Saab Spyker 9+ Tribute Concept Car

Automotive designer Eduard Gray has sent in some renderings of his ideas for the first car to come from the Saab purchase of Spyker. Based near Saab headquarters in Trollhättan, Sweden, Gray believes the drawings could land him a job with the Saab Design Studio Team.


“The union of Saab and Spyker presents a unique opportunity to create a design that takes the best of each brand and distills their qualities into a single product, the designer says in his website.”


Indeed, his six drawings of the Saab Spyker 9+ Tribute shows elements of both companies. Gray calls the work "a quick expression of my optimism for the future of the brand."


Spyker lends us its supercar chassis with a mid-mounted engine and low down aerodynamics while Saab contributes with the style, character and engineering making for a design that is as pleasant to look at as it is to drive.”



Source:dubdaily

Spyker D12 Peking-to-Paris ‘SSUV’ Development On Track

Despite Spyker’s management reshuffles and purchase of Saab, the Dutch sports car company remains confident of launching several new models of its own in coming years. Already we’ve seen the introduction of the long-wheelbase C8 Aileron and C8 Aileron Spyder, but soon we may be able to add a new ‘Super Sport Utility Vehicle’ (SSUV for short) to that list in the form of the production version of 2006’s D12 Peking-to-Paris concept car.


The concept was originally launched at the Geneva motor show four years ago, but development had been put on hold in November following Spyker’s bid for Saab.
But Muller said at this year’s Geneva show that development would now be accelerated due to due to the facilities, parts and technology it has at its disposal following the Saab deal.


With this latest model, Spyker will be focusing on the East European market for the first time, as well emerging markets like China and the Middle East. Many of the roads in these markets are often in poor condition and nearly impossible to navigate with low-slung supercars, thus buyers have been demanding performance vehicles with offroad capability. One of the key reasons we’ve seen vehicles like the new X6 and the more recent Aston Martin Lagonda Concept.


Not much is known about Spyker’s new SSUV but designers have reportedly decided to change the originally planned powerplant from a Volkswagen-sourced 6.0-liter W-12 engine to something from America--with GM’s LS line of V-8s most likely on the cards, hence a possible name change to D8.


Spyker has previously said the D12 will cost £186,000.

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SPYKER PROVIDES FURTHER DETAILS ON SAAB ACQUISITION

ZEEWOLDE, The Netherlands (1 February, 2010) - In advance of the General Meeting of Spyker shareholders, to be held on 12 February 2010, and which was convened on 28 January 2010, Spyker Cars N.V. ("Spyker") provides further strategic and financial details regarding its acquisition of Saab Automobile AB ("Saab").


ACQUISITION RATIONALE AND SAAB BUSINESS PLAN

Spyker believes that through the purchase of Saab it has a rare opportunity to acquire and rebuild a global car brand which will be repositioned towards an independent performance-oriented niche car company with an industry-leading environmental strategy. Saab's brand DNA is unique and rooted in its aeronautical heritage, innovative and independent thinking and its Swedish origins. Spyker fully supports Saab's Business Plan which will be implemented by Saab management. The Business Plan, drawn up by Saab management over the past ten months, was analysed by Spyker in assistance with Booz & Co and KPMG Transaction Services, advisors to Spyker. The Business Plan has also been analysed and supported by several advisors to the Swedish Government and the EIB.

At the General Meeting, Spyker Cars N.V. intends to adopt a resolution to change its name to Saab Spyker Automobiles NV ("Saab Spyker"). This entity will operate Spyker and Saab as two separate operating companies, each focused on its distinct target markets with their respective vehicle lines. As previously stated, Saab Spyker is committed to execute the Saab Business Plan. It is the intention to enhance it in several areas. The highlights of Saab's strategy will be:

* Saab will be a stand-alone niche manufacturer with three to four model lines: 9-3 (sedan, hatchback, sports estate, X and convertible) and 9-5 (sedan, sports estate and X) and the 9-4X for both the US and European markets. In addition, Saab will investigate the potential of adding a fourth smaller car line ("9-1") in due course provided that the positive development of the smaller car segment continues. However, this model is currently not envisaged in the Business Plan so if the outcome of the investigation is positive, additional financing to develop this model could be required.

* Saab's product portfolio will be renewed completely, beginning with the launch of the new 9-5 early this summer, the new 9-4X in early 2011 and the new 'all Saab' 9-3 in 2012.

