth
interface and Apple iPhone connectivity. The standard sound system consists of four highend
speakers, covered by an aluminium mesh and driven by a 300W amplifier.
A supreme sound system with bespoke finishing comes as an option. The precisely
engineered bespoke sound system has a powerful 1000W amplifier, carbon midrange door
speakers, titanium tweeters and a dashboard-integrated subwoofer. Door grilles are
machined from stainless steel and the distinctive spherical tweeter system, made from
polished aircraft grade aluminium, rotates towards the occupants when the audio system is
activated.
The Spyker C8 Preliator Spyder sports a gesture controlled Head-up display. Spyker C8
Preliator customers can now take phone calls or control their favourite music apps, including
Spotify and Apple Music, with simple, memorable hand gestures and use GPS navigation
while keeping their eyes on the road.
The Head-up display augments the driver experience with voice-based commands; searchalong-a-route;
optimum route calculations based on combining traffic data with road and
weather conditions; and context-awareness that incorporates the driver’s personal
preferences such as favourite parking lots, gas stations, coffee shops and restaurants. The
system developed by Exploride brings entirely new mobile- and digital experiences to Spyker
customers.
Suspension & Wheels
The C8 Preliator Spyder is fitted with a Lotus front and rear independent double-wishbone
suspension system. This suspension system includes a new kinematic layout of the front and
rear suspension, front and rear stabiliser bars, mono-tube dampers, coil over damper steel
springs, anti-dive and anti-squat setup for improved handling properties. The suspension
components are made of forged aluminium where possible, to keep the vehicle’s unsprung
weight as low as possible. Shock absorbers are placed vertically within the wishbones.
The Preliator Spyder has 19-inch alloy Turbofan™ wheels as standard. These wheels are
inspired by the turbine blades of a jet engine, which hints at Spyker’s aviation heritage. The
Michelin 235/35 size tyres at the front and up to 295/35 at the rear provide the necessary road
holding.
Brakes
Brakes are supplied by AP Racing, a partner from day one. Black brake callipers with Spyker
script are standard. Colour-coded callipers with Spyker script can be ordered as an option.
The car on display has Satin Gold callipers. Carbon ceramic brakes will be available as an
option.
SPYKER C8 PRELIATOR PROGRESS UPDATE
For the Spyker C8 Preliator’s development and engineering work, Spyker has been working
closely with Wirth Research Ltd on optimising the design of the coupe. Wirth Research’s
super-computer has been used to create high resolution Computational Fluid Dynamics
(CFD) for simulation of high speed aerodynamic stability but also thermal analysis for the
new Koenigsegg powertrain. The CFD analysis provide us improved accuracy leading to
better and more refined designs.
With the switch to the new powertrain the SOP (Start of Production) of the Spyker C8
Preliator has moved up by 9 months to the last quarter of 2017. The Spyder version will start
production by Summer 2018. Both models will be built side by side in Spyker’s production
facility at CPP Metalcraft in Coventry, UK.
