The Hommell Berlinette is a two-seat sports coupé built by Hommell, a small French manufacturer founded in 1990 by the former racing driver and Échappement publisher Michel Hommell. Its mid-mounted 2.0-litre Peugeot engine, tubular steel chassis and low weight made it a light, agile car in the tradition of small French sports models.
Hommell Berlinette at a glance
| Maker | Hommell, Lohéac, Brittany |
|---|---|
| Production | from 1994 |
| Body | two-seat sports coupé |
| Layout | mid-mounted engine, rear-wheel drive |
| Engine | 1,998 cc in-line four, DOHC, 16 valves |
| Power | 155 bhp (116 kW) at 6,500 rpm |
| Torque | 186 N·m at 3,500 rpm |
| Gearbox | six-speed |
| Chassis | tubular steel |
| Suspension | independent all round |
| Weight | 980 kg |
| Top speed | 222 km/h |
Based on one source: the English Wikipedia article on Hommell. It covers the manufacturer and lists the models with their specifications, but there is no separate article on the Berlinette.
History of the Hommell Berlinette
1990–1994: from the Paris Salon to Geneva
Hommell was founded in 1990 by Michel Hommell, a former racing driver and the owner of the motoring magazine Échappement. The company was based at Lohéac, near Rennes in Brittany. Its first prototype was shown at the 1990 Paris Salon, where it was well received; that reception encouraged Hommell to put a production version into development. The finished car appeared at the 1994 Geneva Motor Show, and the models were developed under the direction of Gilles Dupré.
The Berlinette Échappement
The production car was the Berlinette Échappement, a two-seat sports coupé with a mid-mounted 2.0-litre Peugeot engine and a six-speed gearbox. The engine was a 1,998 cc in-line four with double overhead camshafts and sixteen valves, giving 155 bhp at 6,500 rpm and 186 N·m of torque at 3,500 rpm. The chassis was a tubular steel frame with independent suspension at all four corners, and the car weighed 980 kg, which helped it reach a claimed top speed of 222 km/h.
1998–2001: Barquette and RS
In 1998 Hommell announced two further versions: the Barquette, an open-top car, and the Berlinette RS, which used a more powerful engine supplied by Citroën. The RS coupé followed in 1999 with 167 bhp, and the RS2 of 2001 raised that to 195 bhp at 6,750 rpm while keeping the same 950 kg and the same 230 km/h top speed as the RS.
Design and features
- Mid-mounted Peugeot engine: a 1,998 cc sixteen-valve four placed behind the seats, driving through a six-speed gearbox.
- Tubular steel chassis: a light frame with independent suspension all round rather than a adapted production-car floorpan.
- Low weight: 980 kg in the Échappement version, 940 kg for the open Barquette.
- Small-series production: the cars were built by a specialist maker in Brittany, not by a large manufacturer.
- Steady development: power rose from 155 bhp in 1994 to 167 bhp in the RS and 195 bhp in the RS2.
Hommell Berlinette versions
- Berlinette Échappement (1994): the first production version, 155 bhp, 980 kg, 222 km/h.
- Barquette (1994): the open-top version, 155 bhp, 940 kg, 210 km/h.
- Berlinette RS coupé (1999): Citroën-derived engine, 167 bhp, 950 kg, 230 km/h.
- Berlinette RS2 (2001): the most powerful version, 195 bhp at 6,750 rpm, 950 kg, 230 km/h.
The Berlinette was the first car from Hommell, a marque that stayed with small-series sports cars throughout its life. Buyers of cars like this one will find practical advice in our guide to buying a classic.
Video: Hommell Berlinette Échappement
Video by alaud56 on YouTube.
Sources
- Hommell, English Wikipedia: company history, prototypes, model list and specifications