Hispano Suiza Carmen Sagrera: Celebrating 120 Years Of Legacy [Gallery]

Hispano Suiza has unveiled the Carmen Sagrera, the third model in its range of electric hypercars, celebrating the brand’s 120^th 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 120^th 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.

Hispano Suiza Carmen Sagrera Photo Gallery