Spyker C8

In order to have the Spyker accepted as a serious contender for Ferrari, Lamborghini and others in the $200,000+ price range, a full range of competition activities are taking place. The GT2R runs in the GT2 class in FIA endurance events in Europe, where it competes with Porsche GT3 RSRs and Ferrari 430GTs. It has proved to be quick and dependable.


Ferrari is at the top of the supercar ladder, in part due to the company's success in Formula 1, the premier racing series in the world. Spyker recently purchased the Midland F1 Racing team, a mid-grid effort, for $106.6 million. The team's mounts will henceforth be called Spykers and powered by Ferrari engines.

Ain't Misbehavin'
So how does a $260,000 Spyker C8 behave? Well, it drives like a racing car with a street engine. It starts like a racer, with a red kill switch and a starter button. The Audi V-8 fires immediately and settles into a smooth idle. The exhaust has a pleasing burble, and a switch on the dash alters the exhaust note from mild to aggressive with no change in power output. The pedals resemble those used on kit cars and dune buggies, but they work very well and the car is great fun to drive. With the top lowered there is no visibility out the rear view mirror, but the door mirrors provide ample visibility for navigation.


An odd gear lever with a horizontal linkage rod is perfectly weighted and finding gears is easier than in just about any supercar. By dispensing with the usual mass of electronic froufrou (as well as the airbag), the C8 Spyder weighs in at a svelte 2,750 pounds, and the Audi mill will push it to a claimed 187 mph top speed with 0-60 coming up in 4.5 seconds. It feels quick and the steering is very direct, although the turning radius is wider than you would expect from a car of its size.


The Spyker C8 is a driver's car in the traditional sense. It doesn't do any of the work for you, which means you get to experience the thrill of rapid motoring firsthand, not by remote control as in too many techno-rockets. With such a tiny production run, you also get exclusivity that makes Maseratis seem positively mundane by comparison. However, many buyers in the exotic car realm have become used to a higher level of technical sophistication in the Spyker's price range, and it remains to be seen how many will be willing to swap electronic coddling for a more visceral driving experience. It's worth the trade.