After seeing the Spyker C8 Preliator at both the Geneva and New York Auto Shows, we can honestly state that it's gorgeous. However, Spyker didn't make the trip to the Big Apple just for publicity as the automaker used the car's North American debut to reveal the model's pricing, which starts at $354,900. That's a significant chunk of change more than the outgoing C8 Alieron, priced at roughly $200K. What's more, the C8 Preliator's price tag puts it into the same category as bona fide supercars.

The C8 Preliator will be a tough sell in the US for many reasons, which include its performance, confusing luxury status and, of course, daunting price tag. While the Preliator has a mid-engined layout, the supercar's Audi-sourced 4.2-liter supercharged V8 only makes 518 hp. While a zero to 62 mph time of 3.7 seconds and a top speed of 200 mph would surely please the majority of people, these figures are dwarfed by the Lamborghini Aventador and even the Ferrari F12 Berlinetta. But the Preliator is more than just a supercar. It's a luxurious machine with hand-crafted touches. There's a problem there too, as cars from Rolls-Royce and Bentley are much more luxurious and have similar performance.

All of this puts the Preliator is an awkward position. But Holland's supercar does have one thing going for it, however, as only 50 units will be built. At $354,000, the Preliator will be a lot of money, but we think it's definitely worth it. It may not be as fast or luxurious as other insanely priced cars, but it's an exquisitely crafted supercar that can't be replicated. Plus, the individuals that can actually afford this moving piece of art probably don't care about these quibbles. Read our interview with Spyker CEO Victor Muller to see why the future of the Dutch carmaker is looking bright.