Hispano Suiza is returning to our lives with an
all-new full-electric luxury grand tourer named Carmen, set to debut a the
Geneva Motor Show. The iconic Spanish brand has released a teaser image of their new model,
showing its carbon monocoque chassis. Hispano Suiza says it’s a hand-laid,
“super-stiff” carbon chassis that will provide “the foundation for the car’s
exceptional luxury, comfort, innovation and attention to detail”.
Named after Carmen Mateu -the granddaughter of
Hispano Suiza’s founder- the new electric grand tourer is developed by the
company’s production partner QEV Technologies, which is also going to build the
car and its electric powertrain in their Barcelona-based facilities. As for its design, the revived
Spanish brand says that Carmen is inspired by the 1938 Dubonnet Xenia, a
streamlined luxury coupe with a gorgeous bodywork.
QEV Technologies specialize in motorsport with
Campos Racing and Mahindra Formula-E racing, while it’s also the European
R&D facility for the Chinese brand BAIC. Hispano Suiza has a long history
in the car industry, having produced more than 12,000 luxury vehicles between
1904 and 1946, as well as 50,000 aeroplane engines. The company is still owned
by the same family since its original launch, with Miguel Suqué Mateu – the
great grandson of Hispano Suiza’s founder acting as President.
Hispano Suiza is part of Peralada Group, which
features a global portfolio of casinos, restaurants, hotels and more The
company’s headquarters, technical center, and manufacturing facility is also in
Barcelona, Spain.
