|
Brief History Spyker
In 1898 two brothers, Jacobus and Hendrik-Jan Spijker, coachbuilders in Amsterdam, built their first Benz-engined motorcar with which they won immediate acclaim for the craftsmanship of their bodywork. In the same year Spijker built the famous golden state coach, still in use today, to commemorate the forthcoming coronation of the Dutch queen, Wilhelmina. This was the turning point in their business career: from that moment on the Spijker brothers committed their company fully to the production of motorcars. The business name was changed to Spyker, for easier recognition in foreign markets.
In 1903 Spyker introduced the extremely advanced 60/80 HP. It was the first car with a six-cylinder engine as well as permanent four-wheel drive and four-wheel brakes. In the same period Spyker introduced its patented ‘dust shield chassis,’ a chassis fitted with a streamlined under tray that prevented the car from making dust on unpaved roads.
Spyker’s image was further enhanced when in 1907 a privately entered standard model Spyker 14/18HP Tourer became legendary after successfully competing in the famous gruelling Peking to Paris raid, taking second place. It was innovations as these that characterized the Spyker cars that quickly became famous for their quality and the ruggedness of their engineering. The Spyker models, with their characteristic circular radiators were especially successful in the Dutch East Indies and in Britain, where Spyker became known as ‘the Rolls Royce of the continent’.
In the period preceding World War 1, a worldwide slump in the luxury car market meant that Spyker had to diversify its production and merged with the Dutch Aircraft Factory N.V. the company started developing and building fighter aircraft.
During the war, Spyker built around 100 fighter aircraft and 200 aircraft engines, both of its own design. In 1915 the company introduced the slogan still being used today: ‘Nulla tenaci invia est via: ‘For the tenacious no road is impassable’. Along with the slogan came a new logo, featuring a spoke wheel with a horizontal propeller across.
After the war Spyker resumed car production. True to its motto, Spyker continued building record-breaking cars. Most famous of these is the Spyker C4. It had a special engine, built by the famous German engineer Wilhelm Maybach. It had a double ignition system with Bosch high-tension magneto and battery-coil ignition with two spark plugs per cylinder.
The Spyker C4 was a powerful, dependable and luxurious car. In 1921, a standard C4 (chassis number C41, engine number 3201) established a new endurance record, driving continuously for 36 days and covering a distance of 30,000 kilometers. This car was called the “Tenax”. Later on it was bought by the Dutch nobleman Hugo Baron van Pallandt who, with this car, won the first prize in the hill climb of the Mont de la Turbie near Monte Carlo in March 1922. The Spyker C12 LaTurbie owes its name to this sporting success. Also in 1922, the famous British driver Selwyn Edge broke the Brookland’s Double-Twelve speed record, clocking an average speed of 119 km/h.
In 1925, the Spyker Company ceased trading, but its name has never been forgotten. Spyker became an icon, a brand name that stands for technologically advanced, exotic and dependable cars. That heritage has been passed over to the new Spyker company and its cars.
Since October 2000 when the Spyker C8 Spyder was unveiled at the Birmingham Motor Show, Spyker has established a strong foothold in the super car market niche. Hand-built in the best tradition of the traditional Spykers by the most dedicated craftsmen of our time using the very best materials available. Created with passion for the most passionate of drivers.
The Spyker C8 Spyder won instant acclaim and was awarded the 2000 Institute of Vehicle Engineers Design Award on 18 October 2000. The Spyker C8 Laviolette, a coupe reminiscent of modern jet fighters made its debut during the Amsterdam Motor Show in February 2001.
Subsequently the Spyker C8 Double12 R, Spyker’s Le Mans endurance racer, was launched during the IAA in Frankfurt in September 2001 with which Spyker participated in the 2002 and 2003 edition of the 24 hours of Le Mans. The street version of the Spyker C8 Double12, the so called ‘S’, was unveiled at the Birmingham Motor Show in October 2002.
In the meantime countless other concourses d’elegance and events were attended in Europe and the USA. The Spyker C8 Spyder T, a twin turbo variant of its C8 Spyder was presented at the IAA in Frankfurt in September 2003.
In the 24 Hours of Le Mans 2003 Spyker won its first victory: finishing 10th in class and 30th overall.
In May 2004 Spyker went public by means of an initial public offering (IPO): on 27 May 2004 the company was listed at the Amsterdam Stock Exchange (ticker symbol SPYKR) Euronext Amsterdam.
Spyker was recognized as a National and Mobile Heritage by the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science on 23 September 2004.
