NORFOLK, England � Lotus and Dutch exotic-car maker Spyker announced on Tuesday that they have signed an agreement to share parts and platforms. As part of the deal, Lotus will provide unspecified "certain parts" for Spyker's second-generation C8 Aileron supercar, which debuted at the 2008 Geneva Auto Show.
The agreement also includes "a concept design and engineering agreement relating to all of Spyker's future models," said Lotus in a statement on its Web site. Details about parts and platforms were sketchy and left observers wondering exactly what the two disparate marques could share.
"Spyker and Lotus have now come to the conclusion that they need to intensify their cooperation to the point that we intend to share parts and platforms, as well as an agreement on the supply of parts," said Victor R. Muller, Spyker Cars CEO. "Moreover, Lotus Engineering has become Spyker's preferred subcontractor in respect to a number of engineering projects relating to the Spyker C8 Aileron and the Spyker D8 Peking-to-Paris."
For its part, Lotus said the setup with Spyker would expand its "global business opportunities, projects and interests."
The Dutch firm's second-generation C8 Aileron uses a 4.2-liter V8 from Audi's parts shelf and starts at $312,390.
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