When Supercars Take Over Decisions, Spyker Turns the Tables with an 800‑HP Manual

At the 2026 Monterey Car Week The Quail event, Dutch automaker Spyker unveiled the C8 Preliator XXV Coupé, a limited‑run of 25 customer‑built cars.

Powertrain and performance

The car is powered by a 4.0‑liter twin‑turbo V8 sourced from Audi, delivering 800 hp and 1,000 Nm of torque. All power is sent to the rear wheels, with a claimed top speed of over 217 mph (≈349 km/h). The dry weight is 1,525 kg and it is equipped with carbon‑ceramic brakes.

A manual gearbox that refuses to hide mistakes

Unlike most modern performance cars that use paddle shifters or automated clutch control, the Preliator XXV retains a six‑speed manual transmission with an exposed mechanical linkage. The driver sees the metal rods move and must manually select gears, meaning missed down‑shifts are felt directly.

The manual is not presented as a faster solution but as a way to preserve an uncompressible judgment process: the driver must read engine speed, estimate distance, and decide when to engage each gear, keeping a tactile decision loop that automated systems replace.

Aluminum body instead of carbon fiber

At this price tier carbon fiber is the default material, yet Spyker chose hand‑formed aluminum panels and an internal aluminum spaceframe. According to public data, each car requires about 2,100 hours of manual assembly. This extensive hand work makes the material and labor part of the final product’s character.

Aluminum allows the craftsperson’s imprint to be visible—curves, edges, and reflections are clearly shaped rather than molded from a single carbon‑fiber layup.

Borrowing from aviation history, not just styling

Spyker’s design language has long referenced aviation. The most striking element is a large rear fin that runs from the roof to the deck, echoing the 1919 Spyker C1 Aerocoque and the brand’s early aircraft ventures.

Air intake ducts feed the V8, exhaust exits through the rear deck, and the tail lights mimic a jet‑engine after‑burner. A “butterfly mode” button opens both doors and the rear canopy simultaneously, creating a continuous narrative rather than a superficial decorative motif.

The cockpit as a mechanical instrument panel

Inside, the cabin features turned‑aluminum surfaces, illuminated analog gauges, toggle switches, and a heads‑up display that coexist. Isogrid patterns derived from aerospace engineering appear on the grille, vents, pedals, and even seat stitching.

Instead of a single large touchscreen, Spyker combines HUD, analog instruments, metal switches, and physical controls, preserving tactile feedback and visual hierarchy reminiscent of vintage aircraft cockpits.

Scarcity and business context

Media reports estimate the price at around €1.6 million, though Spyker has not confirmed a global price or delivery numbers. Most of the 25 slots were reportedly claimed during the Monterey event, fitting the brand’s narrative of extreme scarcity.

However, limited production does not automatically guarantee superior design or craftsmanship. Spyker has undergone bankruptcy and restructuring in 2014 and 2021, and must still navigate concept approval, supply‑chain logistics, certification, and actual delivery.

What the car asks of us

In an industry pushing for ever‑faster, friction‑less performance, Spyker’s manual, handcrafted approach asks what drivers still want from the act of driving. The car makes the manufacturing process and driver involvement visible, inviting discussion about metal, judgment, and time rather than merely acceleration figures.

It may not suit the majority of lap‑time seekers, but it succeeds in keeping the most alluring part of the automobile—human interaction—away from algorithms.

Reference material

2026 public release information and images of the Spyker C8 Preliator XXV

Spyker brand history, including 2014 restructuring and 2021 bankruptcy

Media‑reported €1.6 million price and order claim ratios (not confirmed by the manufacturer)