By Gary S. Vasilash

The headline of the news release reads: “10 things you didn’t know about Hispano Suiza.”

And 10 is a profound minimization as I must confess to not even knowing that the company (founded in 1904, I learned) continued to exist.

Other items of interest:

• It is a Spanish company
• Its first vehicle is something called the Armored Type Birkigt System (1905)
• It built airplane engines starting during World War I
• King Alfonso XIII of Spain liked his 20CV so much that in 1910 he bought 8% of the company
• The company announced it will be building two electric supercars, the Carmen and the Carmen Boulogne. “Carmen” comes from Carmen Mateu, granddaughter of the founder of the company and mother of the current head of Hispano Suiza. The company will build 24 cars.
• Hispano Suiza is part of the Peralada Group, “which represents the pinnacle of luxury in gastronomy and entertainment through its global portfolio of casinos, restaurants, hotels, golf courses, vineyards, music festivals and marinas.”

That last item sounds more intriguing than the cars.