Tucked away in hall 6 was a rare event at Birmingham motor show - a world unveiling in the true sense. Spyker of the Netherlands lifted the wraps on its £150,000 C8 Spyder which, it said, attracted 15 worldwide orders unseen.

The aluminium-bodied C8 Spyder uses Audi's 4.2-litre, 400bhp V8 and six-speed gearbox. It has evolved from initial drawing to the first prototype model built at Coventry in just over seven months.

Chairman Victor Muller said production of 10 of the first hand-built cars planned for 2001 would begin in the Netherlands in June. The company expected to build 25 in 2002 with Coventry Prototype Panels continuing to manufacture the bodies.

Spyker, with two orders from Britons, is building a GT3 coupe to be produced for sale and, Mr Muller hopes, will compete in the 2001 Le Mans 24-hour race.