• Hispano Suiza marks its 120th anniversary with the world premiere of the Sagrera, the third hypercar in the Carmen range.
• The Sagrera boasts an updated design, featuring a large stork-wing shaped rear spoiler and new interiors that redefine the Gentleman Driver concept.
• Equipped with second generation 103kWh batterie, the Carmen Sagrera offers a driving range of up to 480 km (WLTP).

Barcelona, 13 june 2024. Hispano Suiza has unveiled the Carmen Sagrera, the third model in its range of electric hypercars, celebrating the brand’s 120th anniversary. This new hypercar features an updated design, enhanced performance, and a new 103 kWh battery.

The new model was presented at Finca Mas Solers in celebration of the company’s 120th anniversary. The event brought together the Hispano Suiza team, media, ambassadors, customers, and friends of the brand. According to Miguel Suqué, President of Hispano Suiza, “There is no doubt that we still maintain the pioneering spirit that characterised my great-grandfather Damiàn Mateu and his inseparable friend and business partner Marc Birkigt 120 years ago. This is a story of people, of cars, and of numbers, of course. But above all, it is about people who work as a team and love a unique and challenging project—a project with a lot of soul.”

The CEO of Hispano Suiza, Sergio Martínez Campos emphasised that “with the Sagrera we are consolidating in style the Carmen range that was born in 2019. We are very proud of what we have achieved in just five years. This 2024 is the year of acceleration in which we are going to conquer key markets for us such as the United States, we will complete the European homologation and, of course, it is a year to celebrate our legacy.”

A light and dance show by internationally renowned dancer Sol Picó introduced the new Hispano Suiza Carmen Sagrera, driven on stage by development driver and brand ambassador Luis Pérez Sala. The performance’s ‘leitmotif’ was the oriental legend of the red thread, which suggests that certain encounters are predestined.

The re-evolution of electrical technology

The Hispano Suiza Carmen Sagrera incorporates the brand’s second generation of batteries, with a total capacity of 103 kWh. As the brand’s Technical Director Juan Fernández pointed out, “this technology has been developed and manufactured 100% at the Hispano Suiza facilities in Montmeló, Barcelona.”

The new battery is improved in all key aspects, with the adaptation of new state-of-the-art lithium-ion cell packs: there are 15 modules of 24 cells each, 360 in total. It weighs just 612 kg and can operate at a maximum voltage of over 750VDC.

The battery capacity has been increased from 80 kWh to 103 kWh, enhancing energy density by allowing more energy to be stored within the same volume. This upgrade extends the driving range by approximately 100 km, bringing the total range to 480 km according to the WLTP cycle.

In addition to the new cells, the Carmen Sagrera features an improved cooling system that is lighter, less complex, and made from more sustainable materials. According to Fernández, “this results in more effective temperature control and lower energy consumption.” The battery’s central T-shaped position also improves the car’s weight distribution and dynamic performance.

Hispano Suiza Carmen Sagrera: a declaration of intent

The evolution of the Sagrera’s front-end design boldly embraces its sporty character, with a pointed grille shape paying homage to the luxurious Hispano Suiza Alfonso XIII sports cars of the early 20th century. Redesigned front bonnet vents not only enhance aesthetics but also improve functionality, now flowing seamlessly with the rear ones. New side sills gracefully rise along the car’s profile, complementing the rear panel’s design.

Francesc Arenas, head of design at Hispano Suiza, explains that his team aimed “to uphold the brand’s sporty legacy, drawing inspiration from iconic designs such as the Alfonso XIII and from the original the Gentleman Driver concept. I dare say – he remarks – that with the Sagrera, we have refined the concept of sportiness, while maintaining our tradition of excellence and setting the stage for future designs, fulfilling the desires of our customers”.

The rear-end underwent significant design and aerodynamic changes, highlighted by the addition of a large spoiler resembling stork wings, a tribute to the brand’s logo. This divided spoiler optimizes aerodynamics, seamlessly blending solid-painted side panels with carbon fibre, while the diffuser, integrated with copper accents in Boulogne style, enhances both aerodynamics and design, adding elegance and tradition.

