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 Carmen Boulogne
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| Hispano Suiza Carmen Boulogne |
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Page 1 of 2 Next >>  The motorsport-inspired Carmen Boulogne pays homage to Hispano Suiza's competition heritage. Building on its sibling’s substantial credentials, the Carmen Boulogne boasts 820kW (1,114PS) up by 70kW (95PS); more speed 290km/h (180mph) up by 40km/h (25mph) and a 0-100km/h time of under 2.6 seconds.Utilising the Carmen's expertly engineered chassis and powertrain technology, the Carmen Boulogne delivers a blend of exhilarating power, exceptional luxury and elegant design. Born of the brand's 'Unique Tailormade' department in Barcelona, the infinitely-customisable Carmen Boulogne embodies the sporting spirit of Hispano Suiza alongside a strong family legacy. The new sportier variant of the Carmen is the next stage in the evolution of the resurgent Spanish luxury car brand. Designed, developed and manufactured in Barcelona, the fully-electric Carmen Boulogne shares its sibling’s classically-inspired design, but applies sportier styling and showcases the extent of customisation available to the five customers who will own one of the hyper-exclusive models. Combining its enhanced, fully-electric 820kW (1,114PS) powertrain with a bespoke super-stiff carbon fibre monocoque, stiffer double-wishbone front and rear suspension, and torque vectoring, the Carmen Boulogne delivers exceptional dynamics, with a focus on thrilling performance. With such prodigious power, and a kerb weight of 1,630kg, the new variant has world-class performance capabilities: 100km/h is reached in under 2.6 seconds, while the top speed is 290km/h. The car’s exquisitely-precise carbon fibre bodywork is proudly displayed beneath a clearcoat varnish, which emphasises its aggressive sportiness while retaining the Carmen’s timeless elegance. Inside, the Carmen Boulogne variant is distinguished from its sibling through the use of suede or black Alcantara across the bulkhead and door panels. The car’s design, engineering and production has been undertaken in Barcelona by a skilled team of highly-experienced experts from Hispano Suiza and QEV Technologies – a company that specialises in electric powertrain development and motorsport engineering. The Hispano Suiza Carmen Boulogne will cost from €1.65m (plus taxes). The five special edition Boulogne variants join 14 Carmen or Carmen customised models to complete the total 19-unit production run, with the first customer taking delivery in 2022. Prospective customers can now register their interest to purchase one of the hyper-exclusive models. A product of the brand’s ‘Unique Tailormade’ operation, the Boulogne features design enhancements that reference Hispano Suiza’s racing vehicles from the 1920s, while building on the Carmen’s exhilarating performance and exceptional luxury. The Boulogne moniker dates back to 1921 and the George Boillot Cup, in which Hispano Suiza competed with a performance-focused version of the company’s H6 Coupé. The endurance race saw competitors battle for victory for more than 3.5 hours, on the roads around the French town of Boulogne. Hispano Suiza achieved three consecutive race wins, with drivers André Dubonnet (1921), Paul Bablot (1922) and Léonce Garnier (1923) driving specially-modified versions of the Hispano Suiza H6. The Carmen’s styling is deliberately provocative, intended to generate an emotive reaction, and to be instantly recognisable. The Carmen Boulogne extends this theme, adding a layer of menacing mystique through its exposed carbon fibre – deeply polished beneath a lustrous clearcoat. Emphasising its enhanced performance capabilities, the new model features copper-coloured livery that highlights the car’s aerodynamic form. It makes use of the original model’s large air inlets that flank the grille, sitting above a ‘floating’ front splitter, which channels air under the car. The Carmen Boulogne carries the same semi-circular combination headlamps and aggressive ‘frown’ as its sibling, but is clearly differentiated by its dominating copper-coloured grille. Visual theatre is a key element of the Hispano Suiza DNA. Before even entering the car, the driver and passenger are provided with a dramatic performance as the scissor doors rise and pivot in one smooth, elegant movement. With the doors closed, the Carmen’s distinctive aerodynamic teardrop profile is revealed. Here, a key styling element that differentiates the Boulogne variant appears where the concave bodyside scoop ends, just as the dramatic rear haunch takes over – the rear wheel is exposed rather than being shrouded. This unobscured view of the 20-inch rear wheels serves to emphasise the new model’s sports focus while also enhancing cooling of the carbon ceramic brakes (discs: AP Racing 380mm x 34mm; calipers: AP Racing Radi-CAL - 6 pistons). Newly-styled wheels are proudly displayed with 10 curved trapezoidal shapes set around the outer rim and a series of concentric circles framing the central Hispano Suiza emblem. With front and rear wheels on show, the Carmen Boulogne is visually more balanced than its Grand Tourer sibling, and benefits from a more menacing stance – a characteristic emphasised by its black carbon fibre bodywork. Viewed from the rear, the taught haunches that arch over the covered rear wheels also feature copper-coloured detailing. They taper slightly, flanking a dramatic narrowing of the roofline and rear screen that ends in a distinctive, sharp, rear-facing point – the trailing tail of the teardrop. The circular rear combination lamps feature the signature Hispano Suiza stork graphic within the rear-light cluster. When seen from an angle, the indicator pulses along the length of the rear-lamp cones creating an arresting visual spectacle. The performance focus of the Carmen Boulogne capitalises on the car’s low drag coefficient (Cd 0.325), lower than the Porsche 918 Spyder (0.34), Koenigsegg Agera R (0.37) and Ferrari F12 (0.33). In accelerating to its top speed of 290km/h, it makes full use of its streamlined form, combined with the front splitter, flat floor and rear diffuser that work in unison to reduce lift. Page 1 of 2 Next >> |
| Article | Image gallery (15) | Specifications |
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