Despite Spyker’s management reshuffles and purchase of Saab, the Dutch sports car company remains confident of launching several new models of its own in coming years. Already we’ve seen the introduction of the long-wheelbase C8 Aileron and C8 Aileron Spyder, but soon we may be able to add a new ‘Super Sport Utility Vehicle’ (SSUV for short) to that list in the form of the production version of 2006’s D12 Peking-to-Paris concept car.
Speaking at this week’s 2010 Geneva Motor Show, Spyker CEO Victor Muller explained that development would now be accelerated using technology and engineering know-how borrowed from Saab.
With this latest model, Spyker will be focusing on the East European market for the first time, as well emerging markets like China and the Middle East. Many of the roads in these markets are often in poor condition and nearly impossible to navigate with low-slung supercars, thus buyers have been demanding performance vehicles with offroad capability. One of the key reasons we’ve seen vehicles like the new X6 and the more recent Aston Martin Lagonda Concept.
Not much is known about Spyker’s new SSUV but designers have reportedly decided to change the originally planned powerplant from a Volkswagen-sourced 6.0-liter W-12 engine to something from America--with GM’s LS line of V-8s most likely on the cards, hence a possible name change to D8.
[Autocar]
