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New Crossover Focus of Spyker Revival PlanPublished: 03/07/2013 - by Richard Bremner, CorrespondentGENEVA — A crossover vehicle from supercar specialist Spyker will be shown as a concept next year and is bound for production in 2016 as part of the Dutch brand's ambitious revival plans, Edmunds learned at the 2013 Geneva Auto Show.Meanwhile, the Spyker B6 Venator Concept, a Porsche 911 fighter, debuted at the 2013 Geneva Auto Show. Spyker is aiming for affordability with the B6 Venator, saying it will have "a more accessible price point of approximately $125,000 to $150,000" when it goes on sale. The B6 Venator will go on sale in the U.S. in spring 2014, Spyker told Edmunds.
Spyker's rejuvenation centers around three models: the new B6 Venator, the older $245,000 Spyker C8 Aileron, the supercar with Audi V8 power, and the upcoming crossover.
Spyker's plans are ambitious. While the Aileron has sold around 300 units since it was introduced in 2009, the B6 Venator is intended to take the company's annual output to around 2,500 when it's joined by the lower-volume high-performance SUV.
It's the freshly debuted Venator that is the key to Spyker's revival and growth. The front-engined, V6 sports car is intended to provide Spyker's dealers with a more affordable model and its suppliers with sufficient business to make custom component development for the company more economically attractive, according to John Walton, Spyker's commercial officer.
The small, publicly listed company still remains relatively unknown and suffered a near-death experience caused not only by the global recession but by its brief ownership of the now-defunct automaking unit of Saab. Spyker boss Victor Muller first battled to buy Saab from General Motors and became consumed with the ultimately failed mission to keep Saab alive.
Now, Muller is "100-percent engaged" in Spyker's revival, said Walton in an interview. The key to Spyker's revival is a recent $10-million investment from China's Youngman company.
"I'm optimistic," said Walton. "Our future is well-planned and well-funded."