Hispano-Suiza Carmen History

The Carmen was unveiled at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show, marking the rebirth of the Hispano-Suiza marque under Miguel Suqué Mateu — great-grandson of the company's co-founder Damián Mateu. Named for Mateu's grandmother, the Carmen is a deliberate parallel to the pre-war H6 grands routiers: a low-volume, bespoke, Barcelona-built machine that prioritises refinement and artisan craftsmanship over raw track metrics. Its twin permanent-magnet electric motors power the rear wheels alone, producing a combined 1,005 hp; the high-output Carmen Boulogne (named for the Hispano-Suiza Boulogne racing legacy) raises output to 1,099 hp. Production was capped at 19 standard Carmen units, with customer deliveries beginning in June 2020.

The Carmen is built in partnership with QEV Technologies, a Barcelona specialist with Formula E powertrain expertise, and uses a full carbon-fibre body over a carbon monocoque. The interior draws on pre-war themes — hand-stitched leather, exposed aluminium details — while the infotainment and connectivity are contemporary. As a range statement and brand resurrection, the Carmen achieved its goal: Hispano-Suiza is once again a going concern producing cars in Barcelona.