These aerodynamic enhancements significantly increase downforce and grip, improving cornering and lateral acceleration capabilities. Inside, the sporty ambiance continues, with a redesigned centre console and infotainment system, upholstered in alcantara with black and red leather details, emphasising exclusivity and quality.

The multimedia system offers comprehensive connectivity options, with customisable welcome messages for individual users.

For the worldwide reveal, the Sagrera is presented in a Cava Gold tone, chosen for its rich nuances evoking the wine culture ingrained in the Perelada Group’s DNA, owned by the Suqué Mateu family, which also holds Hispano Suiza. A matte finish which varies with the light, a first in the Carmen range, perfectly balances elegance and sportiness.

Performance and technology to match the design

The Sagrera features four 205 kW (around 275 hp) motors, delivering a combined power output of 1,100 hp and 1,160 Nm of torque, with a 0 to 100 km/h time of just 2.6 seconds. The motors are axial-flux permanent magnet and connected in series: two on the left rear wheel and two on the right.

The transmission transfers power to the rear axle and features a virtual self-locking differential, ensuring optimal track performance and efficient torque transfer to the Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S tyres. Developed in collaboration with Michelin’s technical centre, these tyres boast a unique design inspired by the storks and mosaics of legendary Spanish architect Antoni Gaudí, further enhancing the vehicle’s exclusivity.

The Sagrera’s suspension system, designed based on extensive dynamic simulations, delivers racing-level performance. Both axles feature a deformable parallelogram suspension with adjustable shock absorbers for compression and extension settings, along with coil springs adjustable in hardness and height. This setup is complemented by an anti-roll bar linking both sides.

Hispano Suiza’s engineers have crafted lightweight suspension wishbones and axle shafts from a special military-grade material, which is up to eight times stronger than conventional steel. Aerospace and racing-grade bolts ensure bulletproof fastening.

The Sagrera also features an advanced braking system. Single-block brake calipers provide superior rigidity and improved braking feel, while reducing weight by 500 grams. The car is equipped with 400mm carboceramic discs on both axles, capable of withstanding the intense braking demands of racetrack conditions and extended runs without fatigue. Enhanced cooling improves the system’s performance, allowing it to operate at temperatures up to 1,000 degrees Celsius.

A stiffer pedal board offering increased grip, along with specific steering adjustments, completes the upgraded braking system, delivering 5% more braking power for the new Sagrera.

Goodwood Festival of Speed, Sagrera’s next event

Following its worldwide premiere, the Hispano Suiza Carmen Sagrera will travel to the UK for its dynamic debut on the iconic hillclimb at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in mid-July.

About Hispano Suiza:

Hispano Suiza is a historic Spanish automobile brand owned by four generations of the Suqué Mateu family. Hispano Suiza Fábrica de Automóviles S.A. was founded in Barcelona in 1904 by Damián Mateu, with the help of technical director and engineer Marc Birkigt, also a partner in the company. In 2024 it celebrates 120 years of history, being one of the brands with the greatest legacy in the history of the automobile industry.

Between 1904 and 1946, Hispano Suiza produced more than 12,000 high-performance luxury vehicles and 50,000 aircraft engines. In 2019, the brand unveiled the Hispano Suiza Carmen, its 100% electric ‘Hypercar’, and a year later, it would up the ante with the Hispano Suiza Carmen Boulogne. This 2024, the Carmen Sagrera completes the range of electric hypercars redefining the Gentleman Driver concept and marking the future design line of the brand. A total of 24 exclusive and limited units.

120 years later, and following in the footsteps of the successful Hispano Suiza, the great-grandson of the founder Miguel Suqué Mateu continues to preserve the brand, providing impetus and dynamism with a clear vocation for the future and permanence.

Press contact:

For more information about Hispano Suiza, please contact the press office: press@hispanosuizacars.com

• The Hispano Suiza Carmen Sagrera will make its global debut on June 13th , coinciding with the brand’s 120th anniversary.
• Finca Mas Solers in Sant Pere de Ribes will host the presentation of the hypercar that will complete the Carmen range.
• The instant connection that emerges from the Japanese legend of the red thread will be the leitmotiv of the event.

