It’s not every day you come across a Spyker C8 Laviolette, a hand-made supercar made from a now-defunct Dutch boutique carmaker with styling that’s equal parts quirky and striking.
Spyker was the first to put an Audi V8 into a supercar, beating even the Germans and the original R8, but that is far from the most interesting fact around this Dutch supercar.
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Based on an all-aluminum chassis, the C8 Laviolette is basically the coupe version of the original Spyder; power comes from a naturally aspirated 4.2-liter V8 engine which here is paired to a six-speed manual transmission with the most characteristic exposed linkage in the supercar world. The output is rated at just under 400 HP, and is accompanied by a genuinely meaty soundtrack.
Spyker loved aluminum and that’s why all metal surfaces inside the cabin are made from the stuff; everything is either machine-turned or polished aluminum, interrupted only by the beautiful leather upholstery. If you like the theater and can appreciate a good toggle switch, you will love the Spyker C8.
The exterior is similarly unique, with three big air intakes – one on the roof no less- driving air into the V8 engine, and a bodywork filled to the brim with unique details wherever you look. It’s not for everyone but it’s very special indeed.
Jonny Smith drives an even rarer right-hand-drive example of a 2009 C8 Laviolette, and the combination of the unique looks with the pure V8 noises certainly makes it one of the most impressive machines even today, 12 years after it left the factory.