Autoblog

Muller looking to reboot Spyker

Zach Bowman — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 10:01:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Coupe, Performance, Europe, Plants/Manufacturing, Earnings/Financials, Luxury

Victor Muller's on-again, off-again love affair with Spyker seems to be back on track. During the executive's fling with Saab, Spyker was up for sale to the highest bidder. No one stepped forward to take the exotic Dutch luxury manufacturer off of Muller's hands, which has apparently turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Now that Saab has collapsed into bankruptcy, Muller has renamed Swedish Automobile Spyker once again. With the goal of running an international car company all but faded, Muller is expected to return his attention to building up Spyker.

According to reports, the executive aims to push Spyker to produce 1,000 units a year and introduce a handful of new models. Those include the D12 Peking-To-Paris Concept seen above, a model first unveiled in 2006. Of course, that plan hinges on securing investors for the company. Spyker needs around $32 million to get production up and running again, and Muller is currently courting a number of potential funding sources.

Not surprisingly, investors are a bit skittish after the executive's failed attempts at both Formula One and Saab.

Muller looking to reboot Spyker originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 19 Apr 2012 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Report: Saab deal helps put Spyker D12 Peking-to-Paris back on track

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 12:17:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, SUV, GM, Saab, Spyker, Luxury

Spyker D12 Peking-to-Paris concept - Click above for high-res image gallery

We're all well aware that the recently sealed deal between Spyker and General Motors means good things for the ailing Saab brand - in fact, without Spyker's eleventh-hour intervention, the Swedish automaker would have been lost to the annals of history. Apparently, though, the Saab tie-up means good things for Spyker, too.

Believe it or not, it was four years ago that Spyker first showed off its Peking-to-Paris luxury SUV at the Geneva Motor Show, and now company head Victor Muller has reportedly announced that the monster 'ute is back on track. Not surprisingly, the finalized handshake with The General is partly to thank for the reinvigorated D12 program.

Consider the years of technical expertise that Spyker gained when it brought Saab on board, not to mention the additional production capability and manpower. It remains to be seen what powertrain Spyker will choose for its hulking SUV, but previous rumors had a supercharged mill from Cadillac underhood. We shall see.

[Source: Autocar]

Report: Saab deal helps put Spyker D12 Peking-to-Paris back on track originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 06 Mar 2010 12:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Spy Shots: Spyker D8 Peking-to-Paris SSUV ready for production debut in Frankfurt?

Noah Joseph — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 18:58:00 EST

Filed under: Frankfurt Motor Show, Spy Photos, SUV, Europe, Spyker

Exotics used to be confined strictly to sportscars, but not anymore. Porsche and Maserati have got four-door sedans on the market, and Aston Martin's is on the way. But in lucrative markets like the Middle East and Russia, demand is high for exotic SUVs, and automakers are stepping up to fill the gap left by the Lamborghini LM002 and currently occupied, with few other exceptions, by the Porsche Cayenne. Spyker wants itself a piece of that pie, and after years of preparation, its Peking-to-Paris "Super Sport Utility Vehicle" looks to be nearing production.

Apparently spied undisguised at Spyker's factory in the Netherlands, sources suggest that the SSUV is being prepared for its production debut at the upcoming Frankfurt Motor Show. The design has reportedly been updated to follow the lead of the new C8 Aileron, but the big question is what will sit underneath the hood. Expected to ditch the concept car's V12 in favor of a V8 - with an accompanying model designation change from D12 to D8 - the Spyker sport-ute was tipped to adopt American power (in the possible form of the Cadillac CTS-V's supercharged mill), though transplanting the company's existing Audi-sourced engine is always a possibility.

[Source: Autogespot - translated]

Spy Shots: Spyker D8 Peking-to-Paris SSUV ready for production debut in Frankfurt? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 24 Aug 2009 18:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

REPORT: Spyker D12 SSUV to get Cadillac CTS-V supercharged V8?

Damon Lavrinc — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 19:58:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, SUV, Geneva Motor Show, Spyker

It's been two-and-a-half years since the Spyker D12 Peking-to-Paris SSUV debuted at the Geneva Motor Show, and although the recent spate of spy shots indicate work is well underway, Spyker won't make its self-imposed release date this year.

Instead, the high-speed luxo-'ute will likely appear at next year's Geneva expo and when it does, it will like drop its "D12" moniker for "D8" thanks to the supercharged V8 lying under its sculpted hood.

Coinciding with earlier reports, Spyker plans to utilize an American-sourced V8 to power the D8 SSUV, and if Autoblog.nl's sleuthing abilities are to be believed, it's none other than General Motor's supercharged 6.2-liter LSA - the mill that powers the Cadillac CTS-V.