Barcelona, April 18th, 2024. – A Japanese legend says that there is an invisible red thread that unites people destined to be together. This thread can stretch, shrink and even tangle, but it never breaks. Although they may be separated by distance, time or circumstances, this thread will always keep them united and will eventually lead them to find each other and finally be together.

In 1904, Hispano Suiza was born from an unpredictable union, an instant connection of two people, Damià Mateu and Marc Birkigt, a businessman and an engineer who had to cross paths, just as if an unknown force had pulled them together. A force that attracted them and kept them united, developing a unique project. 120 years later, the force of the red thread intervenes again.

Hispano Suiza Carmen Sagrera, the result of constant evolution

The Japanese legend of the red thread will be the leitmotiv of the Hispano Suiza Carmen Sagrera launch on June 13th at the Mas Solers estate in Sant Pere de Ribes (Spain). This Renaissance-style mansion from the late 19th century was chosen to launch the Hispano Suiza Carmen Boulogne in 2020, when the pandemic forced the cancellation of the Geneva Motor Show. The red thread will guide every aspect of the experience: from the decoration to the planned activities, each element will be imbued with the idea of ​​universal connection and the inevitability of destiny. All of this in an environment where mystery and the arts will be intertwined with innovation and the excitement of discovering the Hispano Suiza Sagrera.

On a technical level, the Sagrera will incorporate the new 103kW battery and will feature an important evolution in terms of aerodynamics and interior design.

About Hispano Suiza:

Hispano Suiza is a historic Spanish automotive brand currently owned by the fourth generation of the Suqué Mateu family. Hispano Suiza Fábrica de Automóviles S.A. was founded in Barcelona in 1904 by Damián Mateu, with the help of the technical director and engineer Marc Birkigt, also a partner in the company. In 2024 Hispano Suiza will celebrate its 120th anniversary, making it one of the brands with the longest legacy in the history of the automotive industry.

Between 1904 and 1946, Hispano Suiza produced more than 12,000 high-performance luxury cars and 50,000 aircraft engines. In 2019, the brand unveiled the Hispano Suiza Carmen, its fully electric “Hypercar”, and a year later, it would up the ante with the Hispano Suiza Carmen Boulogne. In total there are 24 exclusive and limited units. The first Carmen Boulogne in the United States was delivered in 2022.

120 years later, and following in the wake of the successful Hispano Suiza, the great-grandson of the founder Miguel Suqué Mateu continues to preserve the brand, providing momentum and dynamism with a clear vision for the future of the company.

Press contact:

For more information about Hispano Suiza, please contact the press office: press@hispanosuizacars.com

• The simulator allows visitors to live the experience of driving a Carmen Boulogne, Hispano Suiza’s 100% electric hypercar, on a track that emulates the historic urban racing circuit of Montjuïc (Barcelona).
• The initiative was presented this morning by the CEO of Hispano Suiza, Sergio Martínez Campos and the CEO of MWCapital, Francesc Fajula, who also spoke about the future of the industry and electric vehicles.
• The activity is part of ‘Remember the future’, MWCapital’s proposal at MWC Barcelona, which this year, addresses reindustrialisation to show how technology and innovation are shaping the future of key sectors.

Barcelona, February 28th, 2024.- Mobile World Capital Barcelona and Hispano Suiza presented today, at MWC Barcelona, the first virtual driving simulator that allows you to drive the Carmen Boulogne hypercar along a route that emulates the legendary Montjuïc street circuit.

The initiative was presented at a press conference by the CEO of Hispano Suiza, Sergio Martínez Campos, and the CEO of Mobile World Capital Barcelona, Francesc Fajula. Both have reflected on the future of the industry and electric mobility, its challenges, and advantages, as well as discussing details of the linking of both entities for this unique project.

According to Martínez Campos, “from our first factory, through Sagrera, to our current facilities in Montmeló, Hispano Suiza continues to be a driving force for progress by fostering innovation”. “We are a very unique project – Martínez Campos continues – the only hypercar brand in our country, and we are literally blazing a trail. That is why, as we look to the future, we remain steadfast in our commitment to constant evolution.”

