2006 Spyker C12 LaTurbie

Spyker’s heritage goes back to 1898 and encompasses racing and aviation. Shuttered in 1925, the 60-employee company having the base in Zeewolde, Holland, was resurrected in 2000 by Dutch tycoon Victor Muller, Spyker’s chief executive. Its latest supercars have been sold in Europe since 2001 but came to the USA only last year.

Like all Spykers, the C12 LaTurbie is hand built with aluminum body panels and an aluminum space frame that shroud an Audi-sourced 500-hp 6.0-liter W12 engine that is located just ahead of the rear axle, or “mid-mounted”. This supercar is equipped with two V6 engines which share one crankshaft. Such types of engine are found in the Audi A8 and Bentley Continental models.

Having a weight of 3,362 pounds and speeding to 60 mph in 3.9 seconds, the top speed reaching to 196 mph, the vehicle’s engine of 500 hp features a 6-speed manual transmission to the rear wheels.

In comparison with Dodge Viper SRT 10 and Chevrolet Corvette Z06, the C12 LaTurbie shows an extremely sheer elegance, an impeccable craftsmanship and what is most much extravagance.

The car’s stainless-steel adjustable suspension system is patterned after Formula One race car’s suspension. The shock absorbers featured are designed by the suspension experts Koni which are mounted inboard rather than next to each wheel, as on virtually every other non-racing vehicle.

The C12 LaTurbie is also fitted with antilock brakes and a limited-slip differential.

To improve brake cooling and vehicle aerodynamics, the car is equipped with standard 18-inch wheels, whereas 19-inch Acroblade wheels with spokes that look like propeller blades are optional.

The designers had in view to evoke the company’s past airplane production by featuring the vehicle with many details like: a propeller-blade logo, propeller-shaped steering-wheel spokes, textured aluminum interior panels, lots of round instrument dials and quilted leather upholstery.

Derived from the C8 Spyder, styling features a larger front grille, redesigned headlights and the longer rear end of the C8 Double 12 S. the wheelbase on the C12 is more than a half an inch longer than the C8’s.

Due to few cut lines, where one body panel ends and another begins, the exterior design has got a sleek and clean look. You only have to push a button on the round aluminum key folds and the doors scissors upward electronically. You need no key to unlock the doors, the client is given an electronic card that unlock the doors just approaching the vehicle. In addition the engine is fired up by a dash-mounted star button.

Two trunks, one up front and one in the rear, and a leather luggage set custom-made fit the car.

The C12 makes the most of its sung interior impeccably crafted in elegant leather and aluminum that is similar to the C8 Spyder’s. gauges have been designed by the high-end Swiss watch maker Cronoswiss, which also produces limited-edition Spyker branded wristwatches.

There are many dedicated storage areas in the C12 LaTurbie, including the polished transmission rod that bisects the cabin and the red fighter-jet-style cover which conceals a switch that must be flipped before the engine be started.

Spykers are sold in every small numbers in the USA through an 11-dealer network to auto enthusiasts who look for distinction even among the world’s costliest and most exotic cars.