That's right, after forking out a lot of cash for the car all owners will be given a Spyker Chronoswiss watch with an orange crocodile skin strap engraved with the car's serial number. As another added bonus, all LM85 owners are invited to a Spiker VIP Hospitality weekend at the 2009 24 Hours of LeMans. Oh, and act now and you'll get a ShamWow!

Spyker Cars N.V., manufacturer of exclusive premium sports cars, proudly presents the Spyker C8 Laviolette LM85 – the road version of its GT2 LeMans car. The Spyker C8 Laviolette LM85 will be built as a limited edition of 24 units maximum, and will be available in both left and right hand drive. Production of the LM85 commences this quarter.

The LM85 is an advanced mid-engine, two-seat sports car. It is characterized by a lightweight all aluminum body construction and an uncompromising engineering package. The powertrain of the LM85 is the all aluminum Audi 4.2 liter V8 engine producing 400 bhp. This is paired to a manual six-speed Getrag gearbox, driving the rear wheels with a Drexler limited slip differential. ABS is standard. The use of aluminum parts and other lightweight materials results in an impressive power-to-weight ratio and underlines the GT2 racing heritage of the car.

Exterior

Based on the Spyker C8 Laviolette GT2R, the racing characteristics of the LM85 are numerous, such as the all aluminum chassis, GT2 livery (Burnt Almond Orange with Gun Metal ‘S’ logo), side mirrors in body color, a carbon fiber rear spoiler, and GT2 windscreen streamer. Behind the black powder coated alloy wheels, black AP Racing 6 piston brake calipers with AP Racing logo appear. The LM85 can optionally be equipped with Le Mans sticker sets as well as a customised LM85 car cover.

Interior

The ample use of black leather and alcantara, which is originally meant to reduce light reflection during racing, has been finished with orange contrast stitching and characterizes the unique interior of the LM85. The dashboard instrument panel is made of turned aluminum. Each car will feature a personalised LM85 serial plaque. On request, Chronoswiss dials and switches can be installed and are virtually identical to the Chronoswiss 24Hours Pilot Watch every LM85 owner receives with his car. The black floor mats are made of fire protective material, finished with orange piping and the LM85 logo embroidered.

Extra features

As mentioned above, every LM85 owner receives a special edition Spyker Chronoswiss 24H Pilot Watch with orange crocodile strap. The serial number of the car will be engraved on the case of this exquisite time piece. Additionally, all LM85 owners are offered an exclusive Spyker VIP Hospitality weekend at the 24H of Le Mans in 2009.

[NextAutos]

Considering the Dutch builder continually puts out courageously offbeat supercars it's not a surprise they're upgrading their ride with new gadgets and whatnot. However, doesn't calling something an "Aileron" suggest the addition of a flying model? It's really the least they could do. Not to hate the Dutch, because Dutch guys got the touch. [Autogespot]

Spyker C8 Aileron unveiled

Spyker Cars, manufacturer of premium sport cars, unveiled its second generation C-line sports car at the Salon International de l'Auto in Geneva, Switzerland today: The all aluminium Long Wheel Base model is called Spyker C8 Aileron and will come with both a manual as well as an automatic gearbox.

Architecture

The Spyker C8 Aileron continues Spyker's signature architecture (applied since its inception in 2000 with the C8 Spyder) of a mid-engined configuration in an aluminium space frame, clad in aluminium body panels.

The Spyker C8 Aileron's space frame is a development of the original space frame of the first generation cars: its torsional rigidity, however, was improved by 40% without adding any weight. Its dimension have changed though, the wheelbase increasing by 10 cm / 4.5 inches for improved road handling and more cockpit space. Also its front track was widened and as a result the car is virtually „square.

Design

Designing a successor of a first generation car is no mean feat. Spyker's design philosophy has always been to create timeless designs, contemporary but classic.
In the first generation cars the leading design cues were Spyker's aviation and racing heritage. The propeller design consistently applied to many elements of the cars ( such as the Aeroblade wheels ) since 2000, was up for refreshment though: And in aviation the propeller engine was succeeded by the turbine engine so Spyker adopted the turbine as its "leitmotiv" for the Spyker C8 Aileron.

