Alpine is a very special sports car brand under the Renault brand.
Landing a few days ago in Malaysia and only for display right now as this sports car brand under the Renault car brand is an exclusive product, like Lexus is to Toyota and Infiniti is to Nissan.
This special sports car competes head on with the Porsche Cayman S and looks more discreet and exclusive as its numbers around the globe are limited and the same will be for Malaysia as its tax-free Langkawi selling price is from RM320,000 and if you decide to register it on our mainland to be used daily, the selling price jumps to RM700,000 which is very close to the new Porsche Cayman S selling price of RM657,000.
Our first meeting with the Alpine A110 was back in January 2019 at the Singapore Motor Show when a left hand drive version was unveiled for local interest. Like Lotus Cars, it is designed and built to be light, quick and fun.
Press Release: Alpine was founded in 1955 by Jean Rédélé, a young man with a passion for motorsport whose favorite playground – the Alps – inspired the name of his brand. It was the 10th automotive brand for the Wearnes Automotive Group.
The company took off as soon as the original A110 appeared in 1962. At this time, Alpine and Renault worked closely together since the Alpine was sold and serviced by Renault dealerships. In the early 1970s, Alpine was one of the rallying elite. In 1971, Alpine monopolised the podium of the famous Monte Carlo Rally before winning it again in 1973, the year in which it became the first manufacturer to be crowned World Rally Champion.
Alpine is a sporting brand. Racing is in its blood. All of its cars are a testament to that, both in their design and in their performance. This formidable image was, naturally, founded on the car’s exploits in rallying. Alpine was also victorious in prototypes in the world’s greatest endurance races, including the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the star event for sports car racing. The car similarly triumphed in single-seater competition – motor racing’s most exacting discipline – and in rallycross, a discipline that calls for all-round strength.
In 2021, Alpine’s motorsport programme will gain momentum with the brand’s arrival in the Formula 1 World Championship under the name Alpine F1 Team, not forgetting the move up to the premier class (LMP1) of the FIA WEC Endurance World Championship, under the name Elf Matmut Alpine Endurance Team. On the road, Alpine unveiled its long-term plans to position the brand at the forefront of innovation. The activities of Alpine Cars, Renault Sport Cars and Renault Sport Racing are united as one entity under the Alpine brand. The newly created entity intends to be a ‘new generation’ automotive brand for discerning, passionate early adopters.
Together, they are laying the foundations for a ‘new generation’ 100 percent electric car brand aimed at demanding and passionate customers.
Finally, the history of Alpine is not only about cars, but also about people. Often unseen by the public, these engineers, technicians, operators, employees, executives, and managers all play a vital role. Knowing how to make the right choices during the car’s design, knowing how to make it attractive to potential customers, knowing how to make it desirable to everyone…such is their everyday challenge.
The Car It Self
Press Release: With an intense sports car persona and assertive styling, the Alpine A110’s aluminium platform and body are bonded, riveted and welded to provide an exceptionally rigid yet light structure. The Alpine A110 is ultra-light at only 1080kg kerb weight (excluding options).
Its compact size (4178mm long, 1798mm wide and 1252mm high), optimal weight distribution (44% front/ 56% rear) and low centre of gravity are all dedicated to agility – especially on the type of winding mountain road that made Alpine’s reputation back in the 1960s and ’70s.
Alpine’s mass is also concentrated around the centre of the car, with the fuel tank behind the front axle and the engine in front of the rear axle, enabling the driver to feel at one with the car.
The Alpine A110 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.
Priced €66,500* before options, the A110S is available to order immediately. Deliveries are due to begin before the end of the year.
