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]

The two companies have also signed a Design and Engineering agreement, meaning Lotus will have a hand in how Spyker designs vehicles based on Lotus's platforms.

The two firms were already collaborating on the Aileron supercar and D8 super SUV. [via Autocar]

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.

Yes, apparently so. Davey G. reported earlier that Spyker just got a hot 12.5-million Euro injection from Trafalgar capital and some other banks. But, according to the boyz under da hood at Mo-to Au-thor-o, to secure one of those loans, Spyker Cars sold their ever-lovin' name to Friesland Bank. Spyker (of course) is claiming that this is just a normal part of doing business. However, shadowy European stock market types are saying it's not so normal. At all. And that even though the Dutch supercar maker turned a profit in 2006, all is far from well. You will no doubt remember last week when Victor Mullen stepped down as CEO. Spyker shares have slid 17% since then. Our two cents: We finally saw a Spyker in the flesh and on the road a few days back and we have to admit that it was breathtaking. As such, we wish them luck because completely mad, fully extroverted rocket sleds make the world a better place. Though, "Friesland Bank C12 Zagato" sounds pretty whack. – Jonny Lieberman

Spyker hocks brand name to get loan [via Motor Authority]

Related:
Spyker Borrows Some Euros; Victor Muller Steps Down as Spyker CEO [Internal]

Truth be told, we're not exactly sure how Spyker's financed. We know there're a lot of Middle Eastern bux involved and company co-founder Victor Muller is obviously a rather well-off individual. He'd told us less than a year ago that the company was a year from profitability, bought an F1 team and then announced profitability at the LA Auto Show. Now, of course, Muller has stepped down as CEO and Michiel Mol, the man in charge of Spyker's F1 outfit is holding the temporary reins. And Spyker has just secured 12.5 million more euros in financing "to satisfy its short-term liquidity position," according to a bit at Forbes' site and is bringing in consulting behemoth Booz Allen Hamiltion, the firm that royally screwed up the upgrade of the Muni trains back in '98, to review the company's product line and brainstorm future directions.

In the meantime, the new cash comes from a line-extension from Luxembourg-based Trafalgar capital, a 7.5-eur injection from a current investor, and a cool 2.5 from another bank. The company has also confirmed that back in September, it mortgaged its brand with Friesland Bank, something Spyker says is "common practice." With so much expansion so soon, an apparent restructuring, and the stepping aside of the company's founder after a massive acquisition like an underperforming F1 team that will require a serious long-term investment of time and capital to make work (something Muller was completely frank about during his speech at the LA Auto Show), we're a little worried about Spyker right now. We want them to succeed; they're heirs to the wild-hair-up-my-ass-let's-start-a-car-company sense of craziness that made the auto industry great in the first place. – Davey G. Johnson

Spyker Cars secures additional 12.5 mln eur financing; works on refinancing plan [Forbes]

Related:
Victor Muller Steps Down as Spyker CEO [Internal]

We've made no bones about the fact that we genuinely like Spyker Cars re-founder Victor Muller. He's a friendly, humble guy who comes across as a no-shitter in a sea of egotists and pipe-dreamers, even if he himself is a dreamer. But he's a dreamer in the best possible way. He got the company off the ground and before he announced that he's stepping down as CEO on May 21st to focus on design and branding, he managed to spearhead a number of projects, getting a pack of attention-grabbing exotics off the ground on the back of a brand nobody'd thought of in years, had cars run at events like Le Mans and Sebring, and last year, acquired a Formula 1 team. Not bad for a seven-year run. What's more the company's even turning a profit. We're not sure what the internal goings-on are at Spyker so we have no real comment to offer, other than that we wish Victor the best in his new endeavor. Spyker F1 head Michiel Mol will hold the CEO spot in the interim while the search for a new CEO takes place. Press release after the jump.

After seven and a half years at the helm of Spyker since its foundation in 2000, Victor Muller has
requested the Supervisory Board to agree to him reducing his general management tasks as CEO and
to focus on design and branding exclusively. Michiel Mol, until now Director of Formula One Racing
within the Management Board, will assume the role of interim CEO in addition thereto.
Victor Muller explains his decision:

"It has been such a privilege to lead the (re)creation of Spyker since Maarten de Bruijn and I founded the company on January 1, 2000. No one could have anticipated then the exceptional growth that would materialize in the years to come. With 450 employees worldwide, the company has now entered a phase where different management skills are required than those that were instrumental to create the company and build the brand until this point. Michiel Mol has those skills and I am proud to hand over the reins to such a competent and energetic partner. It allows me to do what I am best at: brand building."

