Hispano Suiza is back – and it's brought over 1,000hp
The Hispano Suiza name made its 21st century comeback in 2019 with its limited-run all-electric grand tourer: Carmen. Now the Barcelona-based firm return with the similar, but improved Carmen Boulogne.
Five special edition, tailor-made Boulogne models will complement fourteen Carmen, for a production total of nineteen. The Boulogne moniker pays tribute to three consecutive George Boillot Cup victories achieved by Hispano Suiza between 1921 and 1923. The 3.5-hour endurance race on the roads around the French town of Boulogne was won by a performance-focused version of the company’s H6 Coupé with drivers André Dubonnet, Paul Bablot and Léonce Garnier. The firm responsible for bringing the Hispano Suiza name back – Grup Peralada – have drawn inspiration from this history and claim to channel this motorsport spirit into the new Carmen Boulogne.
On paper the figures match the legacy. The Carmen Boulogne takes 2.6 seconds to reach 62mph and tops out at 180mph. Development of the all-electric powertrain has yielded a boost of 94bhp, sending a total of 1,114PS (1,099bhp) to the rear wheels. Mainly thanks to a longer-ratio gearbox, a new silicon carbide transistor but also a host of Formula E tech courtesy of a partnership with QEV Technologies. Two 410kW permanent-magnet synchronous motors – aided by sophisticated torque vectoring tech – can deliver a maximum torque of 1,600Nm all the way up to 6,500rpm.
Despite these crazy figures, the creators of the Carmen Boulogne emphasise its driver-focused dynamic and claim it will display exceptional handling whilst remaining “predictable and easy to drive”.
The carbon-fibre tub has been whittled down where possible and the optimisation of the double wishbone suspension setup and carbon roof have contributed to a 60kg weight saving over the 2019 Carmen concept. Though it is claimed this focus on lightness does not sacrifice rigidity: The Carmen’s stiffness-to-mass ratio is said to be better than any hypercar competitor. The Carmen Boulogne still tips the scales at 1,630kg total.
Its streamlined form returns a drag coefficient lower than Porsche’s 918 Spyder, Koenigsegg's Agera R and Ferrari's F12 whilst high-speed aerodynamic lift is reduced with the jutting front splitter, flat floor and rear diffuser.
The high-energy battery is said to take 30 minutes to charge 30%-80% with a fast-charger with a predicted range of 250 miles. It also doubles as a tuned mass damper that enhances stability and reduces vibrations.
The Hispano Suiza Carmen Boulogne will be available for order from 2022 and will cost from €1.65m (plus taxes).
Hispano Suiza
Carmen Boulogne
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