Despite it’s a rather odd name, the Spyker D8 Peking-to-Paris SUV has long been one of the most eagerly-anticipated cars in recent time, and after what seemed like ages of countless teasing, the car is finally set to be unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show. The car, which is similar in design with Spyker’s concept vehicle, the D12 Peking-to-Paris, is rumoured to come with a 556 hp supercharged 6.2-liter V8 engine – hence the tag ‘D8’ – making it one of the fiercest and most powerful SUVs to hit the market.
Although photos have been scarce, recent spy shots have determined that the D8 has taken a few elements from the D12 concept, not the least of which includes a glass roof, the unique door configurations, and an overall aggressive and bulky styling similar to the D12.
Speaking of which, we touched on the rather odd Peking-to-Paris ‘tag’ given to the car. For a brief refresher course, the name was taken from the 1907 Peking (now Beijing) to Paris endurance rally where a Spyker car driven by Ch. Goddard finished second overall after driving for a ridiculous three months. So for those of you who were thinking that this car was able to travel from China to France, guess again. The SUV is expected to be unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show, giving all of us pistonheads even more reason to look forward to the biggest car event of the year.
The Dutch super car builders from Spyker were keeping the theme of high-end debuts going at Pebble with the unveiling of the Spyker C8 Aileron Spyder. The drop top super car is based upon the exact same aluminum space frame chassis as the fixed roof version that made itself known to the world earlier this year at the Geneva Motor show replacing the long running C8. The Spyder is powered by the same 4.2 Liter Audi sourced V8 as the hard top and should be pumping out somewhere around 400 HP and for the first time is offering an automatic gearbox.
Aside from the beautiful new bodywork that hints at the automaker’s aviation heritage, the Spyder wears the company’s motto “Nulla Tenaci Invia Est Via” on the tonneau cover that hides away the semiautomatic soft-top that is capable of sealing off the cabin in just 20 seconds. The unit is also covered in quilted Hulshof leather, the same as the Aileron’s interior, surrounding a wing shaped piece of travel luggage upholstered in the same quilted leather and resting on the CNC-machined aluminum luggage rack.
The C8 Aileron Spyder’s chassis was designed to be much more rigid than the outgoing C8 which will work wonderfully with the vehicle’s new suspension that was designed and supplied by Lotus to make this a very capable super car. Adding a bit of bling to aviation inspired road rocket are a set of 19 inch Aeroblade wheels housing a set of massive AP Racing brakes. Spyker expects that half of all C8 Spyders produced will end up here in America, so what better place to unveil the new open air machine to the U.S. market. With a move like this, Spyker is living up to their motto inscribed on the shoulders of the car, ”For the tenacious, no road is impassable.”
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The Dutch built Spyker C8 Aileron was unveiled back at the Geneva Motor Show in production trim. The first models have already made their way out the showroom doors and on to the streets of Europe. This particular cherry red metallic Aileron managed to be caught by the trigger happy automotive paparazzi.
The C8 Aileron is powered by a Audi 4.2 Liter V8 engine that delivers 400 HP and is available with two transmission options. The first one is a 6 speed Getrag manual gearbox, with ratios perfectly matched to suit the FSI power plant. The other option is a ZF 6 speed automatic gearbox, which comes standard with paddle shifts behind the steering wheel, giving you that Formula 1 feeling as you shift up through the gears. This particular C8 is able to go from 0 to 60 MPH in just 4.5 seconds and hit a top speed of 187 MPH.
Check out the gallery on the right after the jump.
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The GT field will look a little different in the 2010 Le Mans Series because a few teams will be both moving up and down in class. The Corvette Racing Team, hot off their GT1 win at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, will be stepping down into the GT2 category in order to compete on the track with the same vehicles that the production car competes with in showrooms. Meanwhile, the Dutch super car builder Spyker, who has been competing in the GT2 category since 2002, has bigger dreams of entering their new C8 Aileron as a GT1 racecar.
The new C8 super car will make its production car debut at the Geneva Motor Show early next year, but on the racetrack the Spyker Squadron plans on entering two machines, while a privateer team will handle the older C8 Laviolette.