The signature Spyker polished air inlets in aluminium were converted into turbine engine shaped scoops reducing the "bling" element considerably, which reflects a trend Spyker sees in general: more sober designs, less exuberant. The scoops have polished alloy nacelles which may be colour coded with the interior as an option.
The airflow around the car was redesigned so that the shark-like gills of the first generation cars (no less than 17 on a C8 Spyder) could be abandoned giving the Aileron a cleaner, smoother appearance.

The radiator opening was enlarged in anticipation of more horsepower requiring additional cooling. The mesh is V-shaped as on the first generation cars, a direct reference to the Spykers of the previous century, but angled forward giving the car a somewhat more aggressive stance.

Also the headlight units were reshaped to follow the body design more closely. LED lights are incorporated in the units for indicators as well as Xenon lights (which are standard now).

The glass jet brighten inspired canopy, first introduced on the C8 Laviolette in February 2001, was extended backwards, reducing drag and increasing cockpit headroom. The signature air inlet atop the cockpit remained save that is now turbine shaped.

With the increased wheelbase (10cm / 4.5 inches) the doors grew by the same length allowing for more comfortable in- and egress.

Unfortunately practicality sometimes gains over design: The first generation cars have split side windows which were not optimal in terms of sealing (wind noise and water management). The Spyker C8 Aileron has single pane side glass that drops when the door is opened and closed, creating improved comfort level.

The rear diffuser was redesigned for improved functionality. The redesigned rear lights are LED units.

The outside mirrors were redesigned and the cone is mounted on two turbine fan blades, standard in body colour (but available in polished aluminium as an option)

Power train

The Aileron will continue to use the Audi 4.2 litre V8 giving 400 BHP. This state-of-the-art 5 valve 4 cam engine is now mated to a 6 speed Getrag manual or a 6 speed automatic ZF gearbox. This is the first time a Spyker is available with such an automatic gearbox as standard equipment.

Wheels and suspension

The Aeroblade ™ (5 propeller) wheels of the first generation cars are - logically - replaced by a 10 blade rotor wheel called „Rotorblade' ™. They come in 19" all round and are made in left and right hand turning versions.

The Spyker C8 Aileron's suspension was developed from scratch and has double wishbones both front and rear. Shock absorbers are now placed vertically within the wishbones.

(Carbon Ceramic ) Brakes

Brakes are supplied by AP Racing, a Spyker partner from day one. Colour coded callipers with Spyker script are available as an option. The Aileron is available with carbon ceramic brakes as an option as well.

Interior

The interior of all Spykers is clad in the highest quality leather the industry has on offer. The Dutch Tannery of Hulshof provides the six hides used for an Spyker C8 Aileron interior in 14 standard colours, which is fitted by Ellemeijer. Any other colour so desired by the customer is available as an option.

Chronoswiss Dials are available as an option as well.

Audio System

When Spyker started production in 2003 80% of the customers ordered their cars without any audio system, the basic reasoning being that the engine provided all the sound one could possibly wish for. However, with larger numbers of cars going into the market, the demand for a standard sound system increased and cars were fitted with the system chosen by the owner. With the ever increasing success of the I-pod and similar products, the demand for a standard sound system fitted by the factory has increased to the point that every Aileron will be equipped with a Kharma sound system, incorporating a GPS system, Bluetooth, CD player and an I-pod jack. It is paired to 7 Kharma loudspeakers (see separate chapter press release).

Exterior Colours

The Spyker C8 Aileron is available in 14 standard colours but as an option customers may elect to have the car painted any colour they whish. The Spyker Squadron GT2 colour scheme with big "S"s is available as an option as well.

Squadron

Spyker Squadron - the factory GT2 team -, in partnership with its title sponsor SNORAS Bank and Speedy Racing, is proud to present its latest GT2 racer for the most famous and grueling race on the planet: the 24-Hours of Le Mans. In 2008 and 2009 Spyker Squadron will compete with two Spyker C8 Laviolette GT2Rs in both the Le Mans Series (LMS) and the 24-Hours of Le Mans.