He continues: "With the acquisition of the Formula One Team in September 2006, I also gained a business partner experienced in successfully building up large companies. At that point Michiel and I
started discussions on the possibilities for my succession. After more than seven years of very hard
work I felt it was time for me to lift the throttle a bit."

Michiel Mol adds: "Whilst Victor's decision to stand down from the role of CEO has come sooner than
expected the team that he built remains. I see my key role going forward as continuing to strengthen
and expand that team with the most capable motor industry talent available. In time, one of those
recruitments will need to be for the role of CEO as I return my focus and energies to the building of
the Spyker Formula One Team. Until that point I am highly committed to take on the responsibilities
of leading the company."

Hessel Lindenbergh, President of the Supervisory Board says: "On behalf of the Board, I would like to
thank Victor for his efforts in building the Spyker brand to where it is today. We respect his difficult
decision to stand down after more than seven years from the role of CEO but are fortunate to have
within our ranks a capable replacement in Michiel. He will take on the responsibilities of the position
until we appoint an experienced automotive leader with the talent and vision to take Spyker Cars to
the next level". – Davey G. Johnson

Breaking news: Victor Muller weg als CEO bij Spyker [Autoblog.nl]

Related:
The Good Kind of Consolidation: Spyker Angling to Buy Lotus? [Internal]

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]

Flush with Saudi bux (investor Mubadala Development Company also owns 5% of Ferrari), Spyker appears to be going after the lost, lonely Lotus, which has been struggling under the stewardship of Malaysia's Proton. Rumors, unconfirmed by the company and denied by Spyker CEO Victor Muller, had indicated the deal was far along, with Lotus slated to assume production of the new D12 Peking-to-Paris SUV in the UK. Nonetheless, according to Autoblog.nl Dutch TV reports Muller did confirm conversations between the two companies have been taking place, but didn't give up any specifics. Imagine a Spyker C12 that cornered as well as an Elise, and you just know some manner of amusement could be ahead. – Mike Spinelli

Aast Spyker op Lotus? [Autoblog.nl]

Related:
Geneva Showcase: Spyker C12 Zagato; Geneva Showcase: Lotus Exige GT3 [internal]

Mad supercar genius Victor Muller introduced the latest from the newly minted F1 constructor Spyker Cars. It's a Zagato-designed rear-drive sportster, powered by VW's 6.0-liter W12 engine, producing 500 hp. Like other of Spyker's vehicles, this one combines supercar with 1930s robber-baron airplane, to create a gestalt from speed, fine leather, Chronoswiss instruments and aeronautics. The C12 gets from zero to 60 in 3.8 seconds and has a top speed that knocks fairly hard on the threshold of 200 mph (193). Nearly $650,000 will buy one, if all of the above is your thing. – Mike Spinelli

Press Release:

Spyker C12 Zagato: the vehicle

The Spyker C12 Zagato is an all aluminium rear wheel drive sports car, based on the Spyker C12 Spyder. The C12 is powered by the 6.0 liter, 12 cylinder, 500 bph W12 engine from Volkswagen AG and accelerates from 0-100 km (0-60 mph) in 3.8 seconds. The Spyker C12 Zagato is equipped with a six-speed manual or automatic gear box with F1 style shifting, Chronoswiss instruments and a Zagato designed full leather interior with brushed aluminium instrument panel. The C12 Zagato has an aluminium body with stainless steel roof rails and has many F1 derived design details such as an F1 nose, air scoop, chimneys, mirrors, rain light, fuel flap and diffuser. It has a panoramic roof that features the Double Bubble, a typical Zagato style element. The Spyker C12 Zagato has a length of 4.5 m, a width of 2.02 m excluding mirrors, a height of 1.25 m and weighs 1480 kg. The fuel tank capacity is 70 litres (15.4 gallons). Top speed is 310 km/h (193 mph).

"The Spyker and Zagato Atelier brands perfectly align because of their common aeronautical origins and because of the shared passion of Victor Muller and myself for sports cars" states Andrea Zagato. "Nevertheless Victor, before starting this extraordinary adventure with Spyker, was a Zagato collector owning cars like the Flaminia SS and TZ. Together with our neo-classical approach, this Spyker C12 Zagato shows the capabilities of Zagato Atelier for innovative and non conventional solutions."

