Strapping in--no, let me rephrase that--climbing in to the Spyker C8 Aileron feels a little like being a test pilot.
Not only does it take a little practise to squeeze under those pivoting gull-wing doors, but once in place, the panel in front of you is lined with toggle switches and aviation-style gauges on a spartan, brushed aluminum dashboard.
The leather-lined cabin is cavern-like and tightly enclosed, visibility is aimed at the road ahead, the engine tucked smack right behind you--all told, a very serious environment.
Ladies and gents, this is not your uncle's Sunday driver.
That feeling--what serious drivers call the pucker factor --increases when you begin the start sequence; flipping up the red guard switch, pushing the ignition button and engaging the automatic Sport mode.
At this point, and much like a test pilot, you had better get your seating position right and the mirrors at the perfect angle. You might also want to tie your shoelaces, too, because what you are about to experience is nothing like any other sports car on the road.
Last week, the Netherlands-based carmaker brought its first pre-production model C8 Aileron --yes, you heard right, the one and only first production model C8 Aileron coupe--to North America and Tony Dilawri's Spyker Calgary dealership for a series of media test drives.
So raw was this first model, that some of the fit and finish on the vehicle had not yet been finalized. By the time this article goes to print, the Aileron will be flying straight back over the pond, where it will be tested further --the results to be implemented in upcoming production models.
While elite carmakers such as Ferrari, Lamborghini and Maserati boast decades of sports car tradition, Spyker Cars is fairly new to the game, but the marque itself, is not.
Founded in 2000 by Victor R. Muller, its chief executive, Spyker Cars draws it name and inspiration from the famed Dutch car and aircraft company founded by Jacobus and Hendrik-Jan Spijker in 1898.
Known for its circular radiators, that firm would go on to build successful touring cars and racers, as well as airplanes and airplane engines for the First World War. After changing ownership it would run out of money in 1926 after producing about 2,000 vehicles in total.
That same aviation heritage is overtly reflected in all Spyker sports cars, and especially the new C8 Aileron.
The first styling cues that catch one's eye are the sweeping ducting tubes on the roof and side panels, which bring cool air to the engine compartment, brakes and cabin.
The 19-in. turbine inspired Rotorblade wheels are also hard to miss. Reminiscent of the blades of a modern jet engine, they carry race-ready Z-rated Michelin tires (235/35 up front, 295/30 in back) for optimum handling.
The Spyker logo itself also sports a propeller, and stamped on the exhaust pipes is the Latin motto of the original car company: "Nulla tenaci invia est via," which translates to: "For the tenacious no road is impassable."
Tenacious or not, the Aileron represents a new direction for the boutique car company.
Spyker has refined and distilled some of the racetrack rawness seen in its other available models, the popular Spyder convertible and the Laviolette coupe, and made the Aileron as much an exhilarating daily driver, as it is a street legal, full-blown sports car.
They also widened and squared off the frame and given the all-aluminum body a stunning new look which, arguably, makes it obscenely noticeable wherever it goes. So much so, in fact, rubberneckers can pose a menace as they pull up alongside to get a look.
But the Aileron is more than good looks. Beneath that ultra-sporty skin lies a formidable drivetrain. A mid-mounted 4.2-litre Audi V-8 provides 400 h.p. and 354 ft.-lbs. of torque at 7,200 r.p.m., providing a top speed of 300 km/h and a neck-snapping 0-to-100 km/h in 4.5 seconds.
Weighing in at about 1,360 kilograms (3,000 lbs.), the Aileron boasts an enviable power-to-weight ratio.
The test car was also equipped with a Tiptronic six-speed automatic ZF gearbox, with manual override. (A manual Getrag six-speed gearbox is also available.)
To say this car likes to rev is an understatement. Merely pulling away from a light brings a menacing roar that telegraphs to every living thing within a block that this is no ordinary set of wheels.
Yet the Aileron is not a wildcat that requires a Formula One driver to tame it. Spyker appears to have found the right balance in its newest model.
The Tiptronic allows the driver to sit back and enjoy the sights, sounds and sensations . . . or to use the steering-column mounted shift paddles.
Another Spyker oddity--one which I've never seen in any other car--is a fully exposed console shifter. Instead of hiding the linkage under the console, as in most other cars, it is exposed and presented in polished silver, adding to the lustre of exclusivity.
Where one can't see brushed aluminum, every inch of the Aileron's cabin is covered in luxurious leather from Hulshof Royal Dutch Tanneries.
Fourteen standard colours are available, but Spyker will also make it any colour "if desired by the customer."
Noticeably absent from the pre-production car's cabin was a dash-mounted stereo. The following production models won't have one either, though it will have an iPod input, 300-watt amp and a six-speaker Kharma sound system. According to the rep, this is not in keeping with the Spyker driving experience.
To be honest, one would have to crank it up pretty loud just to match the roar of the V-8, which is packed right behind the driver's seat. Future models will also feature an in-dash navigation system and Bluetooth interface.
And finally, how does the Aileron perform? Quite simply: superbly.
A quick jaunt down to Millarville and back offered a glimpse of the Aileron's "ready-to-rock" personality.
The four-corner, aluminum wishbone suspension with Eibach springs and Bilstein shocks kept us glued to the asphalt and inspired confidence with its precise response on a variety of undulating, twisty roads.
And when it came to stopping that ride--in a hurry--the rock-hard four-piston ventilated disc brakes could seemingly stop a train. I found them a bit too hard for my suburban tastes, but I was told it would probably softened a bit in the coming models.
If Spyker was trying to build a car that could be equally comfortable driving to your favourite restaurant, or give anyone a run for his money on a race track, then it has achieved that.
It also has a trunk which can actually hold a few things, including groceries or a six-pack of Budweiser tallboys.
And speaking of bringing home the bacon, you may be wondering exactly who is the target market for the Aileron. (The automatic equipped coupe retails for $263,000 Cdn, the manual for $252,000)
According to company reps, the typical Spyder customer is worth about $10 million, owns a share in an executive jet and has already had the red Ferrari, the black Lamborghini and the silver Aston Martin. That same customer, they say, is looking for something rare and different.
No question there: the new Spyker A8 Aileron screams "vive le difference" at every angle. Inside and out.
And going by the looks and questions we received from numerous onlookers, this small Dutch car company could well be onto something.
THE SPECS - Type: Advanced mid-engine, two-seat sports car - Body: Structural aluminum space frame chassis - Brakes: Spyker branded aluminum AP brake calipers (four-piston), AP brake discs, cross-drilled and ventilated; Bosch ABS system with EBD - Engine: Audi 4.2-litre V-8, 40 valve, mid-mounted, multipoint fuel injection system with electronic ignition; 400 h.p. @7,200 r.p.m. - Transmission: Tiptronic six-speed automatic ZF gearbox with manual override (automatic transmission), or Synchromesh six-speed trans-axle getrag gearbox (manual transmission) - Performance: Top speed, 300 km/h; acceleration 0-100 km/h in 4.5 seconds - Price: Manual, $252,000; automatic $263,000. plus freight & PDI, $3,000, and Transport Canada green levy, $5,000
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