The Laviolette GT2R replaces the successful Spyker C8 Spyder GT2R, the first Spyker that earned podium positions for the Dutch manufacturer of exclusive sports cars in the international GT arena. The new Laviolette has been built from the ground up around on a much stiffer, aluminum spaceframe with better aerodynamic qualities. Based on the team's knowledge and experience with the previous C8, a long list of components have been changed or improved. The new car is an excellent platform to continuously develop and improve pace to reach the ultimate goal: a podium position at Le Mans.

Spyker Squadron welcomes Lithuanian SNORAS Bank, as its title sponsor for the upcoming season. Like last year Spyker Squadron partners with Alexandre Pesci's Swiss dealer team Speedy Racing, sponsored by LEMO and Rebellion Horlogerie.

Car number 85 will be driven by Alexei Vasilev (RUS), Ralf Kelleners (GER) and Peter Dumbreck (GBR). The second car, number 94, will be piloted by Andrea Chiesa (SUI), Benjamin Leuenberger (SUI) and Philippe Camandona (SUI). Both at Le Mans and in the Le Mans Series the team will use Michelin tires. After two earlier tests in Estoril and Le Castellet (Paul Ricard) the team will head to Barcelona, Spain within three weeks for the first 1000km race this season: the LMS 1000km de Catalunya.

This is the C8 Spyder's leather shrouded pedal box. Yes, all four pedals stick straight up in the air. Four pedals! Calm down, calm down — the far lefty is the dead pedal. While I found all four felt awkward and odd, rich people have an extra joint in their ankles. Hence, they love 'em.

Anybody out there got any new ways to make fun of Paris? We're running low. Though if you watch the video taken by the lovable scamps at TMZ you will notice she employs a 300-pound man to make sure she doesn't spill her latte on her Bentley's soft top. Twit. Anyhow, the good folks at the Bullrun have apparently gifted the dim-witted DUI all-star with a $300,000-ish uber-car that she gets to drive from Montreal to the end of Florida while those of us that legitimately need the car get stuck behind computers making fun of Spinelli's beautiful hair. Dammit. – Jonny Lieberman

Paris Joins Amazing Race [tmz.com]

Related:
We're Laughing At You: Paris Hilton Might Face 90 Days In The Hoosegow [Internal]

After yesterday's bird-on-Porsche incident and the falling ice ball we thought we were done with our weekly fill of hoontastic epic car smashes. Then Jalopnik reader Sacha brought to our attention the demise of one of only three Spyker Spyder's in Belgium last week. Here's what happened:

"On the highway near Wilrijk (belgium), a Spyker C8 Spyder run of the highway. The driver of the car was an employee of garage Beerens in Antwerp (Belgium) that was instructed to deliver the car in Brussels for the upcoming car show. He reacted saturday in The Last New as follows: "Probably I turned too brusquely at my steering wheel."

Spyker: update over crash & F1 team [Petrolhead.nl]

Related:
Verdict In Porsche Boxster Versus Bird: Nobody's A Winner At 155 MPH; Ice? Ice, Baby [internal]

So while the initial Spyker cars have been motivated by Audi powertrains, the latest rumor is that Ferrari is set to power their F1 cars. What's more, there're whispers to the effect (and we haven't talked to anyone from Spyker about this) that the outr Peking-to-Paris SUV may be powered by a Ferrari V12, rather than the VW/Audi W12. Abu Dhabi's Mubadala Development Company owns 17% of Spyker and 4% of the Prancing Horse, so this could be legit. What's more, for 2008, F1 constructors will be able to build complete cars for other teams, which could make Spyker Ferrari's #2 works team. While the current C8 sounds like a deity rocking the Isky Five-Cycle grind, imagine that sucker with a 430 motor in it. Humina.

Spyker and Ferrari [GrandPrix.com]

Related:
Spyker Officially Goes Formula Onenning [Internal]

Related:
2006 Concours d'Elegance Meadow Brook: Boogety-Boogety-Bugatti Veyron; Bullrun 2006 Kickoff: Carl Lewis's Spyker [internal]