Spyker’s C8 Preliator is an evolution of the brand’s heritage alongside bespoke materials and beautiful design. Although not a well-known name due to its incredibly rare nature, the niche sports car by this Dutch company is worth taking a look at, if not for the sleek aerodynamic body, then definitely for the interior, which is the pinnacle of unique design.
Although there is not much space within the two-seater sports car, every inch has had a stunning amount of attention lavished on it in some manner. There is a “steampunk” feel to the abundance of chrome, switches, toggles, and buttons that surround the occupants of the expensive car and the interior is reminiscent of something you could expect from the cabin of an airplane rather than a sports car.
According to Spyker the interior design of the C8 Preliator should “provide a sense of occasion and a series of surprise and delight moments,” and they follow through on their design concept thoroughly.
Let’s take a closer look at the incredible interior of the Spyker C8 Preliator.
Design Elements And Materials Of The “Cockpit” Of The C8 Preliator
Entering the Spyker C8 Preliator’s interior is something not many can boast of doing with so few of the sports cars produced. The maker is not yet on par with the heavier production rates of competitors like Lamborghini or Bugatti (at least, not yet). If you are lucky enough to venture inside one, though, it begins at the entrance through the unique single-hinged “scissor” doors, which open straight up via hinge points at the bottom of the A-pillar.
Once inside, the car feels more futuristic than most cars with the plethora of switches and toggles, but the colors and materials are lush and timeless. It is a unique feeling combination. The front offers plenty of space and legroom is ample for passengers, but beyond that, there is little additional space. There are no generous cargo areas in this car — instead, it comes equipped with just a 4.3 cubic foot frunk and a very small glove box.
The materials enclosing nearly every surface of the cabin is the highest quality leather, as the company notes that they believe “in using authentic materials of true quality and substance for any area you can see or touch.” They intentionally avoid using plastic in favor of more “pure” materials. Spyker has outfitted the interior of the Preliator with West European first choice bull hide leather that has been through a special tanning process that results in a super-soft and warm, silky feeling.
The leather extends beyond the seat upholstery as well, and is present in the dashboard trim, along the doors, around the steering wheel, on the glove compartment door, and in nearly every place possible to add it in the cabin. The leather is contrast stitched in a lighter shade with an interesting repeating geometric design, and the rich brown of the main color palette provides a great contrast with the abundance of chrome elsewhere in the car.
The dashboard features light and glass as well as the chrome toggles, switches, and gauges to give a sense of a jet fighter cockpit, according to Spyker. Each of the switches and turbine style vents are from solid aluminum blocks for the highest possible quality on each. Even the interior light switches and blinker arm got milled.
Technology And Other Features Of The Preliator Interior
In addition to the beauty of the interior, there is also a large amount of technology and functionality. The company sought to make the car as ergonomic and comfortable as possible and focused on a design that makes sense as well as looking gorgeous. This includes a three-pedal manual transmission on most of the cars sold.
That transmission pairs with a unique shifter with an exposed gear linkage, which many have noted feels even better than a traditional gated manual and has a more reassuring feel and better feedback. The shifter is very tactile and is solid metal as well. Spyker has noted that they feel a manual transmission is the best way to interact with a sports car and engage with one.
The switches are not only high quality and beautiful, but also serve as main function controls for the car. The start and stop ignition switch is beneath a flip up cover and gets flipped before the ignition button gets pressed, and the other switches control such functions as lighting and customizable features within the car. The dials are also functional but beautiful and are available in Chronoswiss as an upgrade as well, and the dashboard lights up as a part of the “aircraft” feeling of the ride.
Technology is not absent in the steampunk styled car, either. There is a modern multifunctional head-up display with satellite navigation located directly in the eyesight of the driver, and the integrated gauge cluster sits above the dashboard in a manner that gives the driver the perspective that it is somewhat floating in their eye line.
Interestingly, infotainment is not really a part of the interior of the Preliator. Beyond the head-up display, the car does have connectivity to Bluetooth and Apple, but is incompatible with Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. It does come with a digital radio paired with a 300-watt amplifier which plays through aluminum finished speakers, though.
Although lacking some creature comforts that we have come to expect in sports cars, the Spyker C8 Preliator is stunning in other ways. Its interior is the height of luxury material and edgy with chrome accents everywhere, staying true to the maker’s sense of style. The unique set of switches, toggles, and dials make the car interesting and the shifter makes it a joy to drive and overall the interior is incredible on this super rare car.