Thursday 5th August 2010

SLK55-Based HMC Hidalgo Coupe Revealed

Swiss company unveils super-pricy retro coupe

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If the styling of a Morgan Aeromax or Wiesmann floats your motoring boat, but BMW power just doesn't appeal, then this, the newly revealed HMC Hidalgo, could be the car for you.

Beneath the Bugatti-esque retro styling lies the running gear and engine of the Mercedes SLK55 AMG.

The Hidalgo is the work of the Helvetic Motor Company and, we hear, has been developed by a gaggle of former F1 engineers.

We don't know the construction of the body, but the 355bhp 5.4-litre V8 from the SLK is apparently enough to shove the Hidalgo to 62mph from rest in 3.4secs - which makes it a fair old chunk more rapid than the car on which it is based.

On the other hand, you'll have to fork out a bit more than the £53,790 you'll need for the top-spec SLK: HMC wants you to part company with 'at least' £257k to get hold of a Hidalgo. No wonder the Swiss outfit is looking at building just six units a year...

[Frimley111R]

'.....No wonder the Swiss outfit is looking at building just six units a year...'

6 too many IMO!

[kambites]

It does look nice, but that's a silly amount of money. It doesn't obviously seem to offer anything that a Wiesmann doesn't, at considerably less cost.

[cableguy]

Looks like a Wiessmann rip-off thats gone horribly wrong...

Wiessmann

Hidalgo

C.

Edited by cableguy on Thursday 5th August 12:46

[patmahe]

I don't see 200K's worth of an improvement over an SLK, you'd have to be out of your mind. You could probably get a one off coach built body and interior to your exact specifications for that amount if you really wanted to and it'd probably look better too.

[Agoogy]

Looks like a new character for 'Rory the Racing Car'.....

[JohnGoodridge]

Hidalgo? Wasn't that a movie about a horse race starring the guy from Lord of the Rings and, er, a horse?

[V8ish]

Not nice looking imo, who in their right mind would sanction production of this car, I'm amazed they think they can sell six a year at that price.

Morgan Aeromax Supersport for me and change to buy an end terrace!

Edited by V8ish on Thursday 5th August 13:09

[annodomini2]

Love the rear view, front looks like any other '30s alike kit car

[Digsy]

Its the new Excalibur....

[[AJ]]

1. Take a crap car.
2. Stick a retro body on it.
3. Charge hypercar money.

Nice business plan!

[kambites]

[AJ] said:

1. Take a crap car.
2. Stick a retro body on it.
3. Charge hypercar money.

Nice business plan!

Out of interest, have you actually driven an SLK55?

[Dick_Phallus]

I guess I'm alone in thinking this looks better than a Morgan then?

[adycav]

Not as nice as the Weismann, but I quite like it apart from the white bits.

Edited by adycav on Thursday 5th August 13:33

[Beefmeister]

No taa, i'll have a Morgan Aeromax instead.

Cheaper, much better looking, similar concept and probably better to drive too.

[havoc]

Beefmeister said:

No taa, i'll have a Morgan Aeromax instead.

Cheaper, much better looking, similar concept and probably better to drive too.

My thoughts too.

These guys have seen the Wiesmann business plan, thought "we'll have some of that", and then picked a merely-adequate donor-car (albeit one with an awesome engine).

[leon9191]

If they put a set of steelies off a cortina on that it could pass for a nasty kit cars any day.

As it is it looks like a Chinese/Korean effort to me, and its mega expensive!

Edited by leon9191 on Thursday 5th August 13:40

Edited by leon9191 on Thursday 5th August 13:42

[Mastodon2]

[AJ] said:

1. Take a crap car.
2. Stick a retro body on it.
3. Charge hypercar money.

Nice business plan!

By what yardstick is the SLK55 AMG a crap car?

[JumpinJack]

kambites said:

[AJ] said:

1. Take a crap car.
2. Stick a retro body on it.
3. Charge hypercar money.

Nice business plan!

Out of interest, have you actually driven an SLK55?

Obviously he hasn't!

[stillious]

Nowhere near as nice as the Wiesmann.

[[AJ]]

JumpinJack said:

kambites said:

[AJ] said:

1. Take a crap car.
2. Stick a retro body on it.
3. Charge hypercar money.

Nice business plan!

Out of interest, have you actually driven an SLK55?

Obviously he hasn't!

I have actually, on more than one occasion. It's uncommunicative, steering is dull and the ESP is far too restrictive for a car that's supposed to be a full fat sports car. Engine sounds nice though.. if that's all you're after. I suppose it looks pretty parked outside the salon too.