Spyker returned to the spotlight at The Quail during the 2026 Monterey Car Week with the unveiling of the C8 Preliator XXV, a supercar that puts the Dutch marque’s distinctive design language back on center stage.
The C8 is intended to stand apart in a segment increasingly shaped by electrification and digital technology. Its unique bodywork, aviation-inspired details, and focus on a more tactile driving experience signal the marque's clear intent to build something different.
The unveiling marks a new chapter for Spyker and CEO Victor Muller had plenty to say about the C8 Preliator XXV, the decision to launch it during Monterey Car Week, and what the car could signal for Spyker's future.
What was the thinking behind the new C8 Preliator XXV, and what do you want this car to represent?
The new Spyker C8 Preliator XXV represents everything we have built up over the past 25 years, with a very strong connection to the car that influenced me most: the 1919 Spyker C1 Aerocoque. After the Great War, when Spyker ceased aircraft manufacturing, we resumed car production on a greater scale again, and the launch car was the "Aerocoque," basically a C1 chassis with a Spyker airplane fuselage. An aircraft for the road, so to speak, with a pronounced fin tail. That car has been my design inspiration since 2000, but with the Preliator XXV we have connected the dots even more.
Why did you feel The Quail was the right place to introduce the new C8 to the world?
We used to launch our new cars at the Geneva Salon and the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance for many years. Sadly, the Geneva Salon disappeared altogether, and its place was taken by smaller, more high-end events such as The Quail, at least for boutique brands such as Spyker. We felt that, having been less visible for a few years, we needed to make a strong statement, and hence the choice of The Quail. The results have proven our choice to be right: the launch was a resounding success.
When you were developing the car, what were the most important things you wanted to get right?
Clearly, the most important thing was to demonstrate that Spyker remained true to its DNA: aviation and racing. We think the Preliator XXV reflects that DNA very clearly in its basic design and the use of Isogrid wherever we could, ranging from the seat pattern to the paddles, and from the grilles to the air intakes. The NACA ducts are equally aviation-inspired. Our chassis and suspension were tested on track, with no less than 8 Le Mans entries and dozens of other endurance races. Currently, we are assessing a return to the racetrack with a GT version of the Preliator XXV Coupé, and we will make our plans public early next year.
Why was it important to keep the V8, rear wheel drive, and manual gearbox in the new car?
All of our production cars so far, some 255, have had Audi V8 power, and we decided to continue that relationship. The Audi engines have proven extremely reliable and durable, both on the road and on the track.
When we introduced the Preliator XXV Coupé, we deliberately decided to offer it with a manual six-speed only. The reason is that we design Spykers to be the ultimate driving machines, with which their owners truly engage.
In an era where AI-generated images and high-tech fake manual gearboxes seem to be the trend, we wanted to demonstrate that Spyker simply won't go that route. Everything you see and touch is real; everything is handcrafted. In a Spyker, there are no screens, because we believe they distract and definitely do not enhance the driving experience. So, no screens, just real dials and switches.
Spyker has always put a lot of emphasis on craftsmanship. How does that come through in the new C8?
The Preliator XXV Coupé is the pinnacle of craftsmanship. Never before has a Spyker taken so many hours to build, all by hand. Just the fin tail takes two metalworkers a full week to create from stainless steel. In total, 2,100 hours are spent building the body, the chassis, and the brightwork, and assembling the interior, the engine/gearbox, and all 6,250 other parts.
With production limited to 25 cars, how much freedom will each owner have to personalize their C8?
Spyker owners have always had the freedom to create their cars to their own exacting specifications. There are only two limiting factors: the regulations and good taste. Other than that, we build what the customer wants.
After the C8 Preliator XXV, what comes next from Spyker?
We will build 25 Preliator XXV Coupés, all of which were sold on launch day. The Coupé will be followed by a Sedanca with a removable glass roof, and a Spyder version, which is truly exceptional. After that, we will surely introduce more coachbuilt variants, but it is too early to announce what those will be.
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