Renault Alpine A110 is the Beautiful, Lightweight Sports Coupe We’ve Been Waiting For
One year after the presentation of the Alpine Vision show car, at the 2017 Geneva Motor Show Alpine revealed its production car: the new Alpine A110.
Combining the timeless Alpine principles of light weight, agility and performance, this mid-engined two-seater sports coupe is true to the spirit of its predecessors and in particular the A110 ‘Berlinette’. The new car will be built in the Alpine factory in Dieppe and deliveries will start late 2017 in Continental Europe. Deliveries in the UK and Japan will start in 2018.
Alpine is back to claim its position in the sports car segment, with only one promise: driving pleasure.
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 customised 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:tonne 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).
A flat floor worthy of a race car, tried and tested in the wind tunnel.
In search of a combination of sleek lines and excellent performance, Alpine’s engineers turned to the world of race cars and supercars to optimise 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.
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 maximise 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.
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.
The Alpine A110 Première Edition is a numbered, limited edition production run of 1,955 cars. 1,955 refers to the year that Jean Rédélé launched Alpine.
The Première Edition is richly equipped including:
- Alpine Blue, Noir Profond (black) or Blanc Solaire (white) paint
- 18-inch Otto Fuchs forged aluminium wheels, with matt black diamond turned finish specific to Première Edition
- Three driver modes with ‘Normal’, ‘Sport’ and ‘Track’ settings
- Performance braking system with dual-material brake discs with aluminium hub and rear calipers incorporating integrated parking brake
- Lightweight active sports exhaust
- Alpine-tuned Focal audio system
- Matte carbon fibre interior accents
- Brushed aluminium pedals
- Quilted smooth natural-grain leather Sabelt one-piece sports seats
- ‘Tricolore’ blue, white and red badging inside and outside
- …and a numbered ‘Première Edition’ plaque on the centre console.
About the Author
Subhash Nair Written work on dsf.my. @subhashtag on instagram. Autophiles Malaysia on Youtube.
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