Hispano Suiza Cars has detailed the Carmen, ahead of its debut in Geneva.
Not to be confused with Hispano Suiza Automobile’s Maguari HS1 GTC, which is another same-named company also having their debut in Geneva, the Carmen is an electric grand tourer that combines “hypercar performance with exquisite luxury, painstaking craftsmanship and meticulous attention” to detail.
The latest teaser image isn’t very revealing, but the company says the model is heavily influenced by the 1938 Hispano Suiza H6C Dubonnet Xenia which was commissioned by World War One fighter pilot André Dubonnet. Given his background in aviation, Dubonnet was interested in aerodynamics and this played in an important role in the styling of his car.
The same inspiration can be seen in the Carmen as Hispano Suiza says the vehicle will have an “aerodynamic teardrop profile” that has been modernized for the 2020’s. While only one new picture was released, the automaker said the Carmen will also have a trapezoidal chrome grille, circular headlights and a “floating” front splitter. We can also expect a drag coefficient of 0.325.
Once the scissor doors are opened, drivers will find an upscale interior the pays tribute to classic Hispano Suiza models. The company says old school touches include an analogue clock, wood veneers and toggle switchgear. There will also be machined aluminum and a triangular gear selector that references the “art deco steel triangle” used on a number of classic models.
The interior isn’t all retro as there will be two carbon composite seats which are covered in leather and Alcantara upholstery. Other modern touches including LED ambient lighting, a wireless smartphone charger and a 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.
Electric power and lots, lots of it
The Carmen has two electric motors and each one powers a rear wheel. This setup gives the model a combined output of 1,005 hp (750 kW / 1,019 PS). This should enable the car to accelerate from 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) in less than three seconds before hitting a limited top speed of 155 mph (250 km/h).
Electricity comes from an 80 kWh battery pack but, by the time production commences, the car could offer a capacity of up to 105 kWh. This could enable the model to travel more than 248 miles (400 km) on a single charge.
Despite being an electric vehicle, the Carmen is pretty light as it uses a carbon fiber monocoque chassis that only weighs 430 lbs (195 kg). This helps the car to tip the scales at 3,725 lbs (1,690 kg).
Only 19 will be made
Production will be apparently be limited to 19 units and pricing starts at $1.7 (£1.2 / €1.5) million. The company is currently accepting orders the first deliveries are slated to begin in June of 2020.
A tale of Hispano Suiza brands in Geneva
In what will make for a complicated and awkward meetup at the Geneva motor show floors, the Hispano Suiza brand name is being resurrected by not one, but two separate companies. The builder of the Carmen seen here is a company called “Hispano Suiza Cars”, while the other one that is showcasing the Maguari, is “Hispano Suiza Automobile Manufaktur AG”.
