Friday 22nd February 2019

Hispano Suiza Maguari HS1 GTC due with Lambo V10

The model which could lead to one of the most bizarre legal battles of 2019...

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Did you know there are currently two Hispano Suizas developing cars? You might not have known either company was existence, since the Spanish marque has been largely dormant in the world of cars since the 1960s. That changed earlier this month when we were shown the chassis of the upcoming Carmen, an all-electric carbon fibre two-door with 1,925hp. But today, a V10-powered model called the Maguari HS1 GTC has been shown by a different company of the same name. Go figure.

It all boils down to ownership of the Hispano Suiza brand. Both companies claim its theirs and are racing to bring their respective supercars to market. Although the Maguari is the second car to be announced, it has at least been shown with a seemingly-complete design. All we’ve seen of the Carmen is its carbon monocoque – but that doesn’t mean it’s losing the race as there’s a chance its makers have simply chosen to withhold the design from the public domain.

We’ve no details on the Carmen’s EV powertrain, but we know the Maguari’s engine has been sourced from the Lamborghini Huracan. It’s claimed to have 1,070hp – 430hp more than even the Performante version of Lambo’s ten-cylinder model - and said to be capable of taking the car from 0-62mph 2.8 seconds and on to a top speed of 236mph. Although it should be said at this stage that those numbers are yet to be verified (we’re not even sure if a prototype exists) so they should be taken with a pinch of salt.

The car’s design is likely to be divisive to say the least – and we’re not sure whether the bird mounted within the bumper’s two front grilles would pass many pedestrian safety tests. The fitment of rear slats confirms that the car’s V10 engine has been kept in a Huracan-mimicking midship location.

That’s all that we’ve got for now, but with two brands both fighting for the same name, expect to hear more from a company called Hispano Suiza very soon. As to which one it’ll be, well, place your bets now.

[Macboy]

That is a face only a mother could love.

[Greg the Fish]

Tone down the BMWesque monster basking shark mouth and that could be a stunning car!

[MX6]

The overall shape isn't bad but I can't say I'm a fan of that face, that grill is OTT.

[jet_noise]

Macboy said:

That is a face only aDick Dastardly's mother could love.

FTFY

[Dr Nookie]

I can't look at front without thinking Death Race 2000. Looks like it's designed to collect pedestrians..

[jet_noise]

Dr Nookie said:

I can't look at front without thinking Death Race 2000. Looks like it's designed to collect pedestrians..

And the stork for stabbing them in the shin

[irocfan]

I have to admit that I quite like it IMO it does look different from the usual identikit supercars currently on offer

[HardMiles]

Needs more names...

[FiddleSticks]

Why are they fighting over a brand with precious little provenance, I had to wiki to find out they made their last car is 1937? I doubt whichever ones loses will be at much of a disadvantage

[Oily76]

Chrysler Crossfire/Audi R8 rear end!

[wab172uk]

Good god !!!!

[NGK210]

Sigh, yet another once noble European brand adopts a gopping eyesore of a front grille to appeal to Chinese punters’ taste.

[chickensoup]

rear end looks like a photoshop of a Chrysler crossfire

[MX6]

The way the rear slopes down does look a bit Crossfire I agree. The concave sort of shape on the back there is unusual, it's nice to see some different ideas tried but I don't find that particularly aesthetically pleasing.

There's a few odd details that I don't think work all that well. The original Hispano-Suiza cars had a stork bonnet ornament, the designer of this seems to have replicated that and put it in the middle of the grill. I can't imagine the pedestrian safety approval chaps will be too welcoming of that. Also, I'm not sure what those silver details are on the top of the rear arches?

[mikEsprit]

That's a bird? I thought it was the first unabashedly male car.

[Adeyfisher]

Looks to be a reworking of their 2010 concept .



They suggested they were ready to produce up to fifty cars per year. I'm confident that even if they made just one; That would be more than they will sell of the new version.

As was already mentioned, reviving a long dead marque, with no connection to the previous company, does not give this any provenance.

Edited by Adeyfisher on Saturday 23 February 14:53

[Veeayt]

Macboy said:

That is a face only a mother could love.

Looks like a photoshopped toyota camry

[howardhughes]

Quite possibly one of the most hideous attempts at super car designs I've seen.
Totally gross.