The 525bhp C8 Preliator Is Spyker's First Step Back Into The Supercar Game

We’ve always loved Spyker. Aside from Pagani, no other manufacturer has produced cars with such beautiful attention to detail. Both the Spyker C8 and C8 Aileron were truly great sports cars; cars that never received the recognition that they truly deserved. So when the company declared bankruptcy in late 2014, we were pretty damn disappointed.

Thankfully the bonkers Dutch company is back with an exciting new supercar, well, kinda. If you recognise the Preliator, it’s because it made its first appearance at the 2013 Geneva motor show as ‘the Venator concept’. Clearly not wanting to throw away a good design - or perhaps in a sensible money saving move - Spyker developed its pre-existing concept car into a fully functioning road-going machine.

Aesthetically, the Preliator is a cross between the three-year-old Venator and the C8 Aileron. The car features a distinctive honeycomb mesh grille, classic central pillar design, and thin spoked wheels. The Preliator also retains the Venator’s uber cool afterburner lights, which are in fact CNC-machined from stainless steel. NACA ducts have also been added to the front bumper and rear haunches for improved airflow.

The Preliator’s interior is also typically Spyker. Ignore the slightly old-fashioned Lamborghini Gallardo steering wheel and feast your eyes upon the beautiful exposed manual gearbox. A ZF six-speed automatic is an option, but why the hell would you spec one? The rest of the interior is covered in beautifully plush leather and looks absolutely stunning.

The car isn’t all show and no go however. Sitting in an all-aluminium space frame chassis, you’ll find an Audi-sourced 4.2-litre, 525bhp supercharged V8 engine. Granted, in a world of 1000bhp supercars that doesn’t sound a lot, but the Preliator completes the 0-62mph sprint in a respectable 3.7 seconds, and if you’re brave enough, the car will be able to hit 201mph. Thankfully AP Racing brakes with four-piston callipers will be there to bring you to a halt.

Only 50 cars will be produced at £252,710 (€324,900) a pop. Not cheap, but certainly exclusive.