In recent years, defunct automotive brands such as DeTomaso and Healey have seen a revival as a limited production run of bespoke, high end cars for the ultra-rich.
Following that trend is Hispano-Suiza, the Spanish automotive brand that built luxury cars from 1904-1938. A group of investors sought to revive the brand in 2019 with a new vehicle called the Carmen, which debuted at the Geneva Motor Show. The name comes from the granddaughter of one of the founders of the original company.
The Carmen is an all-electric hypercar that is positioned alongside competitors such as the Lotus Evija and the Rimac Nevera.
Powered by two electric motor producing a combined 1,005 horsepower (750 KW), the Carmen propels from 0-62 mph in under 3.0 seconds. The car has an 80 kilowatt-hour, liquid-cooled battery pack arranged in a T-shape, which also acts as a tuned mass damper to provide stability and reduce vibration. This gives the car a range of 400 km or 248 miles.
The Carmen is limited to 19 units and carries a base price of $1.7 million USD.
In 2021, Hispano-Suiza announced an even more extreme version called the Carmen Boulogne. The Boulogne is limited to just 5 units and carries a base price of $1.9 million USD.
The Boulogne includes two additional electric motors, bumping the power output to 1,114 horsepower (820 KW) and a top speed of 180 mph.
I saw Chassis No. 1 of the Boulogne on display at the Hispano Suiza booth during The Quail Automotive Gathering in Monterey on 19 August 2022.
The car is eye-catching with its purple-tinted carbon fiber bodywork glistening under the California sun. The coupe body tapers back to a boattail shape in the rear, with pronounced front and rear fenders extending outward from the monocoque body.
The Carmen Boulogne seamlessly blends old-world craftsmanship and luxury with the latest in modern technology.
The white leather interior boasts diamond-quilted patterns on the seats and center console with purple accented stitching to match the car’s exterior. Driver information is delivered via two large LCD screens, one behind the wheel and the other in the center console.
For a lucky few owners, the Hispano Suiza Carmen Boulogne would be the centerpiece of any automotive collection.