Norihiko Harada, designer of the new Spyker C12 Zagato, adds: "All Spyker cars have their own very unique style: the aeronautical retrospective style co-exists with craftsmanship and elegance. The new Zagato body becomes even more unique, aggressive and sensual at the same time. It features a new double bubble panoramic roof , F1 influenced nose and air intakes, chimney and a "coda tronca", the typical Zagato cut off tail end.

Maintaining Spyker's styling philosophy, Zagato design put all these elements together and created an extremely stimulating example of contemporary exotic high performance sports car by using typical modern Zagato lines which started from the Raptor Zagato in 1996."

The Spyker C12 Zagato will retail for EUR 495,000 (excluding any taxes, ex factory).

Related:
Zagato-Tuned Spyker C12 La Turbie to Show in Geneva [internal]

The men in orange have joined the chorus against Super Aguri and Toro Rosso scoring constructors' points for using chassis sourced from Honda and Red Bull. In some ways, from a small team like Spyker, the point of view is understandable. Why should other teams be able to buy derivative chassis when they've committed to building their own? From the POV of a company like Honda, it spreads development costs. And from other small teams' perspective, why should they bother developing a chassis when they can buy one? Ze wicket. It ees sticky, bro-hams, but the Dutch certainly prefer it with odd combinations of vowels. – Davey G. Johnson

Kolles resolute on customer cars [ITV]

Related:
Oddball F1 Car of Yesteryear: Tyrell P34 in Monaco [Internal]

This week on Spinelli and Wilde's Maxim Radio show, we've got Victor Muller, CEO of Spyker Cars. Maybe we can get him to talk about the hotted up C12 La Turbie the company did with Italian design firm Zagato. We'll also ask him about the expanding company's F1 hopes, and its outrageous approach to design. Sirius subscribers can live stream via the online. Post your questions for Mr. Muller in the comments.

That's ...
RPM: 2:00 pm (EST) on Maxim Radio Sirius satellite 108

Related:
Jalopnik on Sirius: We Might Make You Delirious [internal]

Spyker always shakes up the Geneva auto show with some extreme craziness that leads to wild murmuring among assembled journos. Last year it was the Peking-to-Paris SUV, which looked like a Porsche Cayenne that fell in with a crowd of feral Jaguar XKEs. This year, however, the company's back to mother earth, with a special edition of its C12 La Turbie, created with Italian design house Zagato. Company CEO Victor Muller says that car will take its cues from the company's new F1 racers. Every one of the 25 cars to be built have been sold, each for $345,625, so displaying it is more for teasing's sake. (Note: standard C12 La Turbie pictured.) – Mike Spinelli

Zagato tekent nieuwe Spyker [Autogelegraaf]

Related:
LA Auto Show: Spyker's Red Light District; Spyker Unveils C12 Prototype; Spyker Shows Production C12 to "Miljonairs" [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]

Sweet Peet D. came down from his perch in the frigid wilds of Detwa to visit those of us who are too cheap to change our tires twice yearly. And what did he see? Well, he called the Honda Step Bus the "Short Bus" and neglected to note the puppies. He panned the Remix. He gave GM's hybrid efforts props and figures that the Tundra could eat a big hole in Ram sales. He called the Audi TT reveal a "yawner," obviously not recognizing that the best three-word phrase of the entire show was uttered during the runup to the unveiling — "ALUMINUM UND SHTEEL!" Oh, and he likey the Aston V8 Vantage droptop. As for one other reporter's opinion? Click through.

Hanging with Uncle Bumbeck is always awesome, as is hanging with the Loverman. Finally meeting up with Kasey after a bazillion late-night IM sessions dissecting Top Gear episodes and listening to his theories about how terrorists really could cripple Los Angeles. The kid's simply too smart to be an autojournalist. The CIA should hire him tomorrow. Always good to see Haller, Nick "Bobsleigh" Frankl and his twin sister Annabelle (not identical). Emil was out in force. Met a couple of the Intersection guys — if you haven't checked out their mag, you should. The Audi evening was a blast until the clueless fashionista hipsters showed up. Also, the Volvo C30 intro, "free will" silliness aside, was actually pretty cool, and I can't wait to drive the car itself. I genuinely think it's one of the best-looking cars a normal schmoe could afford. It's the first Volvo in a long time that reminds me of making out with girls in their hand-me-down 240s and 760s. It made me all emo. No, seriously. It did.

