Spyker is one of those brands that we want to see win, but for whatever reason, they just can’t seem to gain real traction in the marketplace. The brand has come and gone not once, but twice, folding in 2014 and then again just a few years later in 2021. All in all, they made just 255 cars over the past quarter century.
Admittedly, most of us assumed we’d never see a third act. Fortunately, though, founder Victor Muller clawed the name back, secured some fresh funds, and showed up at The Quail with the C8 Preliator XXV Coupé.
No Wires Between You and the Gears
While this thing has plenty to talk about, the gearbox will get a lot of the attention from enthusiasts. The Preliator XXV gets a six-speed manual that runs through that now-trademark-exposed linkage, a design choice that’s been a Spyker signature since day one.
And Muller’s take on his gearbox is pretty straightforward. If you botch a downshift, you have to bear the consequences. We’re not mad at it.
The Warrior’s Numbers
The name Preliator is Latin for warrior, and this thing is everything you’d expect from a vehicle wearing that moniker. Powered by an Audi-sourced 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8, this Spyker produces 800 horsepower and 1,000 Nm (738 lb-ft) of torque to the rear wheels. It’s a setup that delivers a top speed just north of 217 mph.
Dry weight comes in at 1,525 kg, or about 3,362 pounds, and the car is wrapped in aluminum rather than the expected carbon fiber. The reasoning here is that Spyker prefers metal because human hands can actually shape it, and shape it they do. England-based Coventry Prototype Panels hammers out each and every panel.
And this thing is a labor of love, to say the least, with each build taking roughly 2,100 total hours to assemble by hand.
A Biplane Tail at 217 MPH
While this thing is pretty wild across the board, special attention goes to the fin sweeping from the roof to the rear deck. It’s a callback to Spyker’s 1919 C1 Aerocoque and its aircraft-factory years. It’s not just for looks either. The scoop found up front feeds the V8, and exhaust tips fire straight out of the rear deck beside it.
The taillights were designed to mimic afterburners, and an isogrid lattice borrowed from rocket engineering fills the grilles, vents, pedals, and even the seat stitching.
Inside, there’s turned aluminum alongside green-lit analog gauges, toggle switches, and a heads-up display. And Spyker’s “butterfly mode” opens the doors and clamshells simultaneously with a single button press.
Spec Sheet
Model: Spyker C8 Preliator XXV Coupé
Model Year: 2026
Engine: Audi-sourced 4.0L twin-turbocharged V8
Power: 800 HP
Torque: 1,000 Nm (738 lb-ft)
Transmission: 6-speed manual
Drivetrain: Rear-wheel drive
Top Speed: 217+ MPH
Dry Weight: 1,525 KG (3,362 LBs)
Construction: Hand-formed aluminum body, in-house aluminum spaceframe
Brakes: Carbon-ceramic
Build Time: ~2,100 hours per car
Limited Edition: Yes, 25
Pricing & Availability
Spyker hasn’t published an official price, though reporting from the reveal puts it around €1.6 million (~$1.87 million), with each of the 25 cars individually commissioned. It’s also worth mentioning that 19 were already claimed during Monterey week.
Recap
2026 Spyker C8 Preliator XXV Coupé
Spyker returns from its second bankruptcy with a hand-built, 6-speed, 800HP aluminum hypercar that’s limited to just 25 total cars.