For his part, Francesc Fajula stated that “designing a simulator between MWCapital and Hispano Suiza is a challenge with which we want to bring the mobility of the future closer to the public“. “We wanted to work with a historic benchmark in the automotive sector, Hispano Suiza, to bring together car and technology in a unique driving experience“, concluded Fajula.

The unique experience of driving an electric hypercar

The Carmen Boulogne pays tribute to Hispano Suiza’s motor racing heritage and offers a unique driving experience, which has been reproduced using the latest technologies in this simulator: 820kW (1,114 hp) of power provided by four electric motors (two on each rear wheel), a top speed of 290 km/h (180 mph) and acceleration from 0-100 km/h in under 2.6 seconds.

The simulator, the R&D and engineering work behind the Carmen Boulogne and the role of Hispano Suiza as the seed of the automotive industry in our country were the protagonists of the round table with the participation of the CMO of Hispano Suiza, Victor Cobos, the CIO of Mobile World Capital, Eduard Martín, the former Formula 1 driver and driver ambassador of Hispano Suiza, Luis Pérez Sala, and a test driver of Hispano Suiza, Pablo Suárez.

A journey to the Barcelona of the future through industry 

This experience is part of ‘Remember the future’, MWCapital’s proposal that covers the past, present and future of the sectors that have transformed industry and the economy, and that have placed Barcelona as a global benchmark.   

At MWCapital’s booth at MWC Barcelona, users can see originals of some of the iconic inventions that have transformed the industry over the last century, experience an immersive sensory journey through the four great industrial revolutions (from mechanics to electricity, digital to AI), and participate in four gamified experiences to understand how technology and innovation are shaping the future of four countries. cutting-edge sectors such as health, mobility, fashion and energy. All this, with a focus on a more sustainable, more resilient and more human-centered technology.   

About Mobile World Capital Barcelona 

Mobile World Capital Barcelona is a public-private foundation that promotes the digital development of society to build a more inclusive, equitable and sustainable future through the humanistic use of technology. MWCapital contributes to positioning Barcelona as a global benchmark in the digital field and consolidating MWC’s legacy throughout the year by promoting initiatives in the field of technology transfer, the promotion of digital talent, the development of innovative technological projects with social impact and the generation of knowledge. MWCapital hosts MWC in Barcelona, is the founder of 4YFN and connects citizens with the latest digital trends through Jump2Digital and Tech&Play. 

About Hispano Suiza

Hispano Suiza is a historic Spanish automobile brand owned by four generations of the Suqué Mateu family. Hispano Suiza Fábrica de Automóviles S.A. was founded in Barcelona in 1904 by Damián Mateu, with the help of technical director and engineer Marc Birkigt, also a partner in the company. In 2024 it will be 120 years old, being one of the brands with the longest legacy in the history of the automotive industry.

Between 1904 and 1946, Hispano Suiza produced more than 12,000 high-performance luxury cars and 50,000 aircraft engines. In 2019, the brand unveiled the Hispano Suiza Carmen, its 100 percent electric “Hypercar”, and a year later, it would up the ante with the Hispano Suiza Carmen Boulogne. In total there are 24 exclusive and limited units. The first Carmen Boulogne in the United States was delivered in 2022.

120 years later, and following in the wake of the successful Hispano Suiza, the great-grandson of the founder Miguel Suqué Mateu continues to preserve the brand, providing impetus and dynamism with a clear vocation for the future and permanence.

Press contact:

For more information about Hispano Suiza, please contact the press office: press@hispanosuizacars.com

• Hispano Suiza shows its new hypercar for the first time in 12-second teaser.
• Its large, exposed carbon fibre rear wing is a real statement of intent.
• Sagrera is the third member of Hispano Suiza’s range of hypercars: it will arrive in June 2024 to coincide with the brand’s 120th anniversary.

Barcelona, 19th February 2024. Hispano Suiza has unveiled the first images of its new hypercar, the Carmen Sagrera, in a 12-second teaser video. It will be the third model in the company’s range of all-electric hypercars and is due to be unveiled in mid-2024, to mark the brand’s 120^th anniversary.