It's always good to chat with Victor, although it's pretty funny that I know a guy who owns a Formula One team. And he's not a cock. I remember when I heard he'd bought Midland out, I was like, "Holy shit! I know an F1 honcho!" Sometimes, this job just gets really surreal.

And, aside from the ducats Audi dropped to impress me at their events, as well as unintentionally providing Los Jalops with the ALUMINUM UND SHTEEL meme, I really warmed up to the R8. Despite the idiotic golf bag behind me, sitting in the car felt great, it's got the one part of the RS4 I simply can say absolutely nothing bad about — the engine — and it has a really heavy presence. Plus, the interior's better than the Gallardo's. In fact, there are only three cars I feel I must drive in 2007: the C30, the 599 and the R8. If I can score those three cars to test, everything else is gravy. – Davey G. Johnson

On the Table [Autoextremist]

Related:
Jalopnik's 2007 Los Angeles Auto Show Coverage [Internal]

We met Victor Muller last summer on the Bullrun and ran into him again at Pebble Beach. And he's emphatically not the type of guy who comes across as somebody who would start a crazy exotic car operation or buy an F1 team. The soft-spoken, affable Muller comes across as a quirky businessman, not the head of what's now a multinational corporation.

Regardless, Spyker brought their entire line to LA: the C12 La Turbie, the C8 Laviolette and the new, barking-mad Peking-to-Paris SUV — which drops as an '08 model — as well as one of their bright-screaming-orange F1 cars. Muller announced that the company would indeed mount an effort to drive two of the hyper-lux, W12-powered sport-utes from Bejing to the City of Light and was realistic about the chances of the former Midland team's chances in their first few years of F1 competition.

We asked him whether the next F1 cars will be festooned with crazy aluminum bits, to which he replied, "No, I'm going to go the other way. We have a car debuting in Geneva which will take elements from that," as he pointed at the low-slung tangerine-colored carbon-fiber baby, "and apply them to a Spyker road car."

"So will it be a C8 or C12, or will it be an entirely new car?"

"That's all I can say. You'll have to wait until Geneva."

"So what's it like owning an F1 team?"

"It's the best thing in the world."
– Davey G. Johnson
Related:
Peking, Duck!: Spyker Unveils New SUV Concept [Internal]

Spyker ended speculation on where the company would get engines for its F1 team this past weekend, when it announced it had inked what's essentially a one-year deal with Scuderia Ferrari. But Ferrari team boss Jean Todt wants you to know the deal is only for F1 engines, not street powerplants for Spyker's Dutch-built supercars, which are powered by Audi/VW hardware. The deal was struck by way of the two companies' common shareholder, Abu Dhabi's Mubadala Development Company, which owns 17 percent of Spyker and five percent of Ferrari. Ferrari also supplies engines for team Red Bull. For what that's worth. – Mike Spinelli

[Source: Reuters India]

Related:
The House of Orange: Spyker Reveals F1 Livery [internal]

Yesterday at Silverstone, the flying Dutchteam, Spyker MF1, revealed the Formula One livery for its M16 racers. The scheme will combine The Netherlands' national color of orange with Spyker's adopted silver. The colors will fly on October 1st, when the team takes over where Midland left off at the Chinese Grand Prix. William the Silent would be proud.

Press release:

SPYKER MF1 TEAM REVEALS ITS NEW FACE

Zeewolde, The Netherlands, 20 September 2006 - - Spyker MF1 Team will run a striking new livery on all of their M16 race cars for the remainder of the 2006 Formula 1 World Championship. The new livery and sticker design has been implemented in time for the team's Silverstone test on Tuesday 19th September.

The new design has been specially selected by the board of Spyker Cars NV, CEO Victor Muller and Director of Formula One Michiel Mol to represent the exciting future in store for the Team and Spyker Cars N.V. Designed by Spyker MF1 Team's Product Designer Rob Taylor, the orange and silver colouration combines plain black sponsor branding. These official colours of Spyker are unique to Formula One and will ensure instant recognition on track.

The colouration pays tribute to the Team's Dutch connection, orange being the national colour, and Spyker's heritage.

