The 1,100 hp Boulogne. - is a new version of Ispano-Suiza's electric GT "Carmen", designed for track driving.
The new Ispano Suiza company was founded last year by a team led by the great-grandson of one of the founders of the historic Spanish brand Ispano Suiza.
And the company's first product was the Carmen, an electric grand-tourismo with carbon fiber construction and over 1,000 hp. (The model is named after the French city where the Georges Boileau Cup was held in the 1920s, in which the first Ispano-Suiza won three times with its H6 coupe.)
The car unveiled on Tuesday was designed by Ispano-Suiza's Tailormade personalization department to offer a race-ready version of the Carmen, while retaining the grand touring qualities and luxury of the standard car.
The main upgrade to the Boulogne was the Carmen's 1100 hp twin-engine drivetrain. The Boulogne also received a transmission with a longer gear ratio, stiffer suspension and lower body weight. As a result of these improvements, the car accelerates to 62 mph in less than 2.6 seconds and reaches a top speed of 180 mph. This top speed is 25 mph faster than the Kamen model.
The battery is an 80 kWh liquid-cooled, T-shaped lithium-ion unit. With moderate driving, the Boulogne can travel over 200 miles on a single charge, and fast charging allows the owner to charge the battery to 80% in 30 minutes.
The use of carbon fiber in the chassis and body ensures that the Boulogne's weight of 3,593 pounds is relatively light for an EV. For comparison, this is about 100 kg lighter than the Ford Mustang GT. The Boulogne is about 132 kg lighter than the regular Carmen thanks to a lighter suspension, additional chassis components and a carbon-fiber interior, including the seat frame. Other improvements include 20-inch alloy wheels and AP Racing brakes.
The modern Ispano-Suiza is based in Barcelona, Spain, which is also home to its technical partner QEV Technologies (an expert in electric powertrains and partner to major automakers and Formula E teams).
The company is currently taking orders for the Carmen Boulogne. Prices start at €1.65 million ($1.83 million), and only five cars will be built by Ispano-Suiza. These five cars will join the 14 regular Carmen planned for production, bringing the total number of cars to 19. The first Carmen will be delivered to the customer in 2022.
In addition, there is another Swiss company that goes by the name Ispano-Suiza. The company recently launched a supercar based on the Audi R8 called the Magali HS1 GTC.