Hispano Suiza isn’t exactly a household name, but
that hasn’t stopped two different companies from reviving the brand in Geneva. This particular model comes from
Hispano Suiza Cars and it’s a retro-inspired coupe called the Carmen. Drawing
inspiration from the 1938 Hispano Suiza H6C Dubonnet Xenia, that was
commissioned by World War One fighter pilot André Dubonnet, the Carmen has an
aggressive front fascia with a prominent grille that is flanked by sporty air
intakes. The model has also been equipped with a carbon fiber splitter and
semi-circular headlights.
The sporty styling continues further back as the
Carmen has a ventilated hood and covered rear wheels which pay tribute to the
original H6C Dubonnet Xenia. Speaking of the rear, it’s particularly
eye-catching as it features a massive diffuser, three dimensional taillights
and retro-inspired bodywork.
Moving inside, the model has carbon composite seats, leather and
Alcantara upholstery as well as wood trim. We can also expect an analogue
clock, toggle switches, machined aluminum accents and a triangular gear
selector inspired by previous Hispano Suiza models.
Despite the old school styling, there’s modern
convenience features including a wireless smartphone charger and LED ambient
lighting. Drivers will also find a 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system
with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility.
The modern touches extend beneath the skin as the
Carmen rides on a carbon fiber monocoque chassis and features an electric
powertrain. Two electric motors power the rear wheels and they give the car a
combined output of 1,005 hp. This enables the model to
accelerate from 0-100 km/h in less than three seconds and hit a
limited top speed of 250 km/h.
Motivation is provided by an 80 kWh battery pack,
although a 105 kWh unit might be available at launch. If that happens, the
Carmen could travel more than 400 km on a single charge. Hispano Suiza is currently
accepting orders and pricing starts at US$ 1.7 million. Only 19
units will be available and the first delivers will begin in June of 2020.
