2010 Spyker C8 Aileron – Auto Shows « New and Used Car Listings

2010 Spyker C8 Aileron – Auto Shows

Dutch sports-car manufacturer Spyker has revealed an even more dramatic-looking reprise to its first-generation C8 models at the Geneva auto show. Spyker founder and CEO Victor Muller says that first deliveries of the new C8 Aileron will begin in May. The unique design of the Spyker lineup is retained in this latest edition, from chromed and polished air scoops to 19-inch wheels with spokes shaped like turbine blades. Underneath the new skin is a lighter and stronger aluminum spaceframe.

The C8 Aileron is six inches longer than the car it replaces, and the roofline is lower and longer for a cleaner look. A new rear diffuser helps keep the car pinned to the ground at speed without resorting to huge wings, while a larger front grille provides better cooling for the Audi-sourced 4.2-liter V-8 mounted amidships. This is the same engine used in previous Spykers, and in this application it churns out 400 hp and 354 lb-ft of torque. A Getrag six-speed manual gearbox is standard, while a ZF six-speed automatic is now optional. Both transmissions retain Spyker’s exposed gearshift mechanism. The front and rear unequal-length control-arm suspensions now feature forged aluminum components to help reduce unsprung mass at the corners, while the standard four-piston, cast-iron disc brakes from AP Racing measure 13.8 inches across in the front and 13.1 in the rear. An optional upgrade to carbon-ceramic discs will be available later in the year, the company says.

Spyker estimates that the 3100-lb C8 Aileron can hit 62 mph in 4.5 seconds and reach a maximum speed of 187 mph. The base price for the new car with the manual transmission is $239,000 in Europe (automatics start at $246K), with standard features including a Kharma audio system, Bluetooth and iPod connectivity, satellite navigation, and a choice of 16 exterior and 14 interior colors. Spyker’s press materials, however, state customers can opt for any color combination they wish for an additional cost. In addition, the automaker says a Spyder variant with a fabric droptop is in the works and will launch in August at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Élégance in Monterey, California.