* Saab will continue to be repositioned against other brands such as Audi (A4/A6) and BMW (3/5 series) as a premium brand, leveraging its strong and unique brand heritage.

* Saab's Technical Development Center in Trollhättan has full capability in developing complete vehicles and will continue to do so. In areas such as safety, environment, driving characteristics, practicality, turbo technologies and several other innovations, the Saab brand is among the best in the industry.

* With Trollhättan as one of the most efficient mid-size car plants in Europe, production and sales volumes are aimed to be rebuilt to recent pre-crisis levels of about 100,000 to 125,000 vehicles including the 9-4X built in Mexico.

* The current dealer network will be re-energized with a new sales and distribution approach in certain markets, which will be implemented during 2010.

* The economies of scale of the on-going collaboration with GM after Closing the acquisition (February 2010) will continue to be leveraged in sourcing via ancillary agreements, with independent sourcing gradually increasing to reduce GM dependency and obtain improved access to other suppliers and the co-development of unique innovations.

Saab Spyker believes that its two brands, both deeply rooted in aeronautical and automotive history, will benefit from sharing certain assets and technology services. Examples include but are not limited to:

* Saab's extensive global network of 1,100 dealers.

* The extensive engineering know how and innovative technologies available at Saab.

* Sharing of activities in marketing & sales: i.e. merchandising, promotion & sponsorship activities, etc.

In the future, the two brands will be able to share certain parts and components and expect to obtain access to supplier and partner resources not available to Spyker or Saab individually today.


FUNDING OF SAAB

The Saab Business Plan requires approximately $1 billion in peak funding for Saab in advance of the return to profitability, forecast to occur by 2012. The funding is provided in part by GM, through $326 million Redeemable Preference Shares ("RPSs"), and in part through other contributions, which concern various substantial contributions to the funding of Saab's Business Plan on favorable terms for supplies by GM to Saab and deferred payments from Saab to GM. The remaining amount, apart from cash at bank, is to be provided by a EUR 400 million loan from the European Investment Bank for certain R&D projects at Saab. Securing this EIB loan is a condition precedent to closing of the Saab acquisition ("Closing").

With this financing in place, the business plan does not envisage any future funding being required, neither from Spyker or elsewhere, for Saab to return to profitability. The business plan targets car production and sales at or below historical levels of 100,000 to 125,000.


Explanation on the two sources of funding:

Redeemable Preference shares
At Closing, GM will convert USD 326 million of pre-closing receivables on Saab into RPSs in Saab. The issue of the RPSs will therefore NOT cause any dilution for the shareholders in Spyker. The voting rights attaching to these RPSs constitute 0.0005% of the total voting rights in Saab. The other 99.99% of the voting rights (100% of the ordinary shares) will be held by Spyker. Since the RPSs are capital and not a loan, no interest is due at any time by Saab. The RPSs carry no dividend from Closing until December 31, 2011. A dividend entitlement of 6% starts from January 1, 2012 through June 30, 2014 and increases over time to 12% as from July 1, 2014 until the scheduled redemption date of December 31, 2016. The dividend over 2012 will be added to principal, but as from fiscal year 2013 the dividend is payable in cash. Should Saab have insufficient distributable reserves to pay the cash dividend it will be added to principal increased with a penalty factor of up to 4%, but such that the total dividend entitlement will never exceed 12%.

In the period 2010-2016, the average dividend payable is about 4%, which is considerably below the average interest on a comparable subordinated loan.

The RPSs qualify as equity and therefore, if Saab cannot pay dividends or redeem the RPSs, Saab will not be in default but the RPSs will simply continue to accrue. Also, the RPSs cannot be redeemed as long as the EIB loan is not yet fully repaid. The Saab Business Plan envisages redemption of the RPSs starting in 2016 out of retained profit, without additional funding (from Spyker or anyone else) being required.


EIB loan
The Share Purchase Agreement is subject to the execution of a EUR 400 million loan agreement between Saab and the European Investment Bank ("EIB"), for which a guarantee was obtained from the Swedish Government on January 26, 2010. This loan will be issued to Saab. All amounts payable by the EIB are specifically earmarked to the Euro for designated Saab projects and capital expenditures and represent 50% of these projects or capital expenditures. The projects mainly relate to increasing fuel efficiency and clean car technology. The remaining 50% is funded by Saab itself pursuant to its Business Plan. Spyker will not have any access to the EIB funds which are completely ring-fenced nor will it pay any part of the Purchase Price with proceeds from the EIB loan. The guarantee is subject to approval by the European Commission. Saab and the Swedish Government have provided all required information to the EC prior to the issue of the guarantee so the decision by the EC is expected very soon.


