Spyker returns with the 597 kW C8 Preliator XXV

A familiar name, but a substantially new car

The Preliator name is not new. Spyker first unveiled the C8 Preliator at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show, followed a year later by the open-top C8 Preliator Spyder. The name now returns with the XXV suffix.

Spyker says the C8 Preliator XXV Coupé is far more than an evolution of the earlier model. Its aluminium spaceframe has been completely redesigned in-house, while every exterior body panel is newly hand-formed in aluminium by Coventry Prototype Panels in England.

That decision sets Spyker apart from much of today's ultra-expensive sports-car market. Rather than defaulting to carbon-fibre composites, the company remains committed to a metal that can be shaped, worked and polished by hand. Traditional coachbuilding is therefore not simply part of the manufacturing process; it is one of the car's defining selling points.

Aviation-inspired details run throughout the design, from the NACA air intakes and iso-grid mesh to taillights modelled on jet afterburners and the prominent central fin. The latter references the 1919 Spyker C1 Aerocoque.

The 4.0-litre V8 produces 597 kW and 1,000 Nm

Mounted behind the cabin is a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 producing 800 hp, equivalent to around 597 kW, together with 1,000 Nm of torque.

More important is the way that performance is delivered. Spyker uses a genuine six-speed manual gearbox rather than an automated or paddle-shift transmission. There are no shift paddles behind the steering wheel: the driver chooses every gear, while the exposed shift mechanism preserves one of the marque's best-known design signatures.

That combination is becoming increasingly rare at this level of performance. Electrification and ultra-fast automated transmissions generally deliver stronger acceleration figures, but Spyker is deliberately prioritising mechanical involvement over outright technological efficiency.

The Preliator XXV is hardly slow, however. Spyker quotes 0-100 km/h in 2.7 seconds and a top speed of more than 217 mph, or more than 349 km/h. The V8 revs to 8,000 rpm.

Dry weight is listed at 1,525 kg. On the quoted 597 kW output, that works out at roughly 392 kW per tonne. It does not put the Spyker at the absolute top of the modern hypercar power-to-weight hierarchy, but for a car with a conventional manual gearbox it remains a formidable figure.

Each car takes around 2,100 hours to build

The production process says as much about Spyker's philosophy as the performance figures do. According to the company, each C8 Preliator XXV Coupé takes roughly 2,100 working hours to build.

The steering wheel alone is hand-stitched by a single craftsperson using two needles over the course of four hours. The dashboard is finished in turned aluminium, screw heads are aligned by hand and every chassis number is individually stamped into the aluminium spaceframe.

The cabin takes the same deliberately analogue approach. Spyker keeps digital interfaces to a minimum, with the head-up display serving as the only screen. The remaining information is presented through analogue instruments, while physical switches control the car's functions.

This is more than retro styling. Spyker has designed the cockpit around the idea that the driver should operate the car through tangible controls rather than spend time navigating menus and touch-sensitive surfaces.

The packaging has changed compared with earlier C8s

Spyker has also reworked the car's internal packaging. The fuel tank no longer sits in the sills; instead, it occupies a trapezoidal space behind the seats and ahead of the engine, a layout the company previously used in its Le Mans racing cars.

The rear luggage compartment has been eliminated, with luggage capacity moved entirely to the front of the car. This also frees up space around the powertrain and keeps major masses concentrated close to the centre of the chassis.

Braking is handled by carbon-ceramic rotors and six-piston Spyker calipers, a specification appropriate for a car capable of more than 349 km/h.

A central roof scoop feeds air towards the V8, while the exhaust outlets are mounted high above the engine. Once again, Spyker turns a functional engineering requirement into part of the car's aviation-inspired visual language.

Pagani shows how high Europe's boutique manufacturers have set the bar

The Pagani Utopia provides a useful European reference point. Like the Spyker, it is a mid-engined ultra-low-volume car that can be specified with a genuine manual gearbox and places unusual emphasis on an analogue driving experience.

Pagani's 6.0-litre twin-turbo V12 produces 635 kW and 1,100 Nm, while the Utopia has a quoted dry weight of just 1,280 kg. On paper, that gives the Italian car a clear advantage over the Spyker in both power and mass.

The engineering philosophies are markedly different, however. Pagani relies on highly sophisticated carbon-composite structures and a V12, whereas Spyker uses an aluminium spaceframe, hand-formed aluminium bodywork and a more compact V8.

The Preliator XXV therefore does not need to beat the Utopia on a specification sheet to make its case. Its appeal lies in the combination of hand craftsmanship, unconventional design, three pedals and exceptionally low production volume.

Spyker now has to prove that the comeback can last

Spyker's modern history has included several interruptions and revival attempts, making sustained production the key test for its latest comeback.

The new chapter is backed by Volodymyr Nosov, who became a co-owner of Spyker in June 2026 after acquiring a significant stake in the company. The investment and strategic partnership with his W Group give the Dutch marque a new financial and technology partner.

Spyker is already talking about developing the D8 Peking-to-Paris SSUV and has stated an ambition to return to endurance GT3 racing. The plan therefore extends well beyond a single limited-production model.

The first test is whether Spyker can build and deliver all 25 promised Preliator XXVs. Consistent production will ultimately determine whether the 2026 comeback marks the start of a durable new era or becomes another dramatic chapter in the marque's eventful history.

Spyker's launch material does not disclose a base price for the C8 Preliator XXV Coupé. With only 25 cars planned and around 2,100 working hours required for each build, however, it sits much closer to the world of collector-focused, low-volume specials than to conventional series-production supercars.