BARCELONA: Hispano-Suiza is paying homage to its motorsport history with a hardcore version of the all-electric Carmen Boulogne hypercar which first grabbed attention at last year’s Geneva Motor Show.
Most car buffs will not know this but the Boulogne tag dates back nearly a hundred years to 1921.
That was when Spanish car maker-turned French aviation engine manufacturer Hispano Suiza made a racing version of its H6 Coupe for the George Boillot Cup, an endurance race lasting some 3.5 hours around the French city of Boulogne.
With the obscure name, Hispano-Suiza is mirroring Bugatti which has a habit of naming its limited edition cars after racing drivers whom hardly anyone had heard of previously.
The Carmen Boulogne’s numbers are however impressive and only five of these cars will be made. Prices start from a ridiculous €1.65 million (RM8.1mil) excluding local taxes and each car takes around 12 months to build.
The hypercar’s bodywork is made of carbon fibre, visible under a clear varnish. The Carmen Boulogne has the same semi-circular headlights and aggressive “scowl” look as the regular model, with a stand-out copper-coloureddummy front grille.
The Boulogne delivers a whacking 1,114bhp, up from 1,005 bhp in the regular Carmen model. Unlike most electric hypercars it is rear-wheel-drive only.
Acceleration is suitably scorching, with 100km coming up from a standing start in just under 2.6 seconds. The Boulogne tops out at 290kph.
Urge comes from permanent-magnet synchronous engines, two on each rear wheel. The 80kWh lithium-ion battery pack should be good for a claimed 400km of range.
The batteries are designed and produced in-house, including a complete temperature control system to ensure that the cells can operate optimally. The sleek interior features suede or black Alcantara on the bulkhead and door panels.
Keyword: All-electric Carmen hypercar harks back to Hispano Suiza's glory days