The company’s new hypercar, designed by Francesc Arenas, will have a rear end dominated by a large exposed carbon fibre spoiler. This evolution, resulting from the technical team’s expertise – led by CTO Juan Fernández – gives the model an even sportier look, without compromising the hyperlux philosophy, a concept coined by Hispano Suiza when it launched the Carmen back in 2019.

This is in addition to the new 103 kW battery capacity, which will increase the overall driving range.

The new Hispano Suiza Carmen Sagrera expands the range of electrified hypercars and will be the ideal testimony to the 120-year history of the company founded by Damián Mateu and Mark Birkigt in Barcelona in 1904.

Hispano Suiza Carmen Sagrera, a nod to the company’s roots

Sagrera is a nod to Hispano Suiza’s roots: La Sagrera district of Barcelona was in fact the area where the company established its first large production factory.

The growing success of its models forced Hispano Suiza to move to La Sagrera, renowned for its booming industrial activity. In 1907 Hispano Suiza built there its first large factory which allowed the company to increase its production. It was located on Ribas road, where it came to occupy a surface area of 50,000 m² and underwent two extensions to meet the growing market needs, employing 1,800 people.

Watch the new Hispano Suiza Carmen Sagrera teaser on YouTube: https://youtu.be/4O_7KWY7mwU

About Hispano Suiza:

Hispano Suiza is a historic Spanish automotive brand currently owned by the fourth generation of the Suqué Mateu family. Hispano Suiza Fábrica de Automóviles S.A. was founded in Barcelona in 1904 by Damián Mateu, with the help of the technical director and engineer Marc Birkigt, also a partner in the company. In 2024 Hispano Suiza will celebrate its 120^th  anniversary, making it one of the brands with the longest legacy in the history of the automotive industry.

Between 1904 and 1946, Hispano Suiza produced more than 12,000 high-performance luxury cars and 50,000 aircraft engines. In 2019, the brand unveiled the Hispano Suiza Carmen, its fully electric “Hypercar”, and a year later, it would up the ante with the Hispano Suiza Carmen Boulogne. In total there are 24 exclusive and limited units. The first Carmen Boulogne in the United States was delivered in 2022.

120 years later, and following in the wake of the successful Hispano Suiza, the great-grandson of the founder Miguel Suqué Mateu continues to preserve the brand, providing momentum and dynamism with a clear vision for the future of the company.

Press contact:

For more information about Hispano Suiza, please contact the press office: press@hispanosuizacars.com

• Hispano Suiza launches its online boutique: www.hispanosuiza.boutique.
• The brand offers a range of premium products for sale, from clothing to accessories such as sunglasses and even a versatile work briefcase.
• In 2024 a new collection inspired by the new corporate image will be presented.

Barcelona, February 7th, 2024. Hispano Suiza presents its new online boutique, www.hispanosuiza.boutique. The first collection, already available, is a careful selection of products that reflect the values of the brand, and at the same time, allow its followers to proudly wear the stork emblem.

Short-sleeved polo shirts in soft cotton piqué in Cava or Maroon colour; a classic white, French-collared shirt in cotton poplin with embroidered logo on the chest; a warm grey sports jumper with round neck are just some of the items already available in the Hispano Suiza online boutique. The product line is rounded off by a pair of exclusive coffee brown sunglasses and a versatile black briefcase in waterproof fabric, which can hold a laptop up to 15.6″ or tablet up to 10″ and also features a USB charging port.

A new Hispano Suiza Capsule Collection will be launched in mid-2024 and will reflect the brand’s new corporate image launched in April 2023. Hispano Suiza continues to expand its philosophy of experiencing “the pleasure of belonging to something unique” with its exclusive range of clothing and accessories.

About Hispano Suiza:

Hispano Suiza is a historic Spanish automotive brand currently owned by the fourth generation of the Suqué Mateu family. Hispano Suiza Fábrica de Automóviles S.A. was founded in Barcelona in 1904 by Damián Mateu, with the help of the technical director and engineer Marc Birkigt, also a partner in the company. In 2024 Hispano Suiza will celebrate its 120th anniversary, making it one of the brands with the longest legacy in the history of the automotive industry.

