Spyker spawns a super SUV

Witness the latest entrant: the Spyker D12 Peking-Paris, served up by a niche Dutch manufacturer whose miniscule annual production output hardly qualifies it as a major global player.

That's not to say the company doesn't have an illustrious past. You see, the D12 Peking-Paris is badged in honour of the tortuous rally in which an original Spyker came second in 1907.

In recent times, the marque has trundled out a series of uber sports cars -- such as the Spyker C8 Spyder, Laviolette and Double12 and C12 LaTurbie -- targeted at snooty buyers seeking ultra-exclusivity.

In the same vein comes the D12 Peking-Paris, which is ostensibly pitched at those who think Porsche's Cayenne is just a little too common for their tastes. The asking price, in case you're interested, is in the half-mill bracket (yes, that's half a million dollars).

Billed as an SSUV (Super SUV), the D12 does come armed with some impressive credentials. It's powered by a 373kW (or 500 horsepower, for imperial chaps) version of Volkswagen's 6.0-litre W12 engine, sourced from the VW Phaeton limo. The massive engine is hooked up to a six-speed auto with F1-style paddle shifters mounted behind the steering wheel.

The offbeat-looking fourbie features suicide doors -- a la Mazda RX-8 -- and is fabricated largely from aluminium, which means its weight is a relatively sprightly (for an SUV) 1895kg. The result, according to Spyker, is a claimed 0-100km/h dash in a supercar-like 5.0sec and a top whack of 295km/h, which might be rather handy if you live in NT.

Its gaping-mouthed styling might not be to everyone's liking, but the D12's engineering appears to be top-notch, and the sumptuous interior -- with an aircraft-style cockpit -- is a visual treat.

The vehicle rides on massive 24-inch Aeroblade wheels and measures nearly five metres long and two metres wide, so it sure as hell ain't no minnow. Fuel tank capacity is 100 litres, but we're guessing the thumping 6.0-litre engine makes short work of its contents.

Spyker says the D12 will go on sale in 2007, with cashed-up customers in the Middle East, US and China expected to account for the vast majority of sales. Don't expect to see any lob on Oz roads, though, as Spyker has said nothing at this stage about a right-hand drive version.