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Spyker reveals special C8 Aileron LM85 to close out model’s production

Now that Spyker is rolling out new C8 Preliators, the company is wrapping up production on its predecessor, the C8 Aileron. To commemorate the old car, Spyker will make the final three vehicles special LM85 models, a model designation that references the company’s old GT race car.

The name of the specification isn’t the only thing that references Spyker’s race cars. Each of the three final cars will have a paint scheme similar to those vehicles with contrasting “S” stripes. One car will be black with red stripes, another red with black stripes, and the third black with gold stripes. Each car will feature a matching interior.

The bodywork of these cars is even more dramatic than the usual C8 Aileron. It features wider fender flares for more wheel and tire, and the aluminum body panels are attached with exposed rivets. The grille also features unique slots that encircle the main opening.

In the middle of the car is a supercharged Audi V8 that produces the same 518 horsepower as the early C8 Preliators (newer Preliators use a Koenigsegg V8), and it makes 443 pound-feet of torque. It’s bolted to a six-speed ZF automatic transmission. This combination is good for a claimed 0-62 mph time of 3.7 seconds. One number Spyker didn’t release was the price, which is only available on request. But you know the drill. If you have to ask …

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Spyker C8 Preliator to run Koenigsegg V8 engine

Supercar fans, get ready for your heads to explode. The Spyker C8 Preliator will run a Koenigsegg V8 engine. Talk about strange bedfellows. But in an automotive world where the Ford F-150 Raptor and Chevy Camaro ZL1 use versions of the same 10-speed transmission, why not?

Spyker and Koenigsegg announced the deal Tuesday at the Geneva Motor Show, where the Preliator C8 Spyder debuted. Rated at 500 horsepower and 443 pound-feet of torque, the naturally aspirated 5.0-liter engine will replace the Audi V8 originally used in the first batch of C8 Preliator coupes; they will now switch to the Koenigsegg unit. The engine will team with a six-speed manual transmission.

Spyker will make only 100 copies of the Spyder, which has an automatic soft top. Preliator, which translates to fighter in Latin, is a throwback to Spyker’s first iteration as an aircraft maker in World War 1, and the Spyker logo evokes a spinning propeller.

The C8 Preliators use a Lotus suspension, a carbon-fiber body, aluminum hood and deck lid, and prominent aerodynamic treatments. They also feature an infotainment display with connectivity for Spotify and Apple Music and can be operated with hand gestures. The Spyder will launch by summer 2018. The coupe and convertible will be built next to each other in Coventry, England.

Spyker founder Victor Muller called the new V8 the “single-most important advancement” in his company’s history. “I have always admired the amazing technologies developed by Christian von Koenigsegg and his dedicated team creating one of the most sophisticated cars and engines on the planet, and I am convinced our Spyker C8 Preliator clients will tremendously enjoy the huge performance leap,” Muller said in a statement.

Though the engine deal might seem unconventional at first, Spyker and Koenigsegg appeal to different kinds of enthusiasts. Both of the boutique supercar makers occasionally make splashy reveals at European auto shows. This year, they teamed up for one in Geneva.

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