FUNDING OF SPYKER

Spyker's existing bank loans in the aggregate amount of EUR 57 million are refinanced by Tenaci Capital B.V. ("Tenaci"). The terms and conditions of this loan will mirror those of the existing loans it repays, including the right to convert EUR 9.5 million into ordinary shares at EUR 4.00 per share. The term of the loan is 12 months and the interest 10 percent above Euribor. After payment of the last instalment of the Purchase Price, Tenaci has the right to collateralize the loan on terms and conditions identical to those on which the existing loans were collateralized.

The Purchase Price of Saab amounts to USD 74 million (EUR 53.23 million at the current exchange rate of 1:1.39). The first instalment of USD 50 million, to be paid on Closing, will be paid as follows: USD 25 million is borrowed from Tenaci at the same interest rate as the other funding extended by Tenaci, without the right to convert into shares. This amount is currently already in escrow with General Motors.

The other USD 25 million is financed through a share issue, largely through a commitment from GEM Global Yield Fund Ltd under an equity facility concluded between Spyker and GEM. Spyker currently does not intend to draw in excess of USD 25 million under this facility.

The second instalment, USD 24 million, will be payable on July 15, 2010. Spyker has been approached by various investors to fund this instalment. Spyker intends to finance this amount primarily through senior debt (senior to the debt owed to Tenaci), but does not rule out other alternatives. Spyker has committed to pledge its assets to GM as security for this final tranche.


FUNDING OF TENACI

Tenaci's equity is wholly owned by Investeringsmaatschappij Helvetia B.V., the personal holding company of Mr. Victor Muller. Tenaci obtains its debt funding from sources that wish to remain anonymous and with which Tenaci has entered into non-disclosure agreements. The terms and conditions of Tenaci's own financing do not impact Spyker or Saab in any way.

Tenaci has successfully bought Mr. V. Antonov's current shareholding in Spyker consisting of 4.6 million ordinary shares, subject to closing of the Saab acquisition. Currently Tenaci has no plans to make a public offer on all of the issued shares in Spyker.
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Spyker would preserve Saab product plans, could sell own supercars in select dealers

In a far-reaching interview with AOL Autos this morning, Spyker Cars CEO Victor Muller revealed some interesting tidbits about his company's plan for Saab if they can successfully negotiate for its purchase from parent company General Motors.


In news that will surely be welcomed by Saab dealers and customers, Muller says Spyker has decided it would not pursue plans to winnow Saab's U.S. dealer network from 218 showrooms to 137. In fact, the Dutch businessman suggests that it would be reasonable to expect Spyker to sell its own cars within Saab showrooms in the future (they are presently distributed through Bentley and Lamborghini outlets). Down the road, Spyker's supercars could benefit from Saab's all-wheel drive expertise, among other things.


In a product plan that sounds distinctly like those previously floated by Saab executives in Sweden, the Dutch supercar builder would have Saab rebuild its brand around the 9-3, new-for-2010 9-5, and the 9-4X crossover. An entry-level 9-1 model would not be a consideration, although Muller admits he'd still love to build a production version of 2006's celebrated Aero X concept (shown above). If Saab were to go that route, Spyker's experience in building low-volume supercars would clearly be an asset in bringing it to market.


Naturally, all of this future product discussion will be moot if Spyker and its investors can't get GM to hand over the keys to the perennially embattled brand. A newly extended deadline for sales negotiations to be completed was set by GM on Wednesday, and we should know not long after January 7 what fate awaits the brand.


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Bentley, Ferrari, Lamborghini Abandoning LA Auto Show

Here's an unsurprising stat for you: 60 percent of all vehicles sold in the U.S. that cost over $100,000 find homes in New York, Florida and California. The majority of which are parked in garages in Manhattan, Miami and Los Angeles, respectively. So the revelation that Bentley, Ferrari and Lamborghini won't be attending next month's LA Auto Show is -- at the very least -- surprising.





more detail. ...