Between 1904 and 1946, Hispano Suiza produced more than 12,000 high-performance luxury cars and 50,000 aircraft engines. In 2019, the brand unveiled the Hispano Suiza Carmen, its fully electric “Hypercar”, and a year later, it would up the ante with the Hispano Suiza Carmen Boulogne. In total there are 24 exclusive and limited units. The first Carmen Boulogne in the United States was delivered in 2022.

120 years later, and following in the wake of the successful Hispano Suiza, the great-grandson of the founder Miguel Suqué Mateu continues to preserve the brand, providing momentum and dynamism with a clear vision for the future of the company.

Press contact:

For more information about Hispano Suiza, please contact the press office: press@hispanosuizacars.com

• The evolution of the Hispano Suiza Carmen will be called Sagrera, paying homage to one of the most important Hispano Suiza factories of the 20th century.
• The Sagrera will arrive in 2024, coinciding with the 120th anniversary of the brand.
• This model completes the Hispano Suiza range of hypercars joining the Carmen and the Carmen Boulogne.

Barcelona, 23rd November, 2023. The legend of Hispano Suiza doesn’t stop as the company continues its evolution as a manufacturer of fully electric hypercars. Founded in 1904 and set to celebrate its 120th anniversary next year, Hispano Suiza has revealed the name of its new vehicle: Sagrera. A name that, like Carmen or Boulogne, is deeply rooted in Hispano Suiza’s history. In 1911, pushed by the commercial success of its vehicles, Hispano Suiza moved to ‘La Sagrera’ district of Barcelona, an area renowned for its industrial activity, There it established the company’s first large factory to increase its production. It was located on Ribas road, where it came to occupy a surface area of 50,000 m2 and underwent two extensions to meet the growing market needs. The Hispano Suiza factory employed 1,800 people.

For Miguel Suqué Mateu, president of Hispano Suiza, “La Sagrera played an important role in the history of Hispano Suiza, contributing significantly to our growth as a company. Now, coinciding with our 120th anniversary, the time has come for us to pay tribute to La Sagrera and we will do so by proudly carrying the name of this Barcelona district around the world, thanks to our new hypercar”.

Sagrera, the pleasure of belonging to something unique

On a technical level, the Sagrera will incorporate the new 103kW battery that has already being tested on the Carmen Boulogne and will represent an important evolution in terms of aerodynamics.

About this new version, Sergio Martínez Campos, CEO of Hispano Suiza points out that “it is the result of the constant evolution of the Carmen and the Carmen Boulogne. It also lays the foundations for the design line that the brand will follow in the coming years. I can’t reveal too many details yet, but the Sagrera is here to continue fulfilling our clients’ wishes: they asked us a car like this, and to continue to be unique”.

In short, the Sagrera has been created to keep the legend alive, taking performance, sportiness and passion for luxury to a whole new level.

About Hispano Suiza:

Hispano Suiza is a historic Spanish automotive brand currently owned by the fourth generation of the Suqué Mateu family. Hispano Suiza Fábrica de Automóviles S.A. was founded in Barcelona in 1904 by Damián Mateu, with the help of the technical director and engineer Marc Birkigt, also a partner in the company. In 2024 Hispano Suiza will celebrate its 120th anniversary, making it one of the brands with the longest legacy in the history of the automotive industry.
Between 1904 and 1946, Hispano Suiza produced more than 12,000 high-performance luxury cars and 50,000 aircraft engines. In 2019, the brand unveiled the Hispano Suiza Carmen, its fully electric “Hypercar”, and a year later, it would up the ante with the Hispano Suiza Carmen Boulogne. In total there are 24 exclusive and limited units. The first Carmen Boulogne in the United States was delivered in 2022.
120 years later, and following in the wake of the successful Hispano Suiza, the great-grandson of the founder Miguel Suqué Mateu continues to preserve the brand, providing momentum and dynamism with a clear vision for the future of the company.

