hispano suiza Logo - History, Design, and Meaning
Company Overview
Hispano-Suiza was a Spanish automotive and engineering company that later became a French manufacturer of aviation engines and components after World War II. It is best known for its luxury cars and aviation engines produced before the war. In 1923, its French subsidiary became a semi-autonomous partnership with the Spanish parent company. In 1946, the Spanish parent company sold all its automotive assets to Enasa. By 1968, the French division was acquired by the aerospace company Snecma, which is now part of the French SAFRAN Group. Hispano-Suiza designed the first 4-cylinder 16-valve engine and is credited with creating the car considered to be the first sports car, the Hispano Suiza 45 Cr.
Key Information
- Founded: 1904
- Founder(s): Emilio de la Cuadra<br>Marc Birkigt
- Headquarters: Barcelona, Spain
hispano suiza Logo Meaning and History
Founded in 1904 by Damian Mateu and Marc Birkigt in Barcelona, Hispano-Suiza quickly gained prominence for its luxury automobiles and influential aircraft engines during the World Wars. One of its notable achievements was the V8 aero engine, which powered many planes during WWI. Today, Hispano-Suiza, now under the Grup Peralada, has re-emerged with a renewed focus on producing high-end electric vehicles, blending its storied past with modern innovation.
What is Hispano-Suiza?
Hispano-Suiza is a historic Spanish-Swiss luxury automaker founded in 1904. Renowned for its high-end cars and aircraft engines, the brand represents a legacy of innovation and opulence.
The earlier version of the Hispano-Suiza logo exudes luxury, featuring a black-and-white design with an elegant frame. 'La Hispano-Suiza' is printed in all uppercase letters across two lines, with the top line curving and the second line running straight slightly below the center. The location, Barcelona, is printed in a smaller font at the very bottom.
A delicate and graceful cursive font is used for the name, printed in one line in black to enhance its sophisticated appearance. Above the text is a flying stork, symbolizing a bright future, flying towards it with determination. The logo also includes a tagline at the bottom that reads 'Fabrica de Automoviles S.A.'
Bird symbolism is also present in this logo, featuring two white wings spread over a red circle with yellow and white elements. Similar to the previous logo, a sophisticated cursive font is used, fitting for a brand focused on luxury automobiles.
The winged symbol was presented in a three-dimensional form, with a round base featuring a bubble texture and a flower-like symbol at the center connecting the two wings. The yellow line extended to the bottom, covering a white cross. The entire emblem is rendered in professional, conservative colors—black and white.
The designers skillfully combined the old brand image with modern design styles, using the logo created in 1914 as a foundation. They gave the wings a more abstract look and transformed the overall emblem into a triangular shape. The color choices were preserved, though the shades were modified. The name now features a bold, geometric sans-serif font, resembling a typeface by Jayde Garrow called Be A Pro, but with customized letters for 'A' and 'P.' The inscription is in dark gray to match the lines in the illustration above, creating a professional appearance.
Recognizing that the graceful cursive fonts had become closely associated with the brand, the company brought back the font used in 1907, instantly evoking associations with the well-known brand from a century ago. The wings now have a sharper appearance, giving the logo a more dynamic and modern feel, enhanced by a gray gradient. The round red shape was also reintroduced, further emphasizing the brand's established history.
This logo maintains the same shape, color palette, and inscription as the previous version. However, it appears different as the metallic color of the wings has been replaced with a muted, light gray without a gradient. The red and yellow elements are less bright, and the updated color shades give the logo a richer and more contemporary touch.