Spyker Peking-to-Paris SUV on the way

Spyker plans to grow its model range with the addition of the “Peking-to-Paris” SUV. First shown in concept form at the 2006 Geneva Motor Show, the D12 Peking-to-Paris Concept met a warm reception with “well over 100 orders” being placed during the show alone.

After financial issues of recent years, boutique Dutch supercar manufacturer Spyker is not only staying afloat – it’s growing. Spyker sales doubled in 2008 from 26 to 43 units, and while the gain is paltry, progress is progress.


Back when it was the D12, the Spyker crossover was said to run from 0-60 mph in five seconds, on its way to a 185 mph top speed. It is unclear how drastically performance would diminish because of the smaller, less powerful engine. The smaller engine could also mean a lower price tag than the expected cost of around $300,000. A dip in the price could prove beneficial for the company if they can maintain performance figures. Spyker has taken a gamble on the crossover, betting that demand for the vehicle will help deliver consecutive production and sales increases for the company. Spyker, which was very recently in financial trouble officially reported production and revenue increases for 2008.


There is good new as well for C8 Aileron customers! Spyker is trying as hard as possible to get the first customer car out this quarter. We've got some news on the D8 Peking-To--Paris as well. Spyker has shown the car to the audience a long time ago and now, two years later, they've started testing the car. We can see a heavily modified Land Rover Defender with a Lotus suspension attached to it. The sports car manufacturer hopes to produce the first D8 cars by the end of this year.


We know it doesn't look like much more than an old school Land Rover, but underneath all the patchy sheet metal is the impending Spyker D8 Peking to Paris. At least they put a beautiful set of blacked-out rims on this Frankenstein-esque creation.

Pricing is estimated to fall around $300,000 USD.
via lotusenthusiast



Other article:
Spyker's owner shot in apparent assassination attempt
Geneva Motor Show: 2009 Spyker C8 Aileron
Spyker C8 Laviolette LWB to Debut at Geneva
Spyker D12 Peking to Paris headed to production, priced at $294,252
Spyker Introduces Spyker C8 Laviolette LM85
Spyker C12 Zagato Unveiled at Geneva Motor Show

Spyker's owner shot in apparent assassination attempt

Reuters is reporting that Alexander Antonov, the owner of flamboyant Dutch supercar company Spyker, has been seriously wounded in an apparent assassination attempt while leaving his Moscow residence. The Russian billionaire, who is also the chairman of the board of the Konvers Group (a banking concern), was shot along with a bodyguard.

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Other article:
Geneva Motor Show: 2009 Spyker C8 Aileron
Spyker C8 Laviolette LWB to Debut at Geneva

Geneva Motor Show: 2009 Spyker C8 Aileron

Spyker just revealed their updated and production ready Spyker C8 Aileron. This long-wheelbase version of the Spyker C8 Laviolette is Spyker’s hope for a better and hopefully profitable future.


The Spyker C8 Aileron features a 4.2-liter V8 from Audi with an output of 400hp. New is the choice of either a Getrag six-speed manual or ZF auto-box. The automatic transmission is long awaited by Spyker fans and the company has high expectations for the results. The C8 Aileron will sprint from zero to 100 km/h in 4.5 seconds, on its way to a top speed of 187mph.
more detail. ...




Other article:
Spyker D12 Peking to Paris headed to production, priced at $294,252
Spyker Introduces Spyker C8 Laviolette LM85
Spyker C8 Laviolette LWB to Debut at Geneva
Spyker C12 Zagato Unveiled at Geneva Motor Show

Spyker D12 Peking to Paris headed to production, priced at $294,252

Three years after it made its debut at the 2006 Geneva Motor Show, the Spyker D12 Peking to Paris SUV will go into production next year. Spyker has already received 100 orders for the oddly shaped SUV which is said to be a Porsche Cayenne rival.


Speaking of Porsche, the D12 Peking to Paris actually uses an Audi sourced W12 engine that produces 500-hp. That allows it to go from 0 to 60 mph in 5 seconds with a top speed of 185 mph. Pricing for the car has been confirmed at £186,000 ($294,252 USD). Production will take place at Spyker’s Zeewolde factory. Spykers were once hand-built but will now be constructed on a conventional production line.
via teamspeed.com




Other article:
Spyker Introduces Spyker C8 Laviolette LM85
Spyker C8 Laviolette LWB to Debut at Geneva
Spyker C12 Zagato Unveiled at Geneva Motor Show

Benzs.blogspot_Spyker Introduces Spyker C8 Laviolette LM85

Exterior
Based on the Spyker C8 Laviolette GT2R, the racing characteristics of the LM85 are numerous, such as the all aluminium chassis, GT2 livery (Burnt Almond Orange with Gun Metal ‘S’ logo), side mirrors in body colour, a carbon fibre rear spoiler, and GT2 windscreen streamer. Behind the black powder coated alloy wheels, black AP Racing 6 piston brake calipers with AP Racing logo appear. The LM85 can optionally be equipped with Le Mans sticker sets as well as a customised LM85 car cover.