Press contact:
For more information about Hispano Suiza, please contact the press office: press@hispanosuizacars.com

Barcelona, 21 December 2021. Hispano Suiza is much more than a car manufacturer, and this has been demonstrated throughout its more than 100 years of history. During this time, Hispano Suiza has become an important part of the Spanish and global automotive industry, creating exclusive, luxurious, reliable and technologically advanced vehicles. These values ​​remain in the new era of the company, which resurfaced in 2019 with the launch of Carmen and Carmen Boulogne, two electric hypercars delivering over 1000 HP which there will only be manufactured 24 units.

During the last century, Hispano Suiza has participated in numerous events, competitions and has also played an important role in the lives of its owners, including Alfonso XIII, King of Spain, who was truly passionate about the brand. This is just one of the almost unknown curiosities about the legendary company. Here is a list of 10 facts you most likely didn’t know about Hispano Suiza.

1 – More than 100 years of history

Hispano Suiza was founded on June 14, 1904 by Damián Mateu together with Francisco Seix and Swiss engineer Marc Birkigt, who had worked for two companies which had preceded Hispano Suiza: La Cuadra and J. Castro. Birkigt’s experience in the industry was key in laying the foundations for Hispano Suiza.

In 1905, Hispano Suiza created their first vehicle, the Armored Type Birkigt System, which was equipped with a four-cylinder engine and 20 CV of power, and which reached a top speed of 87 km/h. It was followed, a year later, by what would be the first car with a six-cylinder engine built in Spain, a model delivering 75 HP of power that completed the Perpignan-to-Paris route in 22 hours, a feat which received great media attention at the time.

2 – Hispano Suiza did not just produce cars throughout its history

During World War I, Hispano Suiza went from producing cars to manufacturing aircraft engines. It was a period of great success for the company: they applied their technological know-how in the manufacture and development of automotive engines to a new field, which brought them great benefits.

Birkigt built an aircraft engine that was based on a racing car engine, following the “direct drive” principle, with a V8 layout and aluminum alloy blocks to reduce weight. Hispano Suiza began to receive numerous orders, so many that they had to sell licenses to other manufacturers in France, the United Kingdom, the United States, Italy, Japan and even Russia… In total, more than 50,000 Hispano Suiza engines were built.

Hispano Suiza aviation engines also found their place at sea. The most spectacular engine, a V12 delivering 1,300 HP, was mounted on a series of racing boats, including the so-called Aurora, built in 1935. Birkigt collaborated in the assembly of this boat, which was auctioned a few years ago for a figure close to a million euros.

3 – King Alfonso XIII

King Alfonso XIII played an important role in the early days of Hispano Suiza. The monarch was a car enthusiast, who instantly fell in love with the 20CV Hispano Suiza that he drove in in 1905. So much so that in 1910 he became a shareholder, purchasing 8% of the company shares. King Alfonso XIII also had a car named in his honor, a two-seater sportscar, with a 3,619 cc four-cylinder engine, delivering 60 HP, with a top speed 120 km / h. It was the Hispano-Suiza T45, better known as Hispano Suiza Alfonso XIII.

4 – A car for the elite

Thanks to the performance of its vehicles, which combined speed with lightness and amazing driving sensations, thanks to its luxury materials, the handcrafted to the highest quality standards, Hispano Suiza immediately rose to fame.

In addition to King Alfonso XIII, the vehicles of the Spanish brand were chosen by aristocrats, intellectuals and the most renowned artists in the world, such as Gustavo V of Sweden, Carlos II of Romania, Louis II of Monaco, Pablo Picasso, André Citroën, Coco Chanel, René Lacoste, Paul McCartney or Albert Einstein.

The history of Hispano Suiza cars has always been closely linked to clients with high purchasing power, an exquisite taste for luxury and an incalculable passion for the automotive world. Today, classic Hispano Suiza cars are preserved with great care in museums and private collections around the world.

5 – Hispano Suiza, not just a car but an asset of cultural interest

The Hispano Suiza 30-40 HP was an important model in the history of the brand, developed by Birkigt as a replacement for the 20-30 HP. Of all those produced, there a very special unit was custom-built  for the Marquis of Zayas and bodied by Francisco Capella.

