Spyker B6 Venator originally appeared at 2013 Geneva Auto Show, followed by a Spyder version at Pebble Beach last August. Since then, Spyker has been working hard readying the Venator for a spring 2015 launch and an end-of-year production date. When that time rolls around, these images show what it will look like.
Judging by the renderings from the concept examples seen at Pebble Beach and Geneva, the production B6 Venator’s foglamps have been toned down from their original mesh-encircled, wild corners. We welcome the change! The bonnet sports some cooling vents, presumably deemed necessary from testing, and the token reflectors are on, rear and front. At the rear, the diffuser has been simplified; however we are tickled to see that the exhausts are still engraved with Spyker’s Latin motto: “Nulla tenaci invia est via,” or “for the tenacious, no road is impassable.”
Victor Muller, Chief Executive Officer at Spyker said: “The Venator design was inspired by Spyker’s aviation heritage in every aspect.” It’s easy to tell that the taillamps are like the afterburners on a Boeing F/A-18E Super Hornet, the wheels are turbine style and all-glass interior is an obvious aviation signifier – a popular look on high end luxury vehicles, if say, Jaguar is to be believed. According to Muller, the sharp, swooping crease, which defines the sides should recall the 1919 Spyker C1 Aerocoque and its outrageously delicate fenders are an experimental furthering of C1, which Spyker first started building in 1916. Just one C1 survives in Australia. As far as we can tell, only images of Aerocoque live on.
At Pebble Beach, Victor said that the Venator would be in production by the end of the year. “Nothing’s changed”. “First preproduction cars are being built right now. By the end of 2014, we will be in a position to put it into production. We will not build them in our own plants. We can’t say which one, but it will be a large one.” The B6 Venator is rumored to have a 3.5 liter supercharged V6 mounted amidships that’s rated at 345 horsepower – the same engine, which powers the Lotus Evora. Whether the chassis has also been breathed upon by the boys from Hethel remains to be seen!
