Spyker's First Major Post-Bankruptcy Move is a Wise One
Spyker is turning to Koenigsegg to power its Preliator sports cars.
At the 2017 Geneva Motor Show, the Dutch automaker unveiled the C8 Preliator Spyder, a convertible version of the sports car that debuted at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show. But the big news isn’t the car itself, but what will be powering it. A new, naturally-aspirated 5.0-liter V8 engine from Koenigsegg will be used, boasting 600 horsepower and 442 pound-feet of torque. According to Spyker, Koenigsegg developed the engine specifically to meet the C8 Preliator’s needs and it will replace the Audi V8 powertrain that was first presented last year. The Koenigsegg engine will be paired to a six-speed manual transmission.
2017 Geneva Motor Show Coverage
As for the Spyker C8 Preliator Spyder, the convertible version will be limited to 100 units and unlike the coupe, every single unit will be powered by the Koenigsegg-sourced engine. Spyker claims the C8 Preliator is the only 600-horsepower series produced sports car available with a manual gearbox on the market today and the company has no intentions of switching to an automatic or dual-clutch transmission. The car presented in Geneva features an Ascot Bronze exterior and an automatic soft top covering up a saddle Litano leather interior with honeycomb contrast stitching.
“This is our single most important advancement in technology since I founded Spyker in 2000,” said Spyker’s founder and CEO, Victor R. Muller. “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.”
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Jason Siu began his career in automotive journalism in 2003 with Modified Magazine, a property previously held by VerticalScope. As the West Coast Editor, he played a pivotal role while also extending his expertise to Modified Luxury & Exotics and Modified Mustangs. Beyond his editorial work, Jason authored two notable Cartech books. His tenure at AutoGuide.com saw him immersed in the daily news cycle, yet his passion for hands-on evaluation led him to focus on testing and product reviews, offering well-rounded recommendations to AutoGuide readers. Currently, as the Content Director for VerticalScope, Jason spearheads the content strategy for an array of online publications, a role that has him at the helm of ensuring quality and consistency across the board.
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"Preliator" must be Dutch for "Overfed 1986 Ferrari Mondial."