Spyker C8 Preliator XXV — 800 HP Twin-Turbo V8 Manual Revives Dutch Supercar Brand at The Quail

Spyker unveiled the C8 Preliator XXV Coupé at The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering on August 15, 2026, marking the Dutch marque's official comeback after founder Victor Muller reacquired the brand's intellectual property in 2025. The new car pairs an Audi-sourced 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 producing 789 hp (588 kW) and 737 lb-ft (999 Nm) with a proper six-speed manual, all inside a hand-hammered aluminum body limited to just 25 examples.

The Preliator XXV — the numeral marks Spyker's 25th anniversary — sits at the intersection of contemporary supercar performance and old-world craftsmanship. Where most of the 2020s is defined by hybrid systems and paddle shifters, Spyker went the other direction: three pedals, a rose-gold shift lever, analog gauges, and no touchscreens whatsoever beyond a small head-up display.

Powertrain: 789 hp Audi twin-turbo V8, six-speed manual

The 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 comes from the Audi parts bin — the same architecture that underpins the RS 6 and R8 — but retuned for Spyker's application. Output is quoted at 789 horsepower and 737 lb-ft of torque, sent exclusively to the rear wheels through a six-speed manual gearbox. Founder Victor Muller was blunt about the transmission choice: “Make a bad shift... and that's on you.” No automatic or dual-clutch option is offered.

The result is a claimed 0–62 mph (0–100 km/h) time of 2.9 seconds and a top speed above 217 mph (~350 km/h). At a curb weight of just 3,147 lb (~1,427 kg), the Preliator XXV's power-to-weight ratio rivals hypercars costing three times as much. Braking is handled by 15-inch front discs with Brembo four-piston calipers and 14-inch rear discs at the rear.

Full specifications

Design: hand-formed aluminum, ~800 hours per car

Every exterior panel on the Preliator XXV is shaped by hand from aluminum sheet — a process Spyker says consumes roughly 800 hours per completed car. The debut example wears Quail Green paint with rose-gold metal flakes, complemented by rose-gold brightwork throughout: turbofan-inspired wheels, side vents, mirror caps, roof arch, and the intricate mesh grilles front and rear.

Signature Spyker cues are all present and dialed up: ovoid twin headlights with LEDs that spell “XXV,” fighter-jet-style circular taillights, NACA ducts carved into the front bumper and rear fenders, and a tall dorsal fin rising from the roof scoop. The chassis plate on the debut car reads “I/XXV” — this is car number one of twenty-five.

Interior: Tuscan Saddle leather, exposed gear linkage, no screens

Step inside and the era-defiance continues. The dashboard is milled from solid aluminum, punctuated by traditional analog dials glowing pale green. There are no infotainment screens, no digital instrument cluster, no capacitive touch panels. The only concession to modern electronics is a discrete head-up display.

The seats, door cards, dashboard fascia and center tunnel are trimmed in Tuscan Saddle brown leather with a large triangular quilt pattern, offset by rose-gold trim on the vents, grab handles, switchgear and pedals.

Comeback story: Victor Muller reclaims the Spyker name

Spyker's post-2000 revival has been anything but smooth. Founded by Victor Muller in 2000 as a modern reinterpretation of the pre-WWI Dutch aircraft-and-automobile manufacturer, the original Spyker Cars produced roughly 300 C8 variants between 2000 and 2015 before entering bankruptcy. A brief attempt to acquire Saab in 2010 nearly bankrupted the brand outright.

After years of legal wrangling, Muller reacquired the Spyker name and IP in October 2025. Fresh funding arrived in June 2026 when Ukrainian-born cryptocurrency magnate Volodymyr Nosov took a significant stake, providing the capital to actually build the Preliator XXV. The 25-unit production run is intentionally small — Spyker positions the Preliator XXV as a hand-commissioned collector piece, not a series-production car.

What we don't know yet: price and delivery timing

Spyker has not published a price for the Preliator XXV, and Muller has been coy about deposits. Historical context suggests it will land well above the original C8 Preliator's $354,990 base — collector-market data on prior C8 variants suggests $1.5–2.5 million is a reasonable expectation for the XXV, though hand-commissioned specifications could push individual cars higher. Delivery timing has not been formally announced.

How it compares to the original C8 Preliator (2016)

The original C8 Preliator debuted at Geneva 2016 with an Audi-sourced supercharged 4.2-litre V8 producing 525 hp — significantly less than the new XXV's turbocharged 789 hp. The Preliator Spyder that followed in 2017 switched to a Koenigsegg-derived dry-sump 5.0-litre V8 with 600 hp. The XXV keeps the Audi V8 heritage but moves to twin turbos, and — crucially — keeps the manual gearbox that Spyker enthusiasts have always considered non-negotiable.

Frequently asked questions

How much does the Spyker C8 Preliator XXV cost?
Spyker has not announced a public price. Historical Preliator variants have sold well above $500,000 and the XXV is expected to sit above that band as a hand-commissioned collector piece.

How many Preliator XXV coupes will be built?
Just 25 examples, each one hand-formed in aluminum over roughly 800 hours.

What engine does the Preliator XXV use?
An Audi-sourced 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 producing 789 hp and 737 lb-ft of torque.

Is the Preliator XXV really manual?
Yes — a proper six-speed manual with three pedals and an exposed rose-gold linkage. Spyker offers no automatic or dual-clutch option.

When did the Preliator XXV debut?
At The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering during Monterey Car Week in August 2026.