Hurtan Automobiles is a coachbuilder from Spain that is obsessed with classic car designs. Wanna know why?! Because they sell a bunch of modern cars that have been artistically taken back to the early 20th century. Their works of art might not be everyone's cup of tea; specifically, the Hurtan Grand Albaycín which, believe it or not, is a Mazda MX-5 Miata underneath.
Shocked right? Well, that also shows us how meticulously this Spanish automaker has managed to make the famed peppy little sportscar travel back in time! Hurtan is celebrating its 30th Anniversary and has launched a highly-exclusive Gran Albaycín Special Edition model. Limited to just six units, these unique re-bodied Mazda MX-5s are virtually unchanged from the "standard" deal but get exclusive color options, inside-out.
But adding more to the exclusive tag, are customized certificates of authentication. Hurtan's version of the iconic Mazda has a design that is reminiscent of classic British roadsters. It is quite ironic because the first-ever Mazda MX-5 Miata did take inspiration from the sports cars of Great Britain! But is this classic reinterpretation work three times the original MSRP of a 2023 Mazda MX-5 Miata?! You decide.
Hurtan Grand Albaycín 30th Anniversary Is Heavily Inspired By Mid-1900s Styling
You will never decipher that underneath all those classic curves is a peppy little Mazda MX-5 Miata. And that's a good thing. It shows us the impressive craftsmanship levels of the creative people from Hurtan Automobiles. The Gran Albaycín has been around since 2021 and heavily takes inspiration from classic European roadsters of the 1950s.
The front fascia is characterized by a central chrome grille and rounded LED lights. The front fascia sweeps inwards and continues to the sides with those gorgeous-looking fender flares. It reminds us strongly of the Morgan Plus sports car. The sweeping lines all concentrate at the rear and are garlanded with round LED tail lamps.
This classic-vibing Miata is offered with either a hard top (taken from the Mazda MX-5 RF) or the more common soft top. While the design is gorgeous, it does look awkward and disproportional at certain angles. The custom wheels look tiny and don't quite fit in with the period drama. Elevating its exclusively for the anniversary celebration, the Grand Albaycín will be offered in three exterior color options - Lead Gray, Cherry red, and Midnight blue).
The Rebodied Mazda MX-5 Miata Special Edition Is Still The Iconic Sportscar Underneath
But underneath all that classic appeal, it is still the very lively Mazda MX-5 Miata that we know and adore. And even for the 30th Anniversary Edition, there are no changes on the mechanical front. The Hurtan Grand Albaycín is offered in the familiar and reliable two-engine options - 1.5-Liter or 2.0-Liter naturally-aspirated inline-fours engines churning out 132 hp/ 111 lb-ft or 185 hp/ 151 lb-ft respectively.
Power continues to be sent to the rear wheels via a 6-Speed manual gearbox with the 1.5 and a 6-Speed automatic with the 2.0. There seem to be no major mechanical upgrades on this classical Mazda and even the wheels seem to have retained their size, albeit custom. While we expect the Spanish version of the Miata to be sporty, the added heft from the classic bodywork is most likely to dampen MX-5 Miata's celebrated fun factor here.
The Classic-Vibing Mazda MX-5 Interior Basks In Luxury And Comfort
You will be strongly reminded of the Mazda MX-5 Miata underneath only when you peek inside the Grand Albaycín. While the Spanish coachbuilder has gone above and beyond with elevating the lux appeal here, the dashboard retains the same layout as a stock MX-5 Miata. But the "layout" along with the technology features is where the Mazda connection ends.
Hurtan has garlanded every inch of the interior with plush leather, wood, and intricate detailing. It sure gives us a whole different side to the Miata, that we never know was possible. Hurtan also offers various colors and customization options for the interior. In line with the 30th Anniversary Edition models, Hurtan offers two exclusive interior trimmings as well.
Hurtan's 30th Anniversary Celebration Is Limited To Just Six Of These Rebodied Mazda Miatas
The Hurtan Grand Albaycín 30th Anniversary Edition is limited to just six units. And all the unique bits are confined to the color option. But Hurtan has added more to its special edition models by preparing a "major anniversary event" for all Hurtan owners. It will be an event that will supposedly also have a few surprises.
So, we expect Hurtan to introduce a new retro-vibing model at the event. Hurtan hasn't disclosed the pricing of the Grand Albaycín Special Edition models. But we expect all six of them to carry a considerable premium over the standard pricing of Hurtan's re-bodied Miata line-up that ranges from €59,000 - 82,300 (~ $62,000 - 86,500). For reference, a 2023 Mazda MX-5 Miata starts with an MSRP of $28,050!
A Brief On The Spanish Coachbuilder - Hurtan Automobiles
Hurtan Automobiles is a Spanish coachbuilder that was started in 1991 by Juan Hurtado Gonzalez. Its first car was called the Albaycín T2, introduced in 1992 as a two-seater sportscar flaunting a 1930s facade. And things have remained unchanged in terms of design philosophy ever since. Currently, Hurtan offers three retro-vibing creations apart from the Mazda MX-5 Miata-based Grand Albaycín.
The Hurtan Author is a classic recreation of the Chrysler PT Cruiser. Then there's the Hurtan Vintage which recreates the Jeep Wrangler in 1930s clothing. And then there is the off-beat Route 44 which is a Ram ProMaster Van bloated up and given classic design cues.
Sources: Hurtan Automobiles, Mazda