Interior
The ample use of black leather and alcantara, which is originally meant to reduce light reflection during racing, has been finished with orange contrast stitching and characterizes the unique interior of the LM85. The dashboard instrument panel is made of turned aluminium. Each car will feature a personalised LM85 serial plaque. On request, Chronoswiss dials and switches can be installed and are virtually identical to the Chronoswiss 24Hours Pilot Watch every LM85 owner receives with his car. The black floor mats are made of fire protective material, finished with orange piping and the LM85 logo embroidered.

Extra features
As mentioned above, every LM85 owner receives a special edition Spyker Chronoswiss 24H Pilot Watch with orange crocodile strap. The serial number of the car will be engraved on the case of this exquisite time piece. Additionally, all LM85 owners are offered an exclusive Spyker VIP Hospitality weekend at the 24H of Le Mans in 2009.
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Other article:
Spyker C8 Laviolette LWB to Debut at Geneva

Spyker C8 Laviolette LWB to Debut at Geneva

Meeting demands

The Spyker C8 Laviolette is a car you love or hate, there really is no in between. For those who loved the looks and purchased the car, the Spijker C8 Laviolette was a bit on the small side. So the almost down-and-out Dutch exotic car manufacturer will meet the demands their customers have set and will release a long wheel base (LWB) version of their C8 at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show in March.

There has been no official press release but we have managed to dig up some of the details. The engine remains the same, a 4,0 liter engine producing 400 hp with 480 Nm of torque. The wheelbase is stretched by 100 mm to 2675 mm, while the overall length increases almost 400 mm to 4584 mm. The width of the car also grows to 1920 mm from 1880 mm, the height of the car increases by 10 mm to 1255 mm and the fuel tank now holds 100 liters instead of 75 liters.

That there will be a Spyker C8 Laviolette Spyder LWB is only a matter of time, and it is expected that this convertible will have a motorized roof.

Spyker C12 Zagato Unveiled at Geneva Motor Show

Victor Muller, CEO of Spyker Cars, and Andrea Zagato, CEO of Zagato, today unveiled the Spyker C12 Zagato at the 77th Geneva International Motor Show. Norihiko Harada, Zagato’s Automotive Chief Designer, and Muller co-operated closely to design this limited edition of 24 sports cars to be delivered from March 2008 onwards. The world première of this ultra-exclusive version of the C12 range celebrates Spyker’s entry into the world of Formula One and marks the first integration of design elements and styling cues from the Spyker F8-VII Formula One car into the Spyker road car range. This point was underlined by the unveiling of the car being performed by Spyker’s Formula One race driver, Adrian Sutil.

Partnership Spyker and Zagato

Victor Muller comments:

At the age of 18 I acquired my first Zagato bodied car: a Lancia Flavia Zagato raly car in dire need of restoration. Ever since that date, some 30 years ago, I have been in love with the unique and distinctive designs penned by this noble design house. Many Zagato bodied cars have folowed the Lancia Flavia and I am proud to stil have a number of Zagatos in my colection.

The co-operation and partnership between Spyker and Zagato is entirely logical if one looks at the rich heritage both companies share in the fields of aviation and racing. A better fit of aesthetics, skil and passion would be hard to find.

Two brothers, Jacobus and Hendrik-Jan Spijker, coach builders in Amsterdam, built their first Benz­engined motor car in 1898 and won immediate acclaim for the supreme craftsmanship of their bodywork. In the period prior to World War I, a worldwide slump in the luxury car market meant that Spyker had to diversify its production, and so it merged with the Dutch Aircraft Factory N.V. This combined company evolved its business model and started developing and building aircraft. After the war Spyker was able to return to its roots and resumed car production in 1919. True to its motto ‘Nulla tenaci invia est via’ (‘For the tenacious no road is impassable’), Spyker continued building record­breaking cars which now featured extensive aircraft influences, including sophisticated aerodynamics absorbed from the aircraft building years.

