Autoblog

Spyker B6 Venator Concept shows the brand still has a beating heart

Zach Bowman — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 11:57:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Coupe, Performance, Geneva Motor Show, Europe, Design/Style, Luxury

Spyker looks keen to shake off the dust of the Saab implosion. The Dutch supercar-maker unveiled the new B6 Venator Concept today at the Geneva Motor Show, saying the mid-engine coupe marks the beginning of the brand's revival.

Penned by Spyker CEO Victor Muller, the B6 is designed to pay homage to Spyker's past with a V-Shaped mesh grille inspired by vintage models like the 60HP, though the concept also pulls a few tricks from the company's aircraft lineage as well.

With a wraparound canopy, LED tail lamps designed to look like the burners of a jet engine and 19-inch "Turbofan" wheels, the model is reaching to draw parallels between itself and the aviation industry.

Thrust comes from a relatively modest 375-horsepower V6 engine paired with a six-speed automatic gearbox. While that number may seem low for an ultra-exclusive two-seater, the B6 Venator benefits from a light-weight construction. Every last body panel on the concept is hewn from carbon fiber stretched over an aluminum chassis. Spyker says the vehicle should tip the scales at under 3,100 pounds.

Interested parties will be able to purchase a production B6 in early 2014, if you live in key markets like Europe, the Middle East and Asia Pacific regions. For American customers, your wait extends to late 2014. While official pricing wasn't given, Muller did mention that he'll be asking somewhere in the $125,000 to $150,000 range.

Continue reading Spyker B6 Venator Concept shows the brand still has a beating heart

Spyker B6 Venator Concept shows the brand still has a beating heart originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 05 Mar 2013 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Is this the Spyker B6 Venator Concept?

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Sat, 02 Mar 2013 10:45:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Coupe, Performance, Geneva Motor Show, Spyker

The car you see above may in fact be the Spyker B6 Venator Concept that's headed for a debut at the Geneva Motor Show early next week. According to a report from the Wall Street Journal, which included this image, the car will use a mid-mounted 375-horsepower V6 engine and is about the size of the Porsche Boxster.

With a weight of just 3,080 pounds, though, those ponies are moving just 8.21 pounds apiece, which puts the B6 Venator in a dead power-to-weight heat with the 911 Carerra. That said, Spyker's Victor Muller tells WSJ that this will not be a "Porsche killer."

So, what underpins the new Spyker? WSJ points out that the car's specifications are very close to those of the Lotus Evora S, and we know that the British boutique automaker is happy to lend engineering support where it's necessary. We don't know for sure what the B6 Venator is based on, but Muller reportedly pegged his role in the process as "designer." In any case, we're sure the B6 will have all the aero-inspired detailing of past Spyker models. It will reportedly be priced between 125,000 and 150,000 euros, with production "in the hundreds."

WSJ also says we are to expect a P2P (Peking-to-Paris) super-sport-utility vehicle based on Saab's unused Phoenix architecture with financial backing from China's Youngman, as we've previously heard.

Is this the Spyker B6 Venator Concept? originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 02 Mar 2013 10:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spyker vows return to Geneva Motor Show with B6 concept

Chris Paukert — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 13:29:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Coupe, Performance, Geneva Motor Show, Design/Style, Luxury

Nearly lost in the ongoing soap opera that was the Saab deathbed saga is that former CEO Victor Muller's other carmaking operation, Spyker, nearly got flushed down the drain with the Trollhättan patient. But a lot of work has been going on under the hood to resurrect the boutique high-end sportscar manufacturer as of late, and there may yet be light at the end of the tunnel. According to a brief news announcement this morning, Spyker plans to show a new concept car at the Geneva Motor Show, an expo it hasn't attended in two years.

We're not yet sure what the car will look like beyond the outline above, but we're guessing a cash-strapped company like Spyker can't really afford to build a pure concept car without some underlying production intent (it doesn't have a history of doing so, anyway). Thus, it's possible the B6 Concept, as the vehicle is known, could be the company's rumored Porsche 911 fighter, or it might be something else based on Saab's Phoenix platform, which the company still seems to have some level of rights to. There's an outside chance it could be the long-promised production version of the D8 Peking to Paris utility vehicle, but the teaser outline doesn't look right. If the whispers of a Porsche rival are correct, look for a car that's smaller than the C8 Aileron with a lower price tag aimed at helping nurse the company back to health through higher sales volumes.

Continue reading Spyker vows return to Geneva Motor Show with B6 concept

Spyker vows return to Geneva Motor Show with B6 concept originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 19 Feb 2013 13:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Alpina unveils 507-hp B6 Biturbo Convertible

Steven J. Ewing — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 03:58:00 EST

Filed under: Frankfurt Motor Show, Convertible, Performance, BMW

Nice as it may be, the BMW 6 Series convertible doesn't really make our heart beat any faster. It's a soft, plush open-top tourer, and though the 4.4-liter twin-turbocharged V8 underhood certainly doesn't skimp on the power, it doesn't really make for an enthusiastic driving experience.

