Still sold only for left hand drive markets.
The engineers at Renault (Renault is the owner of the Alpine car company) have designed to give their Alpine sports car the ability to live up to its name. The Alpine principles of light weight, agility and performance has been admired since it launch and now this mid-engined two-seater sports coupe gets a tuning program for the adventure seeker and in particular the A110 ‘Berlinette’. This car is still built in the Alpine factory in Dieppe. We wonder when a SUV version of the Alpine A110 will be designed to win the hearts of more buyers.
PRESS RELEASE: Designed For The Adventurous
The A110 is an inexhaustible source of inspiration for Alpine’s development teams. It proves this once again with the Alpine A110 SportsX. The Alpine A110 SportsX is the result of a joint effort by Alpine’s design and engineering teams.
This styling exercise is inspired by the rally versions of the A110 – enlarged and raised – and more specifically from the winning A110 of the 1973 Monte Carlo Rally. With its 80mm wider body and its ground clearance heightened by 60mm, the A110 SportsX explores a new facet of sportiness. Based on the technical characteristics of an A110 Pure, the A110 SportsX remains faithful to Alpine’s DNA: lightness and agility for driving pleasure.
This compact sports car is equipped with a new 1.8-litre 4-cylinder turbocharged engine developed by the Renault-Nissan Alliance. Alpine’s engineers, together with Renault Sport, have customized this engine for Alpine, with specific air intake, turbocharger, exhaust system and engine tune. The engine has a maximum power output of 252hp and maximum torque of 320Nm. Combined with the low kerb weight of only 1080kg, the A110’s excellent power-to-weight ratio of 233hp enables the car to accelerate from 0 to 62mph in only 4.5 seconds.
The engine is mated to a Getrag 7-speed wet-clutch DCT gearbox, with gear ratios specifically developed for Alpine to ensure optimal performance at all times. Aided by intensive use of fluid dynamics simulation, the lightweight, single exit active sports exhaust system in the A110 has been developed for performance and sound quality.
The Alpine A110 has three driver modes (Normal, Sport, Track) in which the engine and gearbox settings, steering, ESC, exhaust note and driver display are adapted to suit the driving conditions (and the driver’s mood).
Aerodynamics
In search of a combination of sleek lines and excellent performance, Alpine’s engineers turned to the world of race cars and supercars to optimize the aerodynamics of the A110. With a completely flat floor and functional diffuser under the rear bumper, the A110 combines low drag with significant downforce. This allows the Alpine A110 to reach an electronically limited 155mph top speed, while retaining a smooth ‘Alpine’ profile – without the need for a rear spoiler.
Air inlets in the front bumper create a curtain along the front wheel wells, improving air flow around the front wheels and hence reducing drag. With a Cd value of only 0.32, the A110’s drag is among the lowest in the sports car segment.
True To Its Heritage
The Alpine A110 is highly modern yet immediately recognisable as an Alpine. It combines modern design language, materials and technologies with the efficiency of size, shape and profile that marked the original A110 Berlinette. At the front, four independent full LED daytime running lights and the bonnet’s central ‘spine’ clearly show Alpine’s DNA. The side profile shows the design’s efficiency – bodywork wrapped tightly around the technical parts to minimise footprint and maximize performance.
At the rear, ‘X’ shaped LED tail lights with dynamic turn indicators give the car a highly modern look, while the sloping, wrap-around rear screen reminds us of Alpine’s past models. Inside the A110 minimalist, lightweight design merges with a welcoming, comfortable driving position. Top quality materials – smooth natural-grain leather, structural aluminium, carbon fibre – ensure a rewarding driver and passenger experience.
Daily Driver Performance
The light weight of the A110, combined with double wishbones front and rear, provide a rare combination – excellent handling and performance while at the same time offering great ride comfort and daily usability. Access and egress are designed to be easy, even in everyday use. Driver and passenger space will accommodate all shapes and sizes. In short, the Alpine A110 is as at home in everyday driving as it is on the track.