On March 1, 2005 Spyker announced that it had obtained approval for its C8 short wheel base models in the USA by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Subsequently, on June 30, 2005, Spyker announced that it had obtained the necessary waivers by NHTSA for the last waiver applications. With this final approval, these models are now fully US road legal.
The Spyker C12 LaTurbie made its worldwide debut during the Geneva Motor Show in March 2005. It will be the first Spyker powered by the 6.0 litre W12 Audi engine.
On 24 March 2005 Spyker announced its production agreement with Wilhelm Karmann GmbH of Osnabruck, Germany for the production of chassis and bodies in white.
A Spyker C8 Laviolette (chassis number 015) obtained a leading role in the major motion picture Basic Instinct 2: Risk Addiction. Filming started in May 2005. The release is scheduled for March 2006.
On 18 and 19 June 2005, Spyker Cars participated in the 24-hour Le Mans race with one Spyker C8 Spyder GT2R (chassis number 046). The car retired with a broken oil line after 7½ hours in the 36th position overall.
On September 4, 2005, the Spyker C8 Spyder GT2R (chassis number 046) won a major victory and a podium place, finishing second in its class (LMGT) during the LMES 1000km of Nürburgring, Germany. On November 18, 2005, the same Spyker C8 Spyder GT2R won its second podium place, finishing second in its class (GT2) in Dubai during a FIA GT race.
Company Profile Koga Koga B.V. was founded in 1974. The name Koga was formed by combining the name of its founder, Mr. Andries Gaastra with his wife’s maiden name Kowallik. From the beginning the company’s philosophy has been: to develop and manufacture hand-made, exclusive Koga-Miyata bicycles of the technically highest quality, always fitted with the most innovative equipment. Racing bikes have been built since 1974, touring bikes since 1978 and hybrid bikes since 1982. Since 1976 development and production have been based at its present location in Heerenveen, Netherlands. Koga introduced the first Mountainbike in Western Europe (1987) and the first folding full-suspension tandem of the world (2004).
In 1977 export to Germany began via a network of selected dealers which was later extended to Belgium and Luxemburg, Scandinavia, Switzerland, Austria, Great Britain and the USA. As a premium brand with sporting pedigree Koga B.V. has enjoyed a long and successful record of sponsorship of athletes and teams in cycle sport at a national and international level: in the Tour de France (Alpe d’Huez, Peter Winnen, 1982) and numerous national and world championships (including Leontien Zijlaard-van Moorsel). Olympic Gold and Silver medals were won on Kogas (2000 und 2004, Leontien Zijlaard-van Moorsel, Theo Bos and Franco Marvulli). The workforce grew steadily from 12 employees in 1976 to 35 in 1987, 60 in 1996 and expanding to the current 80-odd today. Since 1998 Koga B.V. has been part of the publicly listed Holding Accell Group N.V.
Product portfolio Koga produces a range of exclusively high-end bicycles, consisting of around 60 different models. The product range includes racing bikes (including professional race models), comfort cycles, city bikes, touring bikes, lightweight hybrids, tandems, folding bikes and the very special 'Chela' cycle trailer.
Accell Group N.V. Accell Group N.V. is a publicly listed European group of companies active in the areas of development, production, marketing and distribution of cycles, cycle accessories and fitness equipment. Accell Group N.V. is, with an annual turnover of around 800,000 bicycles, the second-largest cycle company group in Europe. Brands belonging to the Accell Group include Batavus, Juncker, Hercules, Koga-Miyata, Kronan, Lapierre, Loekie, Mercier, Sparta, Staiger, Tunturi and Winora. (www.accell-group.com)
Sports sponsorship As a premium brand with a sporting outlook Koga has nurtured long and close relationships with top athletes and professional teams in (inter)national cycle sport. Peter Winnen was the first Dutch rider to win a stage of the Tour de France (Alpe d’Huez, 1982). Olympic Gold and Silver then followed in 2004 for Theo Bos and Franco Marvulli (Switzerland). The phenomenal athlete Leontien Zijlaard-van Moorsel won multiple Olympic Gold and Silver in both 2000 and 2004 both on the road and in track events, as well as numerous national titles and world records in almost every cycling discipline - all on Koga-Miyatas. This makes her the most successful female athlete of all time. The round-the-world cyclist from the Tirol, Tilmann Waldthaler, is also a Koga partner, and with 500.000km under his wheels is the most experienced long-distance touring cyclist in the world.
|