This model used noble woods and materials such as ivory and silver. The steering wheel was positioned to the right, as it was customary then, and featured mahogany details, ivory handles, beveled glass, automatic blinds, fine cushioned upholstered seats, a perfume diffuser, vases and numerous details that underlined the elegance and exclusivity of the car. It was an Hispano Suiza made to measure.

The model, after all cars once belonging to the Marquis of Zayas were auctioned, was acquired by the Spanish Home Office which declared it an Asset of Cultural Interest in 1988, being the first car to achieve this status,  which is normally granted to monuments and works of art. The vehicle was then displayed in the Museum of Automotive History located in Salamanca (Spain).

6 – The stork

Hispano Suiza’s emblem, the stork, is a nod to the company’s heritage as a manufacturer of aircraft engines. The brand decided to feature it in all its models to pay tribute to Georges Guynemer, a French fighter ace, who had a stork painted on the fuselage of its fighter jet during World War I, powered by an Hispano Suiza engine.

In 1919, the silver stork accompanied the new Hispano Suiza H6B in its presentation at the Geneva Motor Show and, since then, it featured in all the brand’s models, accompanied by the flags of Spain and Switzerland. 100 years later, the stork flew again at Carmen’s presentation, once again at the Geneva Motorshow.

7 – Carmen

Carmen is the name that Hispano Suiza has given to the vehicle with which it made its comeback to the world of automotive manufacturing. It is a model that has already made history; the most technologically advanced that has been designed, manufactured and developed in Spain. The choice of the name is not a mere coincidence: it is a tribute to Mrs. Carmen Mateu, granddaughter of Damián Mateu – founder of the company – and mother of the current president of Hispano Suiza, Miguel Suqué Mateu.

“The name Carmen is a tribute to our mother. When we were debating what to name the new vehicle, we immediately thought of Carmen and the family loved it ”, declared Miguel Suqué Mateu. “She always told me that she wanted to see Hispano Suiza roaring on the streets again, and I am sure that she would be very proud of it. The signature on the back of the vehicle is her original signature.”

The ‘last name’ Boulogne, which is used for the more powerful version of Carmen, is not a coincidence either. It is a tribute to the victories achieved by the Hispano Suiza H6 Coupé in the Georges Boillot Cup, held in the French town of Boulogne-sur-Mer a century ago.

8 – A car made to race

The Hispano Suiza Carmen and Carmen Boulogne have been developed on the racing circuits. For the creation of this very special model, which was presented at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show, Hispano Suiza had the backing of QEV Technologies, a motorsport company that built the first car that went on to win the drivers’ title in the Formula E championship.

Thus the Hispano Suiza Carmen’s dream performance, typical of a racing car. Its 1,019 CV of power – 1,114 CV in the Boulogne version – and its less than three seconds of acceleration from 0 to 100 km / h, make it one of the most powerful and fastest road cars in the world.

9 – Hispano Suiza has a former F1 driver in their team

After completing the design and manufacturing process, Hispano Suiza handed over the steering wheel to a former Formula 1 driver: Luis Pérez-Sala. Pérez-Sala has been in charge of developing the model on the track and on the road since the Hispano Suiza comeback was announced, and has worked to ensure that the select group of owners of the new Hispano Suiza feel like racing drivers.

In addition to Pérez Sala, Pablo Suárez, an experienced rally and rallycross driver with training as a motorsport engineer, also participated in the development process, bearing witness to the creation of an authentic work of art on wheels.

10 – The opportunity to create the car of your dreams

Each Hispano Suiza Carmen is unique. Thanks to the brand’s Unique Tailormade programme, customers have access to a wide variety of options to create the model they have dreamed of all their life. There are 1,904 possible combinations, so no two Hispano Suiza are alike.

Clients can choose between three main configurations that reflect the key values ​​of the brand’s DNA – Elegance, Heritage and Sport – and, based on these, they can choose different colours and materials for the interior and exterior of their car, to add a personal touch to the design and adapt it to their individual tastes.

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