Spyker Tease B6 Venator After Saab Saga

Spyker B6 Venator (Spyker via WSJ)

Do you remember Spyker?

The name is as old as the motor car itself, with the Dutch company originating back to 1880. It then reappeared in 1999 courtesy of Victor Muller, and started churning out weird and wonderful sports cars seemingly inspired by early aviation.

Aluminium, beautifully-trimmed leather, chrome and exposed mechanicals all featured in models like the C8, while power came from Audi V8 units. Not always the most sophisticated of sports cars, the styling at least had the ability to make even Paganis look a bit half-hearted.

The C8 line has seen continual improvements over the years, and we've seen C12 and D12 concepts in the meantime - the latter a crazy SUV concept.

Spyker C8 Laviolette

But over the last few years, things have become a bit confusing. Muller used the company to buy ailing Swedish maker Saab from General Motors in 2010, before deciding that running the loss-making company was a bit expensive and sold Spyker's sports car division. To cut a long story short, Saab then went through a "will it, won't it?" series of mini-implosions before finally dying in early 2012.

Muller took legal action against GM in 2012 - a motion still ongoing - but beyond that, all has been quiet from the quirky sports car maker.

Until now.

This week's Geneva Motor Show will see a new Spyker appear - the B6 Venator.

Until the official unveil, not a great deal is known about the car - but its specifications and dimensions seem quite familiar - the Wall Street Journal (who found the leaked image above) hints they're very close to those of the Lotus Evora S. Specifications include a mid-mounted, 375-horsepower V6 engine and a relatively skinny weight of just under 1,400 kilos.

The profile is all Lotusy too, but the details will be pure Spyker - expect curves, chrome, quilted materials and an exposed gearshift mechanism. Also expect a price between around £110,000 and £130,000. If it is based on the Evora, there can't be much of Hethel's car left for that money.

Spyker B6 preview (Spyker)

Despite the power-to-weight and pricing, Muller isn't promising a Porsche-killer.

Damn right, Victor. The B6 Venator will be much cooler.