Similarly, Zagato was established at the end of World War I by Ugo Zagato, putting aircraft industry construction techniques to use in the expanding market for passenger vehicles. Just like the Spyker cars, Zagato’s cars were advanced in design and became synonymous with light weight and excellent aerodynamics.

Spyker C12 Zagato: the rationale

Victor Muller continues: “Andrea and myself have known each other for many years and met at events such as Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance and Vila d’Este Concorso d’Eleganza on numerous occasions. Last April, at Vila d’Este, we sat down and discussed the increasing market demand for truly one-off and limited edition super sport cars. In a certain sense the modern market is not unlike the 1930 ’s, where wealthy customers would order exotic bespoke designs from high-end coach builders on Rols-Royce, Bentley, Delage, Delahaye and Isotta-Fraschini chassis, just to mention a few.”

Zagato established its name by designing exquisite cars for Lancia, Alfa Romeo and Ferrari in particular, but it is probably the Aston Martin DB4 Zagato that best represents the artistic expertise of what they do. Andrea and I agreed to meet each other in Arese and to define what a Spyker Zagato would have to embody. In view of market demand, it was decided to use Spyker ’s flagship chassis, the C 12, as a basis - its space-frame being exceptionaly suitable for crafting a bespoke body onto.“

After the initial design meeting in July 2006, it became apparent that Spyker would succeed in acquiring the Midland Formula 1 team and design activities were suspended until early October when that transaction had been consummated. “With the F1 team part of the Spyker Group it was decided that the C12 Zagato should embody as many of the Formula 1 design cues as practicaly possible so as to set a new design vision for future Spyker road car models.”

In the months following, Spyker and Zagato finalized the design and the manufacturing of the C12 Zagato was entrusted to Spyker’s long time fabrication partner, Coventry Prototype Panels in Coventry, UK. Under the guidance of Brendan O’Toole, CPP’s Managing Director, and Étienne Beijersbergen van Henegouwen, Spyker’s Project Manager, the vehicle was built by a dedicated Spyker and CPP crew from aluminium in an amazing 4 weeks.

Spyker C12 Zagato: the vehicle

The Spyker C12 Zagato is an all aluminium rear wheel drive sports car, based on the Spyker C12 Spyder. The C12 is powered by the 6.0 liter, 12 cylinder, 500 bph W12 engine from Volkswagen AG and accelerates from 0-100 km (0-60 mph) in 3.8 seconds. The Spyker C12 Zagato is equipped with a six-speed manual or automatic gear box with F1 style shifting, Chronoswiss instruments and a Zagato designed full leather interior with brushed aluminium instrument panel. The C12 Zagato has an aluminium body with stainless steel roof rails and has many F1 derived design details such as an F1 nose, air scoop, chimneys, mirrors, rain light, fuel flap and diffuser. It has a panoramic roof that features the Double Bubble, a typical Zagato style element. The Spyker C12 Zagato has a length of 4.5 m, a width of 2.02 m excluding mirrors, a height of 1.25 m and weighs 1480 kg. The fuel tank capacity is 70 litres (15.4 gallons). Top speed is 310 km/h (193 mph).

“The Spyker and Zagato Atelier brands perfectly align because of their common aeronautical origins and because of the shared passion of Victor Muler and myself for sports cars” states Andrea Zagato. “Nevertheless Victor, before starting this extraordinary adventure with Spyker, was a Zagato colector owning cars like the Flaminia SS and TZ. Together with our neo-classical approach, this Spyker C 12 Zagato shows the capabilities of Zagato Atelier for innovative and non conventional solutions.”

Norihiko Harada, designer of the new Spyker C12 Zagato, adds: “Al Spyker cars have their own very unique style: the aeronautical retrospective style co-exists with craftsmanship and elegance. The new Zagato body becomes even more unique, aggressive and sensual at the same time. It features a new double bubble panoramic roof , F1 influenced nose and air intakes, chimney and a “coda tronca”, the typical Zagato cut off tail end.

Maintaining Spyker ’s styling philosophy, Zagato design put al these elements together and created an extremely stimulating example of contemporary exotic high performance sports car by using typical modern Zagato lines which started from the Raptor Zagato in 1996.”