Enter Alpina, the BMW tuning house that has given us the 7 Series-based B7 here in the United States, not to mention creations like the B5 abroad. Like the rest of its work, the appropriately named B6 Biturbo Cabriolet adds more power to the 650i engine - 507 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque, compared to 400 hp and 450 lb-ft in the standard car. What's more, the suspension geometry gets tweaked slightly, and the car features new styling touches like a more aggressive front fascia, Alpina's iconic blue paint, and - of course - the tuner's signature 20-spoke wheels.

Nice, yes, but we think we'll stick to the B5 wagon that bowed in Geneva back in March. Still, see the B6 for yourself in our attached high-res image gallery.

Alpina unveils 507-hp B6 Biturbo Convertible originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 14 Sep 2011 03:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BMW Alpina B6 Biturbo Convertible to breeze into Frankfurt

Aaron Richardson — Sun, 04 Sep 2011 10:02:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Convertible, Performance, Europe, BMW, Luxury

Alpina is adding a ragtop BMW 6-Series to its lineup of muscle-bound Bavarians. Set to debut in Frankfurt, the 2012 BMW Alpina B6 Biturbo Convertible should have enough muscle to hustle to 60 in just 4.8 seconds. The big droptop packs 507 hp and 516 lb. ft. of torque thanks to a twin-turbo V8.

Alpina also says the car is capable of running north of 190 mph, but has limited the production version to the de rigeur 155 mph.

Pricing hasn't been announced, but expect the number to be well clear of the standard 650i convertible's $90,500 starting point.

BMW Alpina B6 Biturbo Convertible to breeze into Frankfurt originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 04 Sep 2011 10:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aurora Racing preps GT1-spec Alpina B6

Noah Joseph — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 11:25:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Coupe, BMW, Racing

What you see above is a BMW 6 Series - but just barely. Since leaving Munich, it's been transformed into the B6 by Alpina, then into the race-spec B6 GT3, and is now in the process of being converted to top-tier GT1 spec by yet another company, Aurora Racing Designs.

The motorsport concern is a joint effort by former McLaren engineer Nicholas Galbraith and former Alpina racing designer Andreas Puschel. Together they're taking the development of the B6 GT1 off Alpina's hands so that the BMW tuner can focus its energies on its current customer GT3 racing program. Sounds promising. We'd guess the chassis is targeted to join various Le Mans Series grids and the new FIA GT1 World Championship in time for next season. BMW racing fans should stay tuned for more.

[Source: Planet Le Mans via Motorpasion]

Aurora Racing preps GT1-spec Alpina B6 originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 13 Jun 2010 11:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Another new (old) Passat: Shanghai VW Lingyu

Jonathon Ramsey — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 11:30:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, China, Volkswagen, Misc. Auto Shows

Click above for a gallery of the Chinese market VW Lingyu

China's already got Volkswagen's Passat in R36 guise, as well as a locally-made, Passat-derived model called the Magotan. Now it's going to have another car based on the Passat called the Lingyu. Built on a revised, long-wheelbase version of the 4-year-old PQ46 platform and using the previous-generation Passat body style, the Lingyu is shaping up to be the longest Passat sedan variant available in China.

Three engines have been mentioned, along with a 15% increase in fuel efficiency: the 1.8T, 2.0 FSI, and 2.4 V6. The changes are being made by VW's Chinese partner Shanghai VW, with the aim of increasing interior space and comfort. The car should be available in Q2 of this year, and might make an appearance at next month's Shanghai Auto Show.

Gallery: China FAW-VW Lingyu

[Source: Gasgoo]

Another new (old) Passat: Shanghai VW Lingyu originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 22 Mar 2009 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Geneva 2009: BMW Alpina B6 GT3 puts the 'Ring on notice

Noah Joseph — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 10:27:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Motorsports, Tuners, Geneva Motor Show, BMW

Click above for high-res gallery of the BMW Alpina GT3

BMW tuner par excellence Alpina is returning to the motor racing scene for the first time in two decades with the new B6 GT3, which the pseudo-works firm unveiled for the first time here at the Geneva Motor Show. Based on the 6 Series, the B6 GT3 features a unique radial supercharger fitted to its 4.4-liter V8 to drive 530 horsepower to the rear wheels - in proper Bavarian style - in what looks to be a compelling competition package.

Alpina itself will be fielding a pair in the European FIA GT3 series and at "selected 24-hour endurance races" (Nurburgring, Le Mans... we're looking at you), but the B6 GT3 will also be offered to private teams. Alpina has fitted adjustable everything to the car and a full array of electronic control systems to ensure that gentlemen racers - not just professional drivers - will be able to handle it and so that the car will qualify for a wide array of racing series. We're looking forward to seeing the green menace tackling the Green Hell soon, but in the meantime had to content ourselves with checking it out at Alpina's show stand here in Geneva where it was displayed alongside the new B7 Bi-Turbo, which we'll have for you shortly. In the meantime, click on the thumbnails below to view our gallery from the show floor and follow the jump for a brief press release.

Gallery: Geneva 2009: BMW Alpina B6 GT3

Gallery: Alpina B6 GT3

Continue reading Geneva 2009: BMW Alpina B6 GT3 puts the 'Ring on notice

Geneva 2009: BMW Alpina B6 GT3 puts the 'Ring on notice originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 05 Mar 2009 10:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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