The unveiling of the team's car livery is the first stage in the adoption of a new colour scheme set to cover the race driver and pit crew overalls for the remaining 3 races of the 2006 Formula 1 World Championship, starting with the Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai on 1st October.

Victor Muller (Chief Executive Officer, Spyker Cars N.V. and Spyker MF1 Team) said "It is quite amazing what a change of colours and design can do to the appearance of a Formula One car. They are by nature elegant and fit for purpose but with the right colours and design one can underline these qualities to the point that they become breath taking. I am very pleased with the result and thank the other teams and FIA for their cooperation to make this livery change possible at such short notice."

Michiel Mol (Director of Formula One Spyker Cars N.V. and Spyker MF1 Team) said "We are really happy to change the livery to orange and silver. The orange colour symbolizes
our Dutch roots whilst at the same time makes for an attractive colour scheme that is easily everybody is and how the team moves forward. In China we will have a complete new look
and feel which is very appealing."

Colin Kolles (Team Principal, Spyker MF1 Team) said "It is fantastic for the team to implement such a fresh and unique livery and design in time for the Chinese Grand Prix. We hope that with a good performance on track and this striking new design, combined with Spyker's phenomenal brand awareness in China, we will cause a stir among our Chinese fans. The new colours have helped to raise morale within the Team and there is real excitement and anticipation to see what we can achieve in Shanghai and the remaining races this season".

The arrival of Spyker MF1 Team's new livery also sees the team's commercial operation adopt a new focus in the acquisition of partners within the IT, telecoms, financial services, new media and luxury goods sectors.

The Spyker MF1 Team M16 car and race drivers will be available for photography in their new colour scheme outside the team's garage at Shanghai International Circuit on Thursday 28th September at 1600 hrs.

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]

As if the prior press release hadn't basically made it a sure shot, Spyker has announced their purchase of the Midland Formula One operation, which, if you hadn't been paying attention (and we kind of don't blame you), used to be Jordan. So now Victor Muller and Michiel Mol are taking on Bernie's group of track-blasting berzerrlionaires as the other exotic-car manufacturer on the circuit. Pretty goddamn ballsy for a company that's been around for less than a decade. Plus, it's weird, on a personal level, for one of Los Jalopniks to know an F1 team owner on a first-name basis. To come? Pot-leaf-weave carbon fiber, hemp firesuits and rear wing stickers instructing that competing drivers should only pass the Dutchies on the left hand side. Good luck, boys.

Related:
Spyker Angling to Buy Midland F1 Team [Internal]

This week's Formula One intrigue involved a rumor the Midland F1 team was preparing for a sale. Overnight, Spyker Cars released the following statement:

In reaction to various rumors in the press, Spyker Cars N.V. and the M-Consortium headed by Michiel Mol make the following statement.

Spyker Cars NV and the M-Consortium confirm that currently negotiations are taking place with the owner of Midland F1 with respect to a possible acquisition by Spyker of the Midland F1 team. The outcome of the negotiations is still depending on a number of conditions and circumstances. In the event that such acquisition would materialize, Spyker will consider a share issue to (partially) finance the transaction. M-Consortium has expressed its willingness to subscribe to this issue for a large part.

At the appropriate time further announcements will be made. In any event the acquisition will be subject to Spyker Shareholders' and Supervisory Board approval.

The world's most over-the-top carmaker and an internet millionaire teaming up on a Formula One team? This is either going to get really interesting, or someone's going to get poked in the eye. Maybe both.

[via Autoblog.nl]

Related:
More on Spyker [internal]

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

Personally, we'll be waiting for Wild Things 6 featuring Mary Kate Olsen and a Lamborghini Murcielago lp640.

Related:
Tom Cruise Picks MI:3 Vehicles, Chooses Ford Over GM

The mad dutchmen at Spyker, with new financial juice from the Government of Abu Dhabi have worked up an SUV concept so mad, so rife with multiple personalities, it caused a fierce bout of "What's it Look Like" among several journos watching its unveiling. One said it resembled a Jaguar XK crossed with a Porsche Cayanne, another said it was more like a '69 Firebird lodged inside that Porsche SUV's time-space field , while a third said it was definitely the product of a Shelby Daytona sent out to stud with a Mercedes Unimog. We just smiled and thought of Shiehks.