The Spyker C12 Zagato will retail for EUR 495,000 (excluding any taxes, ex factory).

Spyker F8-VII: 2007 livery reveal

Besides the C12 Zagato, Spyker also presented on their Geneva International Motor Show stand the Spyker F8-VII Formula One car. The F8-VII made its first public appearance in front of a huge crowd of media and sponsor guests on February 5, 2007 at the Silverstone race circuit in the UK in a bright orange launch colour. The car displayed at Geneva carried the new revised livery for the 2007 season and revealed how the two F1 cars will look when they line up on the Melbourne grid for the first race of the season on March 18th.

Managing director and team principal Colin Kolles predicts a ‘transition year’ for the team, with a focus in the early part of the year on improved reliability and performance, before a big step forward with a revised B-spec car for the second part of the year.

The team has been preparing for the season with an exclusive two-day shakedown at Silverstone and extensive testing in both Valencia and Barcelona. On March 1, 2007, it concluded its final day of testing at the Circuit de Catalunya, Spain. Mike Gascoyne, chief technical officer, commented: “We’ve

now finished our pre-season testing programme – an excelent effort from al back at the factory and at the track. Although we know we are lacking some pace, I think we can be very proud of the improvements we’ve made. We now go to Melbourne in good shape aiming for a strong and consistent performance, so wel done to al, including both our race drivers, for al their hard work over the testing period.”

Michiel Mol, Director of Formula One Racing explains: “We know that we’re not going to see overnight results here. It ’s not going to be a short turn around and we have to be realistic about what we can achieve. You cannot change a team in a year, you cannot expect to have podiums in our first season. We have to manage those expectations; we want to aim for points in the latter part of the year. For us, 2007 wil be a transition year as we’re laying the foundations for 2008. We’l see Mike Gascoyne ’s influence start to kick in mid-season so the real results of our involvement won ’t be seen until next year.”

The 17-race season will get underway in Melbourne, Australia, from 16 – 18 March 2007. Spyker will challenge its rivals in this most demanding motor-sport environment with the support of its many partners:

Spyker D12 Peking-to-Paris

Also today Spyker revealed the first pre-production Spyker D12 Peking-to-Paris, the industry’s first Super Sports Utility Vehicle (SSUV), the prototype of which was unveiled last year at the Geneva International Motor Show. After extensive endurance, durability and weather testing in the course of the coming summer, production of the D12 will commence in December 2007 for deliveries beginning in Europe in Spring 2008 at an estimated price point of EUR 235,000.

The SSUV was named after the historic Peking to Paris raid of 1907, the most gruelling automotive challenge of its time, in which a Frenchman, Charles Goddard, entered his almost standard, factory­backed, Spyker 18/22 HP. On 10 June 1907 five cars set out on what was to become an unprecedented challenge to man and machine, to prove that the motor-car had come of age and was capable of carrying men and equipment from the farthest reaches of the world back to Paris. Goddard finished second after crossing terrain where, for the most part, no car had ever dared to go. The D12 SSUV has been named in honour of this historic achievement and to celebrate the pioneering spirit it embodied: the desire to chart uncharted territory.

Exactly 100 years later history is about to repeat itself. From June 10 to August 10, 2007 a Spyker vehicle will once again compete in a Peking to Paris raid. The authentic 1907 Spyker owned and driven by Stijnus Schotte of The Netherlands will set off from eastern China to retrace the tyre tracks of Charles Goddard and arrive in Paris on August 10th having proved once again the quality and driveability of Spyker cars and the passion of their owners. A D12 SSUV will be present at both the start line and the finish in Paris to portray the new breed of Spyker vehicle and to celebrate a new century of daring and dramatic Spyker cars.

Spyker C12 Zagato Specifications

Engine	W12
Capacity	5998 cc
Power	368 kW (500 bhp)
Torque	610 Nm
Maximum revolutions	6500 rpm
Options	Compressor version 650 bhp
Sizes and Weights
KERB weight	1480 kg
Wheelbase	2680 mm
Front track	1574 mm
Rear track	1728 mm
Length	4505 mm
Width (ex mirrors)	2031 mm
Height	1250 mm
Fuel tank capacity	70 litres (	15.4 gallon)
Performance
Top speed	320 km/h (200 mph)
Acceleration	0- 100 km/h in 3.8 seconds
	(0-60 mph in 3.8 seconds)
Expected date of introduction: March 2008