Spyker has always occupied a rare corner of the supercar world, where aviation-inspired detailing and old-world metalwork matter as much as raw speed.
The C8 Preliator XXV Coupe brings that character back into focus at Monterey Car Week, appearing at The Quail as a hand-built Dutch flagship with a twin-turbo V8 and a proper manual gearbox.
In a landscape increasingly shaped by hybrid systems, dual-clutch transmissions and software-led performance, this car makes its case through craft, scarcity and mechanical theatre.
At a glance
- Spyker has unveiled the C8 Preliator XXV Coupe at The Quail during Monterey Car Week.
- The limited-run coupe uses a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 with 800 hp and 738 lb-ft, paired with a manual transmission.
- Production is limited to 25 hand-built examples, each personalised for its owner.
A clean-sheet Spyker with an old-school brief
The C8 Preliator XXV Coupe is described by Spyker as an entirely new car, created from a clean sheet rather than a light reworking of an existing model.
Its structure centres on an in-house spaceframe, wrapped in hand-built aluminium bodywork that stays true to the brand’s highly tactile approach to supercar construction.
The formula is deliberately analogue.
At its heart sits a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 producing 800 hp and 738 lb-ft of torque, sent through a manual transmission rather than an automated gearbox.
Spyker claims a top speed in excess of 217 mph, putting the Preliator XXV Coupe firmly in modern hyper-performance territory despite its traditional driver engagement.
Hand-built aluminium and obsessive cabin craft
Spyker says each car takes around 2,100 hours to build, which explains why the production number remains so small.
The craftsmanship extends far beyond the usual stitched-leather-and-carbon-fiber checklist.
The steering wheel alone is stitched by one craftsperson using two needles at once, a process said to take four hours.
The dashboard is hammered from aluminium, reinforcing the car’s hand-formed personality rather than hiding its construction behind mass-production perfection.
Each chassis number is stamped by hand into the aluminium spaceframe, leaving a unique impression on every car.
The example displayed at The Quail carries chassis number 270.
Limited production and personal specification
Only 25 examples of the C8 Preliator XXV Coupe will be built, and each will be personalised to its owner’s preference.
That makes it less a conventional model launch and more a statement of intent from a boutique manufacturer returning to the global collector-car stage.
For buyers, the appeal won’t simply be the headline speed figure.
It’s the combination of a manual transmission, a high-output twin-turbo V8, hand-shaped bodywork and the kind of visible craftsmanship that’s becoming increasingly uncommon at the top end of the performance market.
Details & Specifications
| Brand | Spyker Cars |
|---|---|
| Model | C8 Preliator XXV Coupe |
| Body | Hand-built aluminium coupe |
| Structure | In-house spaceframe |
| Engine | 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 |
| Power | 800 hp |
| Torque | 738 lb-ft |
| Transmission | Manual |
| Top speed | In excess of 217 mph |
| Production | 25 examples |
| Build time | Around 2,100 hours per car |
| Displayed example | Chassis number 270 |
The C8 Preliator XXV Coupe feels aimed squarely at collectors who still value touch, noise and human workmanship alongside performance numbers.
For Spyker, it’s a sharply focused return to the kind of car that made the name distinctive in the first place.