Related:
More on Spyker [internal]

Jalopnik s exploration of the tension between art and commerce in the review sections of various US car mags continues. Meanwhile, we couldn t help but notice a stunning example of this literary sub-genre in the 11 October issue of Brit weekly Autocar. Although Spyker doesn t advertise within Autocar s glossy pages, Chris Harris article on the Dutch automaker s C8 supercar is the single best example of this car sucks but I m not going to say so in so many words review we ve ever read to date. As the British like to say, Harris starts as he means to finish.

Loud Spyker [Autocar (edited version)]

Standing beside the Spyker C8 Spyder in the upmarket Kensington mews that houses dealer Hunt and Keal s showroom, I was fully prepared to hear the obligatory How much mister? answered with something on the large side of unaffordable But it s as much as I can do to stop an unfortunate combination of the words laugh , having , you re and mate spilling out when the aforementioned figure is casually tossed into conversation.

Harris is working his literary magic on the British expression You re having a laugh mate. [The less graceful US equivalent: Don t think I m stupid enough to fall for that shit. ] Harris then reveals that the Spyker C8 Spyder costs 188,000 ($333k), which is two grand less than the price of a Lamborghini Murcielago roadster.

Harris proceeds to compliment the Spyker s meticulous craftsmanship. He points out that the C8 Spyder is as well-made as the ne plus ultra of hand-built supercars, the Pagani Zonda — which also costs 188,000. And then he s off; pissing on the Spyker Spyder from a great height, hammering home his theme of astronomical over-pricing with a well placed metaphorical mallet.

Humans simply stand still and attempt to locate the source of this mechanical frenzy. The more knowledgeable of them perhaps look out for a trio of Mercedes E55 AMG s with exhaust baffles removed, because those might, if thwacked with enough venom, make a similar noise to this diminutive rag top. Equally their combined value — give or take the odd thousand — would, by chance, be somewhere near the 188,000 mark.

I m not a great fan of the whole awfully nice to meet you English literary style (a venomous thwack?), but Harris certainly has it down pat — I mean, cold. And the 188,000 routine just keeps getting better.

The next passage finds Harris worn-out by the Spyker s industrial-strength clutch and unservoed brakes. He wishes he was in the backseat of a [conveniently] passing Maybach 57 — which can be had for 188,000. Harris gives it some (thrashes the car) and wonders if the Spyker C8 Spyder could scalp a Porsche Carrera GT, a pre-owned example of which could be purchased for a sum in the neighborhood of — you guessed it.

The author saves his best price reference for the second-to-last paragraph. He chides the Spyker for not being a touch softer (i.e., its suspension makes rocks seem like Tempurpedic pillows).

Otherwise, it just skips the bumps and becomes airborne. At which point it could, if we stretch the comparison a touch, become a rival for the 150,000 Robinson R22 helicopter.

Now that s funny. Unfortunately, Harris stumbles at the last fence, falling prey to AutoWeek syndrome. He sums-up the Spyker with the usual it-sucks-but-I ve-got-to-say-something- nice-because-these-chaps-were-good-enough-to- lend-me-their-hyper-exotic-sports-car-and-let s-not-forget-we-sell-magazines- reviewing-extreme-machines-like this-and-we-don t- want-to-screw-that-up routine. As Harris puts it:

I just can t bring myself to wholly dislike a car with an exposed gear linkage and — sorry — Aretha Franklin s lungs.

Damned by faint praise? In any case, we re willing to bet Mr. Harris could have achieved complete antipathy to the Spyker C8 Spyder — if he d been writing for someone a little less hidebound than Autocar.

[Jalopnik s Between the Lines column parses the rhetoric of the automotive industry, and the media that covers it, from the point of view of that kid at the back of the class with ADD, a genius IQ and a thirst for mayhem.]

Related:
Spyker Shows Production C12 to Miljonairs [internal]

The German Car Blog relates an article in Der Spiegel about Spyker's unveiling of its production C12 at a Dutch "millionaires" fair (you mean the guys on the cigar box?). And even Rembrandt would tear out his mustache trying to calculate the forshortening lines of the Spyker's yawning proportions. Just as in the prototype, the production model, which will cost more than $300,000 in tulip money when it's launched — possibly in 2006 — will be powered by Audi s six-liter dry-sump aluminum W12.

Spyker C12 Spyder: Powered by Audi [The German Car Blog]

Related:
Spyker Unveils C12 Prototype [internal]