Hispano Suiza Supercar at 2010 Geneva Motor Show – Swiss Hypocrisy

Hispano Suiza SuperCar Geneva 2010 Photo Image

Hispano Suiza Supercar at Geneva Motor Show 2010

When most people think of Switzerland, a picture of snow-clad Alps surrounded by serenity immediately engulfs them.

That’s the difference between a normal bloke and a petrolhead. What strikes us, are crazy motoring laws in the automotive hate land. It’ll come as a surprise to some, then, that some of the maddest cars in the world are made in Switzerland!

There is Rinspeed, a mad, mad Swiss car company, the Beck LM supercar and the latest limited edition hypocrisy is the Hispano Suiza.

Largely based on an Audi R8 5.2, the boffins at Hispano say that while they start with the Audi, they completely dismantle it, stretch the front of the space frame, fit a completely new interior (it does, however, incorporate door pull handles, the Bang & Olufsen stereo, vents, and more) and replace every body panel.

The design is quite a head-turner and rightly so. But unfortunately its not got aspire-able looks. The low-slung carbon fibre body was designed by Erwin Leo Himmel (Audi 1982-1994, VW Group Design Centre Europe 1995-1999, Fuore 2000-2007).

Cornering a supercar should feel like running ice over Angelina Jolie, stiff but with a big grin. The suspension is all uniquely Hispano Suiza and the center-lock 22-inch wheels are forged of an aluminum-titanium alloy and shod in Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 tires, sized 275/25 in front, 295/25 in back. Customers can choose a six-speed manual or auto-clutch manual. Supplying the power to all four corners is a 5.2-liter V-10 modified by Motoren Technik Mayer (MTM), and fitted with twin electric superchargers that, along with other modifications, boost output to 739 bhp and 516 torques. That’s enough to launch the car to 62 mph in 3.4 seconds and onward to a top speed of 211 mph.

Completing the list is an exorbitant price tag of 700,000 Euro ($949,300)! With this money, I’d rather buy a Pagani Zonda and a house! Thank you very much. Having been unveiled at Geneva this year, a hybrid variant touch was as important as air and so, plans are already underway for a hybrid variant with a 150-horse electric motor driving the front wheels, providing a total horsepower of 889 and short-range electric-only propulsion for city centres.

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