THE SPYKER C8 IS AN ADVANCED MID-ENGINED TWO-SEAT SPORTS CAR, CHARACTERISED BY LIGHTWEIGHT CONSTRUCTION AND THE PURITY OF ITS DESIGN, WITH AN UNCOMPROMISING ENGINEERING PACKAGE DEVELOPED FROM SCRATCH.
THE ULTRA-STIFF SPACE FRAME IS MANUFACTURED FROM ALUMINIUM SHEET AND EXTRUSIONS. THE HANDCRAFTED BODY PANELS ARE SUPPLIED BY COVENTRY PROTOTYPE PANELS FROM THE U.K. USING CORUS ALUMINIUM AND HYLITE MATERIAL. KONI PROVIDES THE C8'S SPECIAL SHOCK ABSORBERS TO F1 SPECIFICATION.
THE CAR NOT ONLY FEATURES ELECTRICALLY OPERATED TILTING DOORS WITH AN EXTREMELY STRONG AND LIGHTWEIGHT SINGLE POINT ALUMINIUM HINGE , BUT ALSO FULLY-OPENING FRONT AND REAR BODY SECTIONS WHICH REVEAL THE C8S DELECTABLE ENGINEERING DETAILS. THESE INCLUDE FULLY-ADJUSTABLE, INDEPENDENT FRONT AND REAR SUSPENSION IN STAINLESS STEEL WITH UNIQUE SPYKER-MADE COMPONENTS. MASSIVE 14 AP DISC BRAKES WITH 6-POT CALLIPERS PROVIDE STOPPING POWER. THE SPYKER C8 SPYDER AND C8 LAVIOLETTE ARE PROPELLED BY AUDIS STATE-OF-THE-ART 4.2 LITRE ALL-ALUMINIUM V8. THIS IS ARGUABLY THE MOST COMPACT AND RELIABLE ENGINE OF ITS KIND, FEATURING HIGH-TECH DETAILS SUCH AS 5-VALVE CONFIGURATION. IN THE C8 IT IS MATED TO AN AUDI MANUAL 6-SPEED TRANSAXLE POWERING THE REAR WHEELS, A SEQUENTIAL 6-SPEED GEARBOX IS OPTIONAL.
THE WHOLE CONCEPT CONJURES UP SPYKERS GOAL OF ACTIVE COMPETITION AT LE MANS AND OTHER ENDURANCE RACES IN 2002 AND BEYOND. FOR THIS PURPOSE, THE SPYKER C8 DOUBLE12R, FEATURING A STUNNING CLOSED RIVETED BODY, WAS UNVEILED AT THE FRANKFURT INTERNATIONAL MOTORSHOW (IAA) ON 11 SEPTEMBER 2001, FOLLOWED BY THE ROADVERSION, THE SPYKER C8 DOUBLE 12S, SHOWN TO THE PUBLIC FOR THE FIRST TIME DURING THE FACTORYS OPENING ON MARCH 21, 2002.
EVERY SPYKER ENGINE IS DYNO TESTED, CERTIFIED AND TUNED AS PER THE CUSTOMERS REQUEST. ENGINE POWER OUTPUT MAY VARY FROM 400 (STAGE I) TO 450 BHP (STAGE II), DEPENDING ON THE STATE OF TUNE FOR THE C8 SPYDERS AND C8 LAVIOLETTES. THE SPYKER C8 DOUBLE 12S MAY BE ORDERED WITH UP TO 620 BHP IN THE HIGHEST STAGE OF TUNE (STAGE V). SPYKER HAS DEVELOPED AN ADVANCED ENGINE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM WHICH INCLUDES DRIVE-BY-WIRE AND VARIOUS PERFORMANCE OUTPUT OPTIONS DEPENDING ON THE INTENDED USE OF THE CAR. THERE IS A SAFETY ELEMENT TO THIS SYSTEM, SINCE IT ALLOWS OWNERS TO REDUCE POWER VERY CONSIDERABLY IN THE EVENT THAT THE CAR IS DRIVEN BY A LESS EXPERIENCED DRIVER. THE ENGINE MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS ALLOWS FOR DATA LOGGING AS AN OPTION.
THE SPYKER C8S PERSONALITY IS FURTHER ENHANCED BY A NUMBER OF UNUSUAL AND EYE-CATCHING INTERIOR FEATURES. MOST NOTICEABLE, PERHAPS, ON ENTERING THE CAR IS THE DASHBOARD AND INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE DESIGN OF THE INSTRUMENTATION IS REMINISCENT OF THOSE FOUND IN AIRCRAFT, REFLECTING THE SPYKER COMPANYS BRIEF BUT PRODUCTIVE AVIATION HERITAGE. ONCE SEATED BEHIND THE CONTROLS, DRIVERS WILL APPRECIATE THE REMARKABLE DESIGN OF THE GEAR LEVER, SO SHAPED TO HIGHLIGHT THE UNUSUAL SHIFT MECHANISM THAT ADDS TO THE UNIQUENESS OF THIS MOTOR CAR. THE SPYKER C8 ALSO FEATURES A UNIQUE IN-HOUSE DESIGNED DECENTRALISED WIRING SYSTEM, WHICH COMBINES SIMPLICITY WITH RELIABILITY AND USES SELF RESETTING FUSES THROUGHOUT.
LUXURY AND PERFORMANCE ARE FURTHER ENCAPSULATED IN A NUMBER OF OTHER INTERIOR FEATURES, SUCH AS THE TASTEFUL INCORPORATION OF ALUMINIUM DESIGN ELEMENTS AS WELL AS THE EXCLUSIVE CONOLLY LEATHER TRIM. EVERY SPYKER IS FITTED WITH FOUR POINT FULL RACE HARNESS SEATBELTS BY WILLANS WHICH ARE CONNOLLY LEATHER TRIMMED. A SPYKER CAN ONLY BE STARTED WHEN THESE SEATBELTS ARE FASTENED WHICH IS AN IMPORTANT SAFETY FEATURE. (NOT IN USA). ALLOY BUCKET SEATS ARE AN OPTION. OWNERS MAY ORDER EVERY CONCEIVABLE BODY COLOUR TO THEIR OWN TASTE AS WELL AS LEATHER TO MATCH. PHILIPS XENON HEADLIGHTS ARE ONE OF THE UNLIMITED NUMBER OF OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO OUR CUSTOMERS.
