It’s been rough going for Spyker over the past few years, but better days appear to be ahead for the Swedish maker of supercars thanks in part to a partnership it has entered with Koenigsegg. As per the agreement, Koenigsegg will now be the official engine supplier of both coupe and spyder versions of Spyker’s C8 Preliator, replacing Audi in that role and ushering a new era of supercar collaborations that could change the landscape of the segment in the coming years.
Yes, you read that right. Koenigsegg, the makers of all-conquering machines like the Regera and the One:1, will now be tasked to power Spyker’s future lineup of models, beginning with the two Preliator variants. The news comes as Spyker is set to present the C8 Preliator Spyder, the topless version of the coupe variant it unveiled in Geneva this time last year.
Remember, the C8 Preliator that was shown last year came with an Audi-sourced 4.2-liter supercharged V-8 engine that put out 517 horsepower and 443 pound-feet of torque. Impressive, right? But when compared to the new digs Spyker’s getting from Koenigsegg – a 5.0-liter naturally aspirated V-8 engine that produces 600 horsepower and 442 pound-feet of torque – well, we’re going to let the numbers paint the picture.
With the new V-8 bolted up, the C8 Preliator Spyder will be able to sprint to 60 mph in 3.6 seconds and hit a top speed of 201 mph. Sure, it’s not on the level of Koenigsegg’s four-wheel guided missiles, but it still comes as a slight improvement over the supercharged Audi V-8. It covered the same 60-mph time in 3.7 seconds before peaking at a similar 201-mph top speed.
But the Spyker-Koenigsegg partnership isn’t just about bigger engines, more power, and improved performance. It also points to something even more important, not only for both brands, but for the whole supercar segment entirely. Whereas competition remains the driving force of this market, this collaboration could open up a world of new possibilities for future supercar brands moving forward. It may be Spyker and Koenigsegg now, but imagine if, say, Koenigsegg and Bugatti joined forces to create the ultimate supercar? Impossible? Perhaps. But there was a time when the kind of partnership we’re seeing between Spyker and Koenigsegg would’ve been scoffed at as well.
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from Top Speed http://ift.tt/2mN2eXa
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