2011 Spyker C8 Aileron

The Spyker C8 Aileron’s performance is visceral, vibrant and alive. Power comes from a naturally aspirated Audi 4.2-litre V8 petrol engine. This power unit features a 90-degree angle block, 40 valves (five valves-per-cylinder, three intake and two exhaust), and variable valve timing.

Highly responsive, the V8 generates 400 ps at 6,800 rpm and an immense wave of torque (480 Nm at just 3,500 rpm), to ensure thrilling drivability.


Strong torque, high power, sleek aerodynamics, modest car weight and an excellent power-to-weight ratio all result in sensational acceleration: 0-to-100 kph in 4.5 seconds and a top speed of 300 kph.

As standard, the engine is fitted with a long-life stainless steel exhaust system tuned to put the driver ‘truly in touch with their senses’. This system uses noise-dampening reed valves to create a quieter drive below 3,500 rpm. The valves naturally open as engine speed rises above this figure, allowing the exhaust gases to travel straight out of the tailpipes to improve exhaust flow, performance and depth of sound. An optional ‘Sport mode exhaust system’ can be fitted, allowing the driver to manually overrule the valves, for a sportier sound throughout the entire engine rev range.

Marking a ‘first’ for Spyker, the C8 Aileron’s engine is mated to an automatic transmission that provides seamless, yet instant, progression through the gears. The highly regarded six-speed ZF gearbox features a regular torque converter and offers drivers a choice of fully automatic or clutch-less sequential manual gear shifting using the standard paddle shifts mounted behind the steering wheel.

The transmission selection operation retains Spyker’s trademark exposed gear change mechanism that provides a sense of occasion and proves that aesthetics and function go hand-in-hand.

The aluminum paddle shift controls are substantive and easy to reach. They do not rotate with the steering wheel, allowing the driver to easily identify the up-shift and down-shift paddles, regardless of the steering wheel’s angle.Spyker allocated huge resources to optimize the performance and efficiency of the spaceframe chassis. Among other results of this attention to detail is the adoption of one-piece side sills that make an important contribution to chassis stiffness. The utilization of modern finite element analysis and numerical optimization methods allowed Spyker’s engineers to create a new chassis and bodywork style which boasts an exceptional torsional stiffness of 29,500 Nm/degree.

State-of-the-art rigid-node and load-path technology was employed to ensure that the optimal grade and quantity of aluminum is used to achieve this performance, thus minimizing the overall weight of the vehicle. The production chassis weighs just 230 kg.

Posted in: Spyker car