The C8 Aileron is powered by an Audi sourced 4.2 Liter engine that delivers 400 HP and will be available with two transmission options. The first is a 6 speed manual gearbox built by Getrag with a set of gear ratios perfectly matched to the FSI powered eight cylinder. If you want to shift your Spyker with paddles, you get a ZF 6 speed automatic. The Spyker C8 Aileron can go from 0 to 60 MPH in 4.5 seconds and hit a top speed of 187 MPH.
Forbes.com has created a list of 10 cars that stir the soul with their speed but don’t swill fuel measured in barrels per mile. Who makes the list? The Mercedes-Benz SLK55 AMG, Audi R8, Spyker C8, Ferrari F430, Porsche 911 Carrera S, Aston Martin DB9, Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano, Lamborghini Murcielago LP 640, Chevrolet Corvette and the Porsche 911 Turbo.
Some of the picks are rather dubious. For example, the 599 GTB and LP 640 score 10.5 MPG. Those numbers are almost as bad as the fuel economy rating of the ambulance that hauled away my neighbor on Saturday. On the opposite end, the Corvette looks absolutely brilliant with 21 MPG and the 911 is pretty sweet with a 19.5 MPG rating.
Hit the source link for the full story and all the stats.
After the let down announcement that they will drop the V12 engine from their upcoming Peking-Paris SUV, the founder and CEO of the Dutch automaker Spyker, Victor Muller has announced that his company will develop a four-door coupe. The Spyker Sedan will compete with other high-edn four seaters like the Maserati Quattroporte, Porsche Panamera, Aston Martin Rapide, and the future Bugatti Royale.
For now the vehicle will be known as the E8, and the company hopes that the future sedan will be able to maximize profits and inflate sales for the Dutch supercar builder.
However, until the E8 becomes a reality we will have to settle for their other four passenger racketship, the D8 Peking-to-Paris that will be unveiled at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show.
Spyker has been threatening to bring the Peking-Paris to market for over three years. Now rumors are going around that Spyker has got financial shot in the arm and has droped the V12 fror a 550+ hp supercharged V8. All this should get the Peking-Paris on the streets by this fall. A $300K SUV launched in this economy?! We’ll believe it when we see it (or drive it, please.)
The news service Reuters is reporting that Alexander Anatov, owner of the Dutch super car manufacturer Spyker, was critically injured along with his bodyguard after an apparent assassination attempt outside his Moscow home. Anatov was shot five times in the stomach, once in his chest and another bullet removed one of his fingers. The Spyker owner has survived the attack and is currently recovering in intensive care. The Russian billionaire also serves as chairman of the board of a large banking organization, the Konvers Group. Although the Russian authorities have not found any leads they believe that the shooting is connected in some way to Anatov’s business dealings.
First revealed as a concept car two years ago at the same show, the C8 Aileron finally saw its final design: production version was revealed today at the Geneva Motor Show. The first cars are being built now with customer production and deliveries starting in May 2009.
C8 Aileron is powered by a Audi 4.2 litre V8 engine, delivers 400 bhp and will be available with two transmission alternatives. The first one is a 6-speed Getrag manual gearbox, with ratios perfectly matched to the V8 engine. This is joined by a ZF 6-speed automatic gearbox, which comes standard with paddle shifts behind the steering wheel, to progress smoothly through the ratios. It makes the 0 to 60 mph sprint in 4.5 seconds and can hit a top speed of 187 mph.
The C8 Aileron’s design is heavily inspired by Spyker’s aviation heritage, as was the case with all previous models. Compared to previous models, the C8 Aileron features a larger grille that gives additional cooling. Also the rear diffuser was redesigned for improved functionality. An extra spoiler has been placed under the diffuser, providing additional downforce to boost the ground effect produced by the diffuser.
Full details in the press release after the jump.
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Spyker has been milking this one for a while. We first saw the concept of the C8 Aileron (pictured below right) at last year’s Geneva Motor Show, and since then Spyker has been taking it to all the major car shows in 2008. Now the production car will be in Geneva this year, and Spyker is inticing us with this teaser.
For a car that is a sort of like the second-generation of the C8 line, a year is a long time to wait. What the C8 Aileron has to offer is more interior room through a longer wheelbase (4.5 inches), 40% better torsion rigidity, and an available automatic transmission. The C8 Aileron will use the same 400 hp 4.2-liter Audi-based V8 engine as the other C8 models.
How different will it look than the concept? We’ll find out on March 3rd.
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