I’m told that Spyker has two types of customers – those who buy the car and keep it in climate controlled rooms so they can admire it as part of their art collections, and those who drive the car everyday simply to experience the joy of motoring. Having driven a Spyker, I can now understand both perspectives, because the C8 is really a creation of timeless beauty in the tangible form of a state-of-the-art technology package with spectacular performance.

The first thing that strikes you when you look at the C8 is how compact it is. Unlike other supercars that seem excessively wide or have long overhangs, the C8’s proportions are perfectly balanced. The visual relationship between the wheelbase, overhangs, width of the front and rear – it’s a fraction wider at the rear – and the height of the car, give the Spyker a dynamic, powerful elegance.

The Spyker C8 Spyder is a mid-engine, rear drive, two seat supercar that is characterized by handcrafted lightweight construction. The ultra stiff chassis and body panels are made entirely of aluminum to keep weight to a minimum. In terms of design, the interiors of the car, which is where you’ll spend most of your time if you’re lucky enough to actually own one, are probably its biggest highlight. The instrument panel with its superbly finished dials and extremely tactile switches are similar to those found on airplanes, and reflect Spyker’s aviation heritage. There’s extensive use of leather in the cabin, with even the foot-well draped in quilted leather the likes of which would put many a ‘couture’ handbag to shame.

As I adjust the seat manually, pull down the vertical doors, and press a button to start the engine, I realize just what a truly driver-focused car the Spyker really is. The small radius steering wheel and exposed brushed aluminum perfectly spaced pedals make the driver feel completely connected to the mechanical experience. With no traction control, brake assist or even a stereo system, there are no electronics that might dilute the driving experience.

The Spyker is powered by a 4.2 liter Audi sourced powerplant that produces 400bhp – enough to power the car to 100km/h in less than 4.5 seconds. The C8 has a 6-speed close ratio gearbox with short throws that feel as crisp as a rifle bolt action. On the twisting roads around Pebble Beach in Northern California, the Spyker is an absolute joy to drive. The throttle is extremely responsive – just a slight dab and the car rockets ahead, quickly surpassing the legal speed limit. Since the brakes are unassisted, one needs to get used to the extra force required to bring the car to a stop. The intoxicating exhaust note only adds to the already exhilarating driving experience. I’d love to drive the car on a racetrack to truly explore the performance limits of the Spyker C8, but that’ll have to wait for another time.



So, if Porsche 911 turbos and Mercedes SL AMGs are just too mainstream for you, and you’re looking for a rare piece of art or an extremely exclusive supercar built to your specification, import one of these to really stand out from the crowd – of course, you’ll need somewhere in the vicinity of 2.5 crores to enjoy the pleasure of a Spyker in India.