Monday 10th March 2014

Pay for Spyker to build the B6

Help fund development of Spyker's B6 Venator with £100,000 bond (and get first dibs)

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How's this for a finance scheme? Buy a £100,000 bond from Spyker and the Dutch sports car maker will give you first dibs on its new mid-engined B6 Venator, a car that doesn't exist yet. So far we've seen a concept for coupe and cabriolet versions of this car, but Victor Muller's firm is now raising the money to build it. The 100 so-called Spyker Venator Bonds will bring in £10 million, accelerating development to the point that it'll go on sale next year, according to a spokesman.

Distinctively Spyker but what's underneath?

What he wouldn't confirm to us is what the car will be based on and whose engine it'll use. We're wondering if it's a Lotus Evora under there - a mid-mounted transverse V6 engine sounds familiar and Spyker's quoted 375hp-plus should be achievable with the Toyota engine, currently running 350hp in the Evora S. It also uses an 'all aluminium platform' (Spyker's words) and the quoted kerbweight of 'under 1,400kg' equates to the 1,383kg Lotus claims for an unladed Evora, even if the Spyker will be carbon bodied. The Venator's wheelbase is 75mm shorter than the Evora's but the overall length of 4,347mm is only 3mm off that of the Lotus. We got a brusque "no comment" from the spokesman when we put forward this theory.

But if so we're looking forward to it even more. Spyker raised its game visually with the B6 concepts, both inside and out, and using the Evora as a donor would put it on a sound footing dynamically.

Spyder version also announced

The company, which still makes the C8, had big plans last year after Muller had picked himself up from trying to resurrect Saab, and he told PistonHeads to expect a production version of the Peking to Paris SUV this year. Separately, the company is also planning to build premium cars with Chinese maker Youngman using the uncompleted Saab Phoenix platform.

You don't have to buy a B6 Venator with your bond money, but Muller says that those who do will get a "first-edition car featuring a special exterior / interior colour scheme and badging". Or you can let it mature and after four years the 7.5 per cent annual interest on the bond will net you £30,000, according to Spyker. Spyker says the cars will be sold at a "minimum" of £125,000 (a sharp increase from the $125,000 mentioned last year) so we guess that's your incentive. Early cash-in to buy a car for the same amount as you'd get back three years later (assuming it will be launched in 2015). Welcome to Muller's man-maths masterclass!

[4a4]

Replace all of the chrome bits with satin black, and that car would look great. Interesting theory of the Evora underpinnings (even uses Recaro CS Sportster seats as well )

[nckr55]

Thought is was based on (or at least had evidence of the re-use of some interior parts from, which felt like a tell) the Artega GT ?

[anonymous-user]

This Spyker with these financial results? http://jaarverslag.info/home/spyker

Yeah, ok, I'll take on your risk... Where do I sign?

[KaraK]

Well I suppose if nothing else you can't fault Victor Muller's optimism

[OutOfSync]

Can't help but think the there are lower risk bonds with the same coupon out there... put your £100k in one of them and then buy the car when it comes out if you still want it.

Heck, even an S&P500 tracker is likely to outperform 7.5% per annum.

[Frimley111R]

The Evora cost £40m to produce. What are they going to do with a quarter of that to make a more expensive car?

[trashbat]

PH said:

Distinctively Spyker but what's underneath?

A flattened airline drinks trolley by the looks of it.

[bencollins]

Frimley111R said:

The Evora cost £40m to produce. What are they going to do with a quarter of that to make a more expensive car?

Put a quilted frock on it.

[Impasse]

Frimley111R said:

The Evora cost £40m to produce. What are they going to do with a quarter of that to make a more expensive car?

Rebody an Evora.

[anonymous-user]

PH have already done a story on this being based on the now dead Artega! Where is all the Evora talk coming from?

[Ozzie Osmond]

Impasse said:

Rebody an Evora.

If only somebody would!

[loveice]

Impasse said:

Frimley111R said:

The Evora cost £40m to produce. What are they going to do with a quarter of that to make a more expensive car?

Rebody an Evora.

Why keeping saying Evora when it was mostly confirmed sometime ago it's based on Artega GT with a VW 6 pot and double clutch.

[996jim]

£100000 would be better invested at Cheltenham this coming week.

[Dan Trent]

Is it a Lotus or is it an Artega? Both mooted but Lotus and Spyker do have history - the below is from 2008 and a hell of a lot of water has flowed under respective bridges admittedly. But they have each other's phone numbers.

Against that there would seem to be a hint of VW group in the cabin parts but either way Spyker are officially on no comment mode.

We shall see!

Cheers,

Dan

Back in 2008 Lotus and Spyker said:

PRESS RELEASE

Spyker Cars N.V. and Lotus Cars Ltd., of Hethel, England, announce the signing of a cooperation agreement.

Spyker and Lotus have reached agreement today on the outline of their intended cooperation, which will include a Parts and Platform Commonality Agreement (PPCA), a Parts and Accessories Supply Agreement pursuant to which Lotus would provide certain parts for Spyker's new C8 Aileron super sportscar, and a concept Design and Engineering Agreement relating to all of Spyker's future models.

The parties' objective is to reduce costs of parts and components by sharing technology.

Victor R. Muller, CEO of Spyker Cars comments: "Our company has had a very fruitful cooperation with Lotus, developed over the past four years, relating to engineering services in respect of certain components of our cars, as well as in respect of worldwide certification. Spyker and Lotus have now come to the conclusion that they need to intensify their cooperation to the point that we intend to share parts and platforms, as well as an agreement on the supply of parts. Moreover, Lotus Engineering has become Spyker's preferred subcontractor in respect of a number of engineering projects relating to the Spyker C8 Aileron and the Spyker D8 Peking-to-Paris.

Michael Kimberley, CEO of Lotus Cars, added: "Lotus is very pleased to be identified as Spyker's preferred Engineering supplier for these unique "high Brand Image" ground breaking cars. We look forward to working with Spyker to expand our global business opportunities, projects and interests for our mutually synergistic Products and Technologies. Lotus Engineering has a great heritage and solid track record in developing innovative solutions for clients and we look forward to using Lotus' advanced light weight vehicle know-how and vehicle dynamics technology to enable Spyker to establish itself as a dynamic premium automotive player."

[Frimley111R]

Ozzie Osmond said:

Impasse said:

Rebody an Evora.

If only somebody would!

[Pistachio]

NO CHANCE
Pay for a Bond and maybe get a car but they have your money hmmmmmm well oh yeah NO

[RoverP6B]

If you have the money and are willing to blow it, good on you. Victor Muller is a passionate enthusiast and we could do with a few more like him in the industry. It's a shame GM torpedoed all he did to keep Saab going.

[Adeyfisher]

I love the look of the car, I'd even pay over the odds for a re-skinned Evora / Artega ....... But give 100k to Victor Muller to invest? If I was that stupid I wouldn't have a £100,000 in the first place.

[Kenzle]

And what is the yield / duration on this so-called 'bond'?

[Ozzie Osmond]

Beware the still-born Perana Z-One, also known as AC 378 GT Zagato.

As Mr Spyker has already discovered, the demand for £100k oddities can be somewhat limited.