2006 Spyker C8 Test Drive

Going Dutch

We take a wild ride in an obscure $250,000 Dutch supercar soon to make a splash in America.

Exterior

The C8 Spyder's curvaceous exterior is understated by supercar standards and looks like no other. Its lightweight (2,750 lbs.) aluminum space frame was designed from the outset as an open-top roadster, which means the structure is more solid than if it were first built as a closed-roof coupe and had the top chopped off.

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The car is stiff enough not to require extra reinforcement around the windscreen, making for a unique, frameless look.

An optional soft- or hard-top can be fitted, as well as 19-inch Aeroblade wheels with spokes that mimic the airplane propeller motif in the company logo, which pays homage to the firm's stint building planes during WWI. The Aeroblade wheels' delicate-looking spokes enhance brake cooling and vehicle aerodynamics.