Hispano Suiza Maguari HS1 GTC

From 1902 to 1938, the small brand Hispano Suiza produced luxury vehicles and powerful aircraft engines in Spain and France. Especially in the time between both World Wars they competed against the biggest names of luxury brands such as Rolls-Royce. After World War 2, the factory in Barcelona was nationalized and eventually produced the Pegaso sports cars a while later, while the independent subsidiary in France completely switched to aircraft engines and today still manufactures components for jet engines as part of the Safran Group. Under the direction of Austrian car designer Erwin Leo Himmel, the big name should now also return to the automotive sector. Previously, between 2000 and 2002, there had been a failed attempt to resuscitate the brand with the concept cars HS21, K8 and HS21 GTS.

The newly founded car brand based in Switzerland showed a sports car prototype called V10 Supercharged for the first time in 2010 at the Geneva International Motor Show. Based on the chassis of the Lamborghini Gallardo and first generation Audi R8, the two-seater sports car was extremely futuristic. Two superchargers increased the engine power to 750 hp. After the show, however, it became relatively quiet around this brand. Only now, a full nine years later, they will again show a car at the Geneva Motor Show, now in production-ready state, as the Hispano Suiza Maguari HS1 GTC. Due to the long development time, they now use the chassis of the second generation Audi R8, which is also the basis for the Lamborghini Huracán.

The Maguari also uses the 5.2-liter V10 engine, but now with double turbocharging. Hereby Hispano Suiza wants to increase the power to 1,085 hp. The topspeed is electronically limited to 380 kph (236 mph). The power reaches the rear wheels via a seven-speed dual clutch transmission and accelerates the Coupé in only 2.8 seconds from standstill to 62 mph. The optical revision of the low-volume production was drawn by Professor Olivier Boulay, an internationally recognized designer and architect.

As a classic coachbuilder, Hispano Suiza also offers customers the opportunity to incorporate personal ideas into the vehicle’s design that go beyond simple paint jobs. For prices and quantities there are no information before the motor show. However, in parallel to the Maguari HS1 GTC, another electrically powered sports car with the name Carmen will be presented by Hispano Suiza in Geneva.

Images: Hispano Suiza