The Dutch site caught the same Land Rover mule we saw earlier this year, and after investigating the prototype's license plate, discovered the engine met the same specifications as the LSA. That would mean at least 550 hp and 550 lb-ft of torque, which should allow the SSUV to hit 60 mph in around five seconds and max out around 174 mph. If all goes according to plan, we'll see the production version in Geneva this March with sales beginning later in 2010.

Gallery: Pre-Production Spyker D12 Peking-to-Paris

[Source: Autoblog.nl via GTSpirit]

REPORT: Spyker D12 SSUV to get Cadillac CTS-V supercharged V8? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 24 Jul 2009 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Spyker reportedly dropping V12 in Peking-Paris SUV for V8

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 11:07:00 EST

Filed under: Frankfurt Motor Show, SUV, Spyker

Spyker Peking-Paris concept - Click above for a high-res gallery

You might question whether the time is right for Spyker to unleash its $300,000 Peking-Paris SSUV on the global motoring public, but, as recent spy shots indicated, a recent influx of development money from Russia means the project is apparently very much still in the works. According to reports, plans for a V12 engine have officially been shelved in favor of a V8.

We're not certain who will supply the engine for the Spyker D8. Currently, the Dutch automaker gets its powerplants from Audi, including the 400-horsepower 4.2L V8 powering the C8, but past rumors have suggested that Spyker might instead use a good 'ol American V8 in the production SUV. If Cars UK is right about the D8 getting a supercharged 8-cylinder poweplant with at least 550 horsepower, we can think of a few excellent choices for Spyker to consider. We should find out soon enough - Spyker is reportedly prepping the D8 for a debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September. Thanks for the tip, John!

Gallery: Pre-Production Spyker D12 Peking-to-Paris

[Source: Cars UK]

Spyker reportedly dropping V12 in Peking-Paris SUV for V8 originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 19 Apr 2009 11:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Spyker D12 finally gets green light for production

Noah Joseph — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 11:19:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Crossover, Spyker

Click above for hghi-res gallery of the Spyker D12 Peking-to-Paris SSUV

You would think that with the economy in shambles and public opinion mounting against high-powered SUVs, the idea of creating a $300k exotic super-sport-utility would be a non-starter. You would think, but you'd be wrong, as the latest reports indicate that troubled Dutch niche automaker Spyker has finally given the green for its D12 Peking-to-Paris SSUV.

The concept, which was designed by Michiel van den Brink (the same guy behind the 599 GTO project, among others), initially made its debut at the 2006 Geneva Motor Show, with a pre-production version bowing the following year. Power was initially tipped to come from a VW Group-sourced 500-hp W12 engine, but later reports suggested a switch to American V8 muscle (likely from GM or Ford). Development, meanwhile, may benefit from Lotus engineering input. Previous reports also suggested the D12 would hit production sometime next year, and indicated pricing now pegs the sticker at £186k, approximately $295,000 at today's rates. In order to remain viable, Spyker will need to bring the model to the American market, but the price is sure to be adjusted closer to $200k, still making it the most expensive and most exotic production SUV known to man.

Gallery: Pre-Production Spyker D12 Peking-to-Paris

[Source: Autocar]

Spyker D12 finally gets green light for production originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 04 Nov 2008 11:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Spyker loses 72.075 million euros in 2007

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 07:33:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Performance, SUV, Supercars, Earnings/Financials, Spyker

Click above to view high-res gallery of the Spyker C8 Aileron

For such a small manufacturer of specialty vehicles, Spyker hemorrhaged a huge amount of money last year; 72.075 million euros ($113.07 million at current exchange rates), to be exact. Part of this loss was due to the sale of its Formula 1 operations, but their car-selling business managed to cost them a few million more. Money was so tight that the Dutch supercar company only managed to assemble 26 cars last year -- only two in the final quarter, despite the waiting list for their wares.

Good news is on the horizon, though, as Spyker has received a cash-infusion from Snoras Group, a Lithuanian bank (and now the largest shareholder in the company), and is again up-to-speed on automobile production. The long-wheelbase C8 Aileron, along with its new automatic transmission, is scheduled to go on sale in the third quarter of this year, while their D8 Peking-to-Paris will follow in 2009. Additionally, their racing team, Spyker Squadron, will continue its GT aspirations, though Formula 1 has obviously been abandoned. So, Spyker fans, look forward to a less-tumultuous year in 2008... we're pretty sure that it couldn't be any worse than the last.

[Source: Spyker (.pdf link) via Automotive News]

Spyker loses 72.075 million euros in 2007 originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 30 Mar 2008 07:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments