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The Alpine Cars Thread
- Thread starter FiestaST
- Start date
FiestaST
Honorary Master
Alpine A110 first ride: will it be a Porsche 718 Cayman beater?
Alpine’s bold intention for its new A110 is to create a lightweight sports car to rival the Porsche 718 Cayman on track while remaining comfortable every day on the road
We’ve seen the Alpine A110 production car – the model that revives the famous Alpine name – on the show stand at Geneva and we’ve learnt all about its technical specifications, but we won’t actually drive the car until October. However, I have just spent a day riding in it at Renault’s Aubevoye test facility in the north of France.
Before I was allowed to belt myself into the A110’s fixed-back bucket seat, Chief Engineer David Twohig and Product Planning Director Eric Reymann took a few minutes to set the scene. "We started doing some customer clinics as far back as 2012," says Reymann, "first with pure car guys, people who owned specific Porsches, Caterhams or Lotuses, and then with everybody else. We found there was an appetite for a sports car that could be comfortable to use every day, but that was also fun on the circuit."
"We wanted to build a car that was a pleasure to drive on the road at 40mph," adds Twohig, "but still bloody good when you go and do a track day every couple of months." From there, Twohig and his team defined the A110’s technical specifications, placing lightness front and centre.
"If the car is light,’ he continues, "that allows you to bring the spring rates down, so you don’t have a super stiff car that’s a pain to drive every day. That’s why the A110’s body is made from aluminium.
"The second important thing is the suspension set-up. We’ve got double wishbones all-round, which is very unusual in this class. The 718 Cayman, for instance, has MacPherson struts on its front axle."
It’s worth revisiting chapter one of the vehicle dynamics textbook here, because those double wishbones, as well as the lightweight build, really do underpin every one of the A110’s dynamic characteristics. Double wishbones allow the engineers to control wheel camber in hard cornering, whereas a less sophisticated strut arrangement does not. By controlling wheel camber, you’re keeping the tyre contact patch flat to the road surface, rather than allowing it to ‘fall over’ into positive camber, where it can’t grip effectively.
In a car with strut suspension, that can be achieved by fitting whacking great anti-roll bars to stop the body from leaning over in a bend. But that simply ruins the ride quality.
"Because we have double wishbones all-round," explains Twohig, "we don’t have to fight against the body roll. That’s why the A110 uses very small, hollow anti-roll bars, which are really good for the ride."
With weight kept to a minimum – just 1080kg at the kerb – and that double wishbone layout, the foundations of a good sports car are in place. The A110 should be agile and grippy (even on its relatively modest Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tyres), with a pliant ride quality and good body control. Everything else should simply follow along from there.
Let’s dive a little deeper. The A110’s suspension arrangement, says Twohig, gives it best in class camber linearity. That makes it progressive at the limit rather than spiky and unpredictable. Furthermore, in really hard cornering, the toe angle adjusts to slight toe-out, which gives gentle understeer characteristics, meaning there’s a safety margin built in. The basic chassis balance can therefore be tuned to be quite neutral, or even oversteery. All of that makes for a car that’s fun and adjustable at low and medium speeds, while also being stable and secure at high speeds. We call that the Holy Grail.
It’s worth noting, though, that double wishbone suspension isn’t without its drawbacks, mostly relating to packaging. A strut arrangement would have enabled a bigger front storage compartment. It’s encouraging to know Alpine’s priorities are as they should be.
There aren’t many people on this earth better equipped to demonstrate the A110’s dynamic ability than Laurent Hurgon, and there can’t be many better places to experience the car right on the limit than Aubevoye’s high-speed test track. Hurgon, the French racing and development driver, pilots the A110 with such commitment and ability around the flowing track – which links terrifyingly fast bends with tight, complex corners – that I can hardly believe I’m riding in a car so dainty and benign looking. This thing feels like a wild animal.
Straight-line performance is strong and there’s even an authentic sports car soundtrack to go with it, while the double-clutch gearshifts feel sharp and snappy. The Track ESC mode allows a certain amount of slip – enough that the car will drift slightly in low-speed corners but not beyond that – and with the systems switched off entirely, the car will hold long, lurid and very progressive slides. It also feels amazingly agile and responsive in direction changes while being safe and stable at high speed.
Over rougher sections of the test facility – by which I mean surfaces that would cause many cars to leap clean over the perimeter fence – that pliant ride quality is very plain to see. I don’t know of many cars that combine body control and ride quality as well as this.
Does any of that actually make the A110 fun to drive? We won’t know until we drive the car later in the year. I am now more confident than ever, though, that the Alpine will have what it takes to give the mighty Porsche 718 Cayman an equally mighty scare.
https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/...rst-ride-will-it-be-porsche-718-cayman-beater
Alpine’s bold intention for its new A110 is to create a lightweight sports car to rival the Porsche 718 Cayman on track while remaining comfortable every day on the road
We’ve seen the Alpine A110 production car – the model that revives the famous Alpine name – on the show stand at Geneva and we’ve learnt all about its technical specifications, but we won’t actually drive the car until October. However, I have just spent a day riding in it at Renault’s Aubevoye test facility in the north of France.
Before I was allowed to belt myself into the A110’s fixed-back bucket seat, Chief Engineer David Twohig and Product Planning Director Eric Reymann took a few minutes to set the scene. "We started doing some customer clinics as far back as 2012," says Reymann, "first with pure car guys, people who owned specific Porsches, Caterhams or Lotuses, and then with everybody else. We found there was an appetite for a sports car that could be comfortable to use every day, but that was also fun on the circuit."
"We wanted to build a car that was a pleasure to drive on the road at 40mph," adds Twohig, "but still bloody good when you go and do a track day every couple of months." From there, Twohig and his team defined the A110’s technical specifications, placing lightness front and centre.
"If the car is light,’ he continues, "that allows you to bring the spring rates down, so you don’t have a super stiff car that’s a pain to drive every day. That’s why the A110’s body is made from aluminium.
"The second important thing is the suspension set-up. We’ve got double wishbones all-round, which is very unusual in this class. The 718 Cayman, for instance, has MacPherson struts on its front axle."
It’s worth revisiting chapter one of the vehicle dynamics textbook here, because those double wishbones, as well as the lightweight build, really do underpin every one of the A110’s dynamic characteristics. Double wishbones allow the engineers to control wheel camber in hard cornering, whereas a less sophisticated strut arrangement does not. By controlling wheel camber, you’re keeping the tyre contact patch flat to the road surface, rather than allowing it to ‘fall over’ into positive camber, where it can’t grip effectively.
In a car with strut suspension, that can be achieved by fitting whacking great anti-roll bars to stop the body from leaning over in a bend. But that simply ruins the ride quality.
"Because we have double wishbones all-round," explains Twohig, "we don’t have to fight against the body roll. That’s why the A110 uses very small, hollow anti-roll bars, which are really good for the ride."
With weight kept to a minimum – just 1080kg at the kerb – and that double wishbone layout, the foundations of a good sports car are in place. The A110 should be agile and grippy (even on its relatively modest Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tyres), with a pliant ride quality and good body control. Everything else should simply follow along from there.
Let’s dive a little deeper. The A110’s suspension arrangement, says Twohig, gives it best in class camber linearity. That makes it progressive at the limit rather than spiky and unpredictable. Furthermore, in really hard cornering, the toe angle adjusts to slight toe-out, which gives gentle understeer characteristics, meaning there’s a safety margin built in. The basic chassis balance can therefore be tuned to be quite neutral, or even oversteery. All of that makes for a car that’s fun and adjustable at low and medium speeds, while also being stable and secure at high speeds. We call that the Holy Grail.
It’s worth noting, though, that double wishbone suspension isn’t without its drawbacks, mostly relating to packaging. A strut arrangement would have enabled a bigger front storage compartment. It’s encouraging to know Alpine’s priorities are as they should be.
There aren’t many people on this earth better equipped to demonstrate the A110’s dynamic ability than Laurent Hurgon, and there can’t be many better places to experience the car right on the limit than Aubevoye’s high-speed test track. Hurgon, the French racing and development driver, pilots the A110 with such commitment and ability around the flowing track – which links terrifyingly fast bends with tight, complex corners – that I can hardly believe I’m riding in a car so dainty and benign looking. This thing feels like a wild animal.
Straight-line performance is strong and there’s even an authentic sports car soundtrack to go with it, while the double-clutch gearshifts feel sharp and snappy. The Track ESC mode allows a certain amount of slip – enough that the car will drift slightly in low-speed corners but not beyond that – and with the systems switched off entirely, the car will hold long, lurid and very progressive slides. It also feels amazingly agile and responsive in direction changes while being safe and stable at high speed.
Over rougher sections of the test facility – by which I mean surfaces that would cause many cars to leap clean over the perimeter fence – that pliant ride quality is very plain to see. I don’t know of many cars that combine body control and ride quality as well as this.
Does any of that actually make the A110 fun to drive? We won’t know until we drive the car later in the year. I am now more confident than ever, though, that the Alpine will have what it takes to give the mighty Porsche 718 Cayman an equally mighty scare.
https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/...rst-ride-will-it-be-porsche-718-cayman-beater
FiestaST
Honorary Master
Alpine A110 - new official video of 247bhp Porsche Cayman rival
New sports car weighs in at 1080kg and its power-to-weight eclipses that of the Cayman; launch editions almost sold out
Alpine has released a new official video of its A110 sports car during durability testing, shown below. It follows the car's dynamic debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed last weekend.
Due on British roads next year, the car has been engineered to have a better power-to-weight ratio than its most accomplished rival, the Porsche Cayman, as its reborn creator bids seeks to wow buyers by making one of the most agile sports cars in the world.
Inspiration for that philosophy comes from Alpine’s heritage, with the Renault offshoot having cemented its reputation in the 1960s and 70s through giant-killing performances in racing and rallying, most notably with victories in world rallying and at Le Mans.
However, while the new A110 revives the name of the car that Alpine is most famous for historically, its head of engineering David Twohig, told Autocar earlier this year: “It’s inspired by our history, especially with that emphasis on light steering and a car that turns around you, but above all it’s a thoroughly modern sports car.”
The A110 - which revives the name of Alpine’s most iconic car - is powered by a turbocharged 249bhp 1.8-litre four-cylinder engine producing 236lb ft of torque, linked to a wet clutch seven-speed paddle shift transmission and transversely mounted and located mid to rear in the rear-drive car. It weighs 1080kg at the kerb, the compact A110 has a power-to-weight ratio of 231bhp/tonne. The 718 Cayman has 296bhp and weighs 1335kg (a power-to weight ratio of 222bhp/tonne), while the 718 Cayman S has 345bhp and weighs 1460kg (236bhp/tonne).
To hit the 1080kg target kerb weight the Alpine development team created a bespoke aluminium chassis after studying the potential for a combined steel and carbon fibre structure. “We did the maths with aluminium and got the answers we wanted,” Twohig said. “The key decisions lay in the structure’s mass, weight and torsional stiffness, and the next consideration was achieving top-notch fit and finish; carbon fibre or steel structures don’t allow the same quality.”
The A110 is unusually compact, at 4.18m long, 1.80m wide and 1.25m height. Weight distribution is 44:56 front to rear, aided significantly by the decision to locate the fuel tank in the front of the car However, it has space for two 190cm tall adults and limited luggage space in the cabin and boot. However, the car’s compact size does bring compromises - there is no glovebox, for example.
Other weight-saving initiatives include Sabelt-developed seats, which have a fixed back but which slide fore and aft. They weigh 13.1kg each, around half that of the seat in a Megane RS. Twohig says Alpine has achieved this without compromising comfort. The windscreen cleaning system also channels water through the wiper blades, making it significantly more efficient than a traditional system, in turn allowing for a washer bottle less than half the size normally used. The Brembo developed electronic parking brake is also a world first instillation, using the main brake set rather than an additional one, saving 5kg.
Although Alpine has withheld some performance figures ahead of sale, it has confirmed the A110 will cover 0-62mph in 4.5sec, eclipsing both the 718 Cayman’s 5.1sec and 718 Cayman S’s 4.6sec. However, Twohig says his team - including many Renaultsport staff - were told to focus was on agility over pace, and to that end specified double wishbone suspension at the front and back of the car, developed its own gear ratios for the semi- automatic Getrag gearbox, specified deliberately small tyres and developed a e-diff for different driving modes and an aerodynamic diffuser to create downforce without compromising the rear-end styling. The system steering is power-assisted.
“The all-aluminium forged suspension was a no-compromise decision to get agility and suppleness; we wanted the best,” he said. “The decision to develop our own gear sets was harder - or at least more expensive - but we knew it was the only way to get the car we wanted. Throughout this project we concentrated on doing it right, so that meant custom pinion sets, a wet clutch, a latest seven-speed gearbox, launch control and three proper driving modes - Normal, Sport and Track - that have a distinct character across the engine and pedal maps and the active exhaust, and the option to go beyond Track and switch ESC completely off.
“The electronic solutions meant we didn’t need a limited slip diff. It would have added weight and complexity, where the reality is that an e-diff set-up can handle these power levels perfectly well. I’ve tested it and I can promise you that you can get some pretty big angles in Track mode without it feeling like it is about to bite you. This is a car that flatters.”
The Michelin Pilot Sports are 18in in diameter on the launch car with 235 rear section tyres and 205s on the front, but 17s (225 rear section and 195 front) will be standard on other cars. “We could have gone bigger to make it look good, but the tyres look just fine and their performance matches the weight, power and torque we have. We didn’t want loads of mechanical grip, we wanted a car that is mobile and which slides relatively easily under the right circumstances.”
The rear underbody diffuser was developed after the A110s designers resisted pressure to put a rear spoiler on the car. “The rear lines are beautiful, so we looked at solutions,” said Twohig. “We could have done a pop-up spoiler, but that meant adding complexity, weight and cost. So we worked on an aerodynamic solution along the car’s floor, with the eight strakes channeling the air to cut lift. We think it’s the only car on sale that will do 250kph without needing a spoiler.”
The A110 can be ordered now, with right-hand-drive production set to begin in early 2018. Pricing of the highly-specced launch edition in Europe starts at €58,500 Euros. At that price, it undercuts an equivalent Cayman by around 15 per cent.
Alpine boss Michael van Der Sande says the intention is to have a "homogeneous price across Europe" and that the 1955 launch edition cars are "practically sold out".
The A110 is available in blue, black or white and will be sold around 60 Reanultsport dealers or sports car specialists in Europe, with 20 in France and seven or eight in the UK.
https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/...ew-official-video-247bhp-porsche-cayman-rival
[video=youtube;WTGmR9RQ2us]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTGmR9RQ2us[/video]
New sports car weighs in at 1080kg and its power-to-weight eclipses that of the Cayman; launch editions almost sold out
Alpine has released a new official video of its A110 sports car during durability testing, shown below. It follows the car's dynamic debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed last weekend.
Due on British roads next year, the car has been engineered to have a better power-to-weight ratio than its most accomplished rival, the Porsche Cayman, as its reborn creator bids seeks to wow buyers by making one of the most agile sports cars in the world.
Inspiration for that philosophy comes from Alpine’s heritage, with the Renault offshoot having cemented its reputation in the 1960s and 70s through giant-killing performances in racing and rallying, most notably with victories in world rallying and at Le Mans.
However, while the new A110 revives the name of the car that Alpine is most famous for historically, its head of engineering David Twohig, told Autocar earlier this year: “It’s inspired by our history, especially with that emphasis on light steering and a car that turns around you, but above all it’s a thoroughly modern sports car.”
The A110 - which revives the name of Alpine’s most iconic car - is powered by a turbocharged 249bhp 1.8-litre four-cylinder engine producing 236lb ft of torque, linked to a wet clutch seven-speed paddle shift transmission and transversely mounted and located mid to rear in the rear-drive car. It weighs 1080kg at the kerb, the compact A110 has a power-to-weight ratio of 231bhp/tonne. The 718 Cayman has 296bhp and weighs 1335kg (a power-to weight ratio of 222bhp/tonne), while the 718 Cayman S has 345bhp and weighs 1460kg (236bhp/tonne).
To hit the 1080kg target kerb weight the Alpine development team created a bespoke aluminium chassis after studying the potential for a combined steel and carbon fibre structure. “We did the maths with aluminium and got the answers we wanted,” Twohig said. “The key decisions lay in the structure’s mass, weight and torsional stiffness, and the next consideration was achieving top-notch fit and finish; carbon fibre or steel structures don’t allow the same quality.”
The A110 is unusually compact, at 4.18m long, 1.80m wide and 1.25m height. Weight distribution is 44:56 front to rear, aided significantly by the decision to locate the fuel tank in the front of the car However, it has space for two 190cm tall adults and limited luggage space in the cabin and boot. However, the car’s compact size does bring compromises - there is no glovebox, for example.
Other weight-saving initiatives include Sabelt-developed seats, which have a fixed back but which slide fore and aft. They weigh 13.1kg each, around half that of the seat in a Megane RS. Twohig says Alpine has achieved this without compromising comfort. The windscreen cleaning system also channels water through the wiper blades, making it significantly more efficient than a traditional system, in turn allowing for a washer bottle less than half the size normally used. The Brembo developed electronic parking brake is also a world first instillation, using the main brake set rather than an additional one, saving 5kg.
Although Alpine has withheld some performance figures ahead of sale, it has confirmed the A110 will cover 0-62mph in 4.5sec, eclipsing both the 718 Cayman’s 5.1sec and 718 Cayman S’s 4.6sec. However, Twohig says his team - including many Renaultsport staff - were told to focus was on agility over pace, and to that end specified double wishbone suspension at the front and back of the car, developed its own gear ratios for the semi- automatic Getrag gearbox, specified deliberately small tyres and developed a e-diff for different driving modes and an aerodynamic diffuser to create downforce without compromising the rear-end styling. The system steering is power-assisted.
“The all-aluminium forged suspension was a no-compromise decision to get agility and suppleness; we wanted the best,” he said. “The decision to develop our own gear sets was harder - or at least more expensive - but we knew it was the only way to get the car we wanted. Throughout this project we concentrated on doing it right, so that meant custom pinion sets, a wet clutch, a latest seven-speed gearbox, launch control and three proper driving modes - Normal, Sport and Track - that have a distinct character across the engine and pedal maps and the active exhaust, and the option to go beyond Track and switch ESC completely off.
“The electronic solutions meant we didn’t need a limited slip diff. It would have added weight and complexity, where the reality is that an e-diff set-up can handle these power levels perfectly well. I’ve tested it and I can promise you that you can get some pretty big angles in Track mode without it feeling like it is about to bite you. This is a car that flatters.”
The Michelin Pilot Sports are 18in in diameter on the launch car with 235 rear section tyres and 205s on the front, but 17s (225 rear section and 195 front) will be standard on other cars. “We could have gone bigger to make it look good, but the tyres look just fine and their performance matches the weight, power and torque we have. We didn’t want loads of mechanical grip, we wanted a car that is mobile and which slides relatively easily under the right circumstances.”
The rear underbody diffuser was developed after the A110s designers resisted pressure to put a rear spoiler on the car. “The rear lines are beautiful, so we looked at solutions,” said Twohig. “We could have done a pop-up spoiler, but that meant adding complexity, weight and cost. So we worked on an aerodynamic solution along the car’s floor, with the eight strakes channeling the air to cut lift. We think it’s the only car on sale that will do 250kph without needing a spoiler.”
The A110 can be ordered now, with right-hand-drive production set to begin in early 2018. Pricing of the highly-specced launch edition in Europe starts at €58,500 Euros. At that price, it undercuts an equivalent Cayman by around 15 per cent.
Alpine boss Michael van Der Sande says the intention is to have a "homogeneous price across Europe" and that the 1955 launch edition cars are "practically sold out".
The A110 is available in blue, black or white and will be sold around 60 Reanultsport dealers or sports car specialists in Europe, with 20 in France and seven or eight in the UK.
https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/...ew-official-video-247bhp-porsche-cayman-rival
[video=youtube;WTGmR9RQ2us]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTGmR9RQ2us[/video]
FiestaST
Honorary Master
Alpine A110 Cup Racecar
World Rally Champion in 1973, winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1978 and World Champion in the LMP2 class in last season's FIA WEC, Alpine's success in motorsport has earned it a special place in the heart of racing fans. The Brand has also spawned interest and enthusiasm in many amateur drivers, keen to enjoy themselves behind the wheel of attractive, light and agile cars. It is very much in this spirit and in respecting this tradition that Alpine decided to create the A110 Cup, which will make its track debut in 2018.
To ensure this new adventure is a success, Alpine entrusted Signatech with the design, development, production and sales of the A110 Cup. The organisation headed by Philippe Sinault, which is responsible for operating the Alpine A470s in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC), also has extensive experience in the development of customer racing products.
In conjunction with the engineers who devised the production car, Signatech designed the racing version with a primary target: provide the drivers with as much enjoyment as possible, whether they are beginners or experienced.
Armed with a precise chassis, a 270hp engine for a weight of 1,050kg (3.9kg/hp), uncompromising safety features and the kind of onboard electronics commonly seen an Endurance prototype, the Alpine A110 Cup promises to deliver impressive performance.
On sale at a price of €100,000 excl. tax (approx. £90,000), the Alpine A110 Cup will be taking part in a competition combining rigour and professionalism with a friendly, warm approach. Organised by Signatech over six rounds in 2018, the Alpine Europa Cup will visit six of the greatest racetracks in Europe. This FIA international series recalls the Europa Cup held between 1985 and 1988 with the Alpine GTA V6 Turbo.
https://www.netcarshow.com/alpine/2018-a110_cup_racecar/
World Rally Champion in 1973, winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1978 and World Champion in the LMP2 class in last season's FIA WEC, Alpine's success in motorsport has earned it a special place in the heart of racing fans. The Brand has also spawned interest and enthusiasm in many amateur drivers, keen to enjoy themselves behind the wheel of attractive, light and agile cars. It is very much in this spirit and in respecting this tradition that Alpine decided to create the A110 Cup, which will make its track debut in 2018.
To ensure this new adventure is a success, Alpine entrusted Signatech with the design, development, production and sales of the A110 Cup. The organisation headed by Philippe Sinault, which is responsible for operating the Alpine A470s in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC), also has extensive experience in the development of customer racing products.
In conjunction with the engineers who devised the production car, Signatech designed the racing version with a primary target: provide the drivers with as much enjoyment as possible, whether they are beginners or experienced.
Armed with a precise chassis, a 270hp engine for a weight of 1,050kg (3.9kg/hp), uncompromising safety features and the kind of onboard electronics commonly seen an Endurance prototype, the Alpine A110 Cup promises to deliver impressive performance.
On sale at a price of €100,000 excl. tax (approx. £90,000), the Alpine A110 Cup will be taking part in a competition combining rigour and professionalism with a friendly, warm approach. Organised by Signatech over six rounds in 2018, the Alpine Europa Cup will visit six of the greatest racetracks in Europe. This FIA international series recalls the Europa Cup held between 1985 and 1988 with the Alpine GTA V6 Turbo.
https://www.netcarshow.com/alpine/2018-a110_cup_racecar/
FiestaST
Honorary Master
Alpine A110 - right-hand drive testing begins for Porsche Cayman rival
Alpine chief engineer David Twohig has revealed that development of right-hand drive A110 models is underway, with an image of a right-hand drive model's dashboard posted to social media.
The A110 can be ordered now, with right-hand-drive production set to begin in early 2018. Pricing of the highly-specced launch edition in Europe starts at €58,500 Euros. At that price, it undercuts an equivalent Cayman by around 15 per cent.
The brand also released a final official video of its A110 sports car during durability testing earlier this year, shown below. It follows the car's dynamic debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.
Due on British roads next year, the car has been engineered to have a better power-to-weight ratio than its most accomplished rival, the Porsche Cayman, as its reborn creator bids seeks to wow buyers by making one of the most agile sports cars in the world.
https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/...and-drive-testing-begins-porsche-cayman-rival
Alpine chief engineer David Twohig has revealed that development of right-hand drive A110 models is underway, with an image of a right-hand drive model's dashboard posted to social media.
The A110 can be ordered now, with right-hand-drive production set to begin in early 2018. Pricing of the highly-specced launch edition in Europe starts at €58,500 Euros. At that price, it undercuts an equivalent Cayman by around 15 per cent.
The brand also released a final official video of its A110 sports car during durability testing earlier this year, shown below. It follows the car's dynamic debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.
Due on British roads next year, the car has been engineered to have a better power-to-weight ratio than its most accomplished rival, the Porsche Cayman, as its reborn creator bids seeks to wow buyers by making one of the most agile sports cars in the world.
https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/...and-drive-testing-begins-porsche-cayman-rival
FiestaST
Honorary Master
Alpine A110 2018 review
Should I buy one?
What Alpine has done here, then, is nothing short of an utterly remarkable job. The A110 is a gem. In a land of lumpen rocks it gleams like the brightest jewel. It takes the GT86, MX-5, 4C and Lotus Elise templates and builds on them, melding their respective qualities into a wonderful blend of poise, comfort, agility, adjustability, desirability and beauty – is it just me who thinks this is a fabulous looking car?
And all at, hmm, yes, £50,000, or thereabouts – it rather depends what happens to the exchange rate by the time right-hand drive A110s arrive early next summer. It’s a lot. But do the maths given they’ll sell a few thousand a year, and you wonder how they’d do it cheaper.
Would you get out of your Porsche 718 Cayman for one, though? That, I suppose, is the question. The Porsche will be quieter, it has a better gearbox response, and there’s no argument that the Cayman has, after all - especially with a limited-slip differential – its own compelling version of adjustable mid-engined poise.
But I think the Alpine, and I didn’t expect to be writing this, has yet more ability again. It must be the reduced inertia, the reduction in mass, and the utter honesty of its passive suspension and low, central centre of gravity that make it one of the most intuitive, rewarding cars on sale at any price.
Sometimes you drive a sports car – a Ferrari 458 Speciale, McLaren P1, Porsche 911 GT3 RS 4.0, or Ariel Nomad – and know that, somehow, you’re driving a landmark car. That’s the kind of feeling – even without considering the bravery of Renault to push the button on making it – the A110 gives me. Perhaps it really will be the start of something big. But even if it isn’t, the A110 is truly, wonderfully, special.
Alpine A110 Premiere Edition
Where France On sale June 2018 Price £50,000 (est) Engine 4cyls, 1.8-litre, turbo petrol Power 249bhp at 6000rpm Torque 239lb ft at 2000rpm Gearbox 7-spd dual-clutch automatic Kerbweight 1103kg Top speed 155mph (limited) 0-62mph 4.5sec Fuel economy 46.3mpg CO2 rating 138g/km Rivals Alfa Romeo 4C, Porsche 718 Cayman
https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-review/alpine/a110/first-drives/alpine-a110-2018-review
Should I buy one?
What Alpine has done here, then, is nothing short of an utterly remarkable job. The A110 is a gem. In a land of lumpen rocks it gleams like the brightest jewel. It takes the GT86, MX-5, 4C and Lotus Elise templates and builds on them, melding their respective qualities into a wonderful blend of poise, comfort, agility, adjustability, desirability and beauty – is it just me who thinks this is a fabulous looking car?
And all at, hmm, yes, £50,000, or thereabouts – it rather depends what happens to the exchange rate by the time right-hand drive A110s arrive early next summer. It’s a lot. But do the maths given they’ll sell a few thousand a year, and you wonder how they’d do it cheaper.
Would you get out of your Porsche 718 Cayman for one, though? That, I suppose, is the question. The Porsche will be quieter, it has a better gearbox response, and there’s no argument that the Cayman has, after all - especially with a limited-slip differential – its own compelling version of adjustable mid-engined poise.
But I think the Alpine, and I didn’t expect to be writing this, has yet more ability again. It must be the reduced inertia, the reduction in mass, and the utter honesty of its passive suspension and low, central centre of gravity that make it one of the most intuitive, rewarding cars on sale at any price.
Sometimes you drive a sports car – a Ferrari 458 Speciale, McLaren P1, Porsche 911 GT3 RS 4.0, or Ariel Nomad – and know that, somehow, you’re driving a landmark car. That’s the kind of feeling – even without considering the bravery of Renault to push the button on making it – the A110 gives me. Perhaps it really will be the start of something big. But even if it isn’t, the A110 is truly, wonderfully, special.
Alpine A110 Premiere Edition
Where France On sale June 2018 Price £50,000 (est) Engine 4cyls, 1.8-litre, turbo petrol Power 249bhp at 6000rpm Torque 239lb ft at 2000rpm Gearbox 7-spd dual-clutch automatic Kerbweight 1103kg Top speed 155mph (limited) 0-62mph 4.5sec Fuel economy 46.3mpg CO2 rating 138g/km Rivals Alfa Romeo 4C, Porsche 718 Cayman
https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-review/alpine/a110/first-drives/alpine-a110-2018-review
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Beautiful French Car We Can't Have Will Get Additional Weight Reduction Which Is Nice I Guess: Report
See that beautiful blue car up there? It’s the reborn Alpine A110 and, no duh, it’s not coming to the United States. So we can only admire it from afar and fantasize about how great the alleged sportier version will be.
Apparently, there’s a “Sport Chassis” A110 that will have a more tuned version of the car’s standard 1.8-liter engine, raising the power output up from 252 horsepower to 300, according to Auto Express, citing unnamed sources. Also, weight saving is in the works, too:
The A110 is already an extremely light car due to its widespread use of aluminium. However, Alpine’s engineers reckon they can suck up to 50kg out of the car by paring back on the interior trim – with a target weight of just 1,050kg.
The chassis and suspension will also be “between 15 and 20 percent” stiffer on the Sport model, though the brakes will remain the same as the base car due to the slight reduction in kerbweight. Programming for the dual clutch gearbox and steering, exhaust and ESC systems will be revised to deliver yet more response – especially in Track mode.
That means Alpine’s engineers think they will be able to shave an additional 100 pounds off of the A110's already lightweight body (2,400 pounds). Subtracting weight while adding power? Nothing incredible ever came out of that!
Awesome! Fantastic! Great! Let’s play a game: I’ll hold my breath until the Alpine gets approved to come here. You let me know when that happens!
https://jalopnik.com/beautiful-french-car-we-cant-have-will-get-additional-w-1821097837
See that beautiful blue car up there? It’s the reborn Alpine A110 and, no duh, it’s not coming to the United States. So we can only admire it from afar and fantasize about how great the alleged sportier version will be.
Apparently, there’s a “Sport Chassis” A110 that will have a more tuned version of the car’s standard 1.8-liter engine, raising the power output up from 252 horsepower to 300, according to Auto Express, citing unnamed sources. Also, weight saving is in the works, too:
The A110 is already an extremely light car due to its widespread use of aluminium. However, Alpine’s engineers reckon they can suck up to 50kg out of the car by paring back on the interior trim – with a target weight of just 1,050kg.
The chassis and suspension will also be “between 15 and 20 percent” stiffer on the Sport model, though the brakes will remain the same as the base car due to the slight reduction in kerbweight. Programming for the dual clutch gearbox and steering, exhaust and ESC systems will be revised to deliver yet more response – especially in Track mode.
That means Alpine’s engineers think they will be able to shave an additional 100 pounds off of the A110's already lightweight body (2,400 pounds). Subtracting weight while adding power? Nothing incredible ever came out of that!
Awesome! Fantastic! Great! Let’s play a game: I’ll hold my breath until the Alpine gets approved to come here. You let me know when that happens!
https://jalopnik.com/beautiful-french-car-we-cant-have-will-get-additional-w-1821097837
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Autocar review
[video=youtube_share;rarJj9ZibpM]https://youtu.be/rarJj9ZibpM[/video]
[video=youtube_share;rarJj9ZibpM]https://youtu.be/rarJj9ZibpM[/video]
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Shmee’s channel has a 20min review
[video=youtube_share;_HPMWcbfIow]https://youtu.be/_HPMWcbfIow[/video]
[video=youtube_share;_HPMWcbfIow]https://youtu.be/_HPMWcbfIow[/video]
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Motor1 UK first drive
[video=youtube_share;2Sj759hN02o]https://youtu.be/2Sj759hN02o[/video]
[video=youtube_share;2Sj759hN02o]https://youtu.be/2Sj759hN02o[/video]
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Auto Express review
[video=youtube_share;4aCPgy-T9EA]https://youtu.be/4aCPgy-T9EA[/video]
[video=youtube_share;4aCPgy-T9EA]https://youtu.be/4aCPgy-T9EA[/video]
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Watched a number of reviews on this new Alpine & every single publication/video is going bananas for this car. As a driving tool it's up there with the best & even has the Cayman 718 licked!
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Ghosn inaugurates Alpine A110 production line
Carlos Ghosn, Renault Chairman and CEO and France’s Minister for Economy and Finance Bruno Le Maire, inaugurated the new Alpine A110 production line at Groupe Renault’s Alpine facility in Dieppe, Normandy, the brand’s original home. Together, Ghosn and Le Maire inspected the production line dedicated to Alpine’s new sports car.
Ghosn says: "The revival of Alpine production in Dieppe, where the original Berlinette was made almost 50 years ago, presented us with a challenge, but we rose to it together, with backing from the state, the region, the local urban district, Groupe Renault and the Alliance.
"Investment totalled more than €35 million, 151 people have been recruited and the factory has been refurbished. The excellence and French-style elegance that the brand stands for are more than just claims; today, in Dieppe they are an industrial reality."
Following two years’ work and an outlay of more than €35-million, the Dieppe plant is one of a kind in Europe. It is capable of assembling the new Alpine A110’s all-aluminium body and chassis, while the paint shop’s new sanding and cleaning robots guarantee a premium quality finish.
The assembly line itself has been modernised in accordance with the Alliance’s best practices.
In parallel to this transformation, the Dieppe plant has raised workforce levels by 60% with the recruitment of 151 new staff over the past two years, and all 392 employees have been given four weeks’ (140 hours) training specific to production of the Alpine A110.
As Alpine’s historic home, the factory built by Jean Rédélé in 1969 has long specialised in the production of small sporty models. Following its conversion to Alliance manufacturing standards and, more specifically, for production of the new Alpine A110, the Dieppe plant is today perfectly qualified to produce premium vehicles.
http://www.wheels24.co.za/NewModels/ghosn-inaugurates-alpine-a110-production-line-20171215
Carlos Ghosn, Renault Chairman and CEO and France’s Minister for Economy and Finance Bruno Le Maire, inaugurated the new Alpine A110 production line at Groupe Renault’s Alpine facility in Dieppe, Normandy, the brand’s original home. Together, Ghosn and Le Maire inspected the production line dedicated to Alpine’s new sports car.
Ghosn says: "The revival of Alpine production in Dieppe, where the original Berlinette was made almost 50 years ago, presented us with a challenge, but we rose to it together, with backing from the state, the region, the local urban district, Groupe Renault and the Alliance.
"Investment totalled more than €35 million, 151 people have been recruited and the factory has been refurbished. The excellence and French-style elegance that the brand stands for are more than just claims; today, in Dieppe they are an industrial reality."
Following two years’ work and an outlay of more than €35-million, the Dieppe plant is one of a kind in Europe. It is capable of assembling the new Alpine A110’s all-aluminium body and chassis, while the paint shop’s new sanding and cleaning robots guarantee a premium quality finish.
The assembly line itself has been modernised in accordance with the Alliance’s best practices.
In parallel to this transformation, the Dieppe plant has raised workforce levels by 60% with the recruitment of 151 new staff over the past two years, and all 392 employees have been given four weeks’ (140 hours) training specific to production of the Alpine A110.
As Alpine’s historic home, the factory built by Jean Rédélé in 1969 has long specialised in the production of small sporty models. Following its conversion to Alliance manufacturing standards and, more specifically, for production of the new Alpine A110, the Dieppe plant is today perfectly qualified to produce premium vehicles.
http://www.wheels24.co.za/NewModels/ghosn-inaugurates-alpine-a110-production-line-20171215
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Drive.com.au review
[video=youtube_share;114_XyEPGJM]https://youtu.be/114_XyEPGJM[/video]
[video=youtube_share;114_XyEPGJM]https://youtu.be/114_XyEPGJM[/video]
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Carfection review
[video=youtube_share;tROkW3iWhek]https://youtu.be/tROkW3iWhek[/video]
[video=youtube_share;tROkW3iWhek]https://youtu.be/tROkW3iWhek[/video]
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More focused Alpine A110 model confirmed for spring launch
Lighter variant and also a higher-spec version of French sports car will go to Geneva show
Alpine will launch the lightest version of its A110 sports car at the Geneva motor show alongside a more luxurious, higher-specced variant to create two new bookends for the current line-up.
The new A110 Pure (pictured white here), as the lighter version is called, is expected to weigh just 1080kg thanks to a pared-back specifications list that does away with unnecessary luxuries. While not confirming exact details yet, Alpine said the Pure retains the “minimalist approach” of the Premiere Edition - the trim offered with the car at launch - but that it is more “driver focused”.
This suggests it could ditch heavier cabin materials and use the lightest wheel option to minimise its unsprung mass. The car could also sacrifice some soundproofing as part of its diet and will become the new entry-level version of the A110.
Drive will come from the same turbocharged 1.8-litre four-cylinder engine producing 249bhp and 236lb ft of torque as the Premiere Edition, so power-to-weight will be the car's headline 231bhp/tonne – 9bhp more than arch-rival Porsche 718 Cayman.
Alpine may also adjust the car’s double wishbone suspension for sharper handling. Although unconfirmed, this is the strategy offered by parent company Renault with its performance models, such as the new Renault Sport Mégane RS, which comes with an optional Cup chassis.
Alongside the Pure will be a new range-topping model called the Légende (painted grey here), which will be a more refined A110 better suited to everyday driving. Expect this variant to receive leather seats, as well as a more forgiving chassis set-up than the Pure. Like the Pure, the Légende will retain the launch A110’s 249bhp engine.
The two new variants signal the start of a line-up expansion for the A110. A probable next addition will come with more power because while the A110's engine is shared with the Mégane RS, it falls short of the hot hatch’s power output by 33bhp. This emphasises how understressed the A110's current motor is and suggests a more potent version of the Alpine is in the pipeline.
Further evidence for this comes with the Mégane RS, which will almost certainly be launched with more power to create a closer rival to the Honda Civic Type R, which has 316bhp. If this RS powerplant were to be offered in the future A110 variant with around 300bhp, the sports car could produce in excess of 277bhp/tonne.
Following the Geneva motor show, Alpine, which is owned by Renault and based in Dieppe, will open its first UK dealers in the middle of this year.
https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/...sed-alpine-a110-model-confirmed-spring-launch
Lighter variant and also a higher-spec version of French sports car will go to Geneva show
Alpine will launch the lightest version of its A110 sports car at the Geneva motor show alongside a more luxurious, higher-specced variant to create two new bookends for the current line-up.
The new A110 Pure (pictured white here), as the lighter version is called, is expected to weigh just 1080kg thanks to a pared-back specifications list that does away with unnecessary luxuries. While not confirming exact details yet, Alpine said the Pure retains the “minimalist approach” of the Premiere Edition - the trim offered with the car at launch - but that it is more “driver focused”.
This suggests it could ditch heavier cabin materials and use the lightest wheel option to minimise its unsprung mass. The car could also sacrifice some soundproofing as part of its diet and will become the new entry-level version of the A110.
Drive will come from the same turbocharged 1.8-litre four-cylinder engine producing 249bhp and 236lb ft of torque as the Premiere Edition, so power-to-weight will be the car's headline 231bhp/tonne – 9bhp more than arch-rival Porsche 718 Cayman.
Alpine may also adjust the car’s double wishbone suspension for sharper handling. Although unconfirmed, this is the strategy offered by parent company Renault with its performance models, such as the new Renault Sport Mégane RS, which comes with an optional Cup chassis.
Alongside the Pure will be a new range-topping model called the Légende (painted grey here), which will be a more refined A110 better suited to everyday driving. Expect this variant to receive leather seats, as well as a more forgiving chassis set-up than the Pure. Like the Pure, the Légende will retain the launch A110’s 249bhp engine.
The two new variants signal the start of a line-up expansion for the A110. A probable next addition will come with more power because while the A110's engine is shared with the Mégane RS, it falls short of the hot hatch’s power output by 33bhp. This emphasises how understressed the A110's current motor is and suggests a more potent version of the Alpine is in the pipeline.
Further evidence for this comes with the Mégane RS, which will almost certainly be launched with more power to create a closer rival to the Honda Civic Type R, which has 316bhp. If this RS powerplant were to be offered in the future A110 variant with around 300bhp, the sports car could produce in excess of 277bhp/tonne.
Following the Geneva motor show, Alpine, which is owned by Renault and based in Dieppe, will open its first UK dealers in the middle of this year.
https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/...sed-alpine-a110-model-confirmed-spring-launch
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Alpine A110 Premiere Edition 2018 UK review
Should I buy one?
Unquestionably, you should experience an A110 before you take your £50,000 and bolt, unthinkingly, for the familiarity of Porsche or BMW.
Both manufacturers' rival models are quicker than the A110, and while the 718 Cayman S possesses a depth to its handling you’ll never tire of exploring, the M2 opens a sluice gate for cheap rear-driven thrills. You’d be delighted with either.
But probably not as delighted as you’d be with an A110. It is not flawless, but the contrasting attributes that appeal in its German counterparts are bedfellows in the A110, which manages to be both fun and interesting at almost any speed. On British roads, it can entertain like few others.
Alpine A110 Première Edition specification
Where Sussex, UK Price £51,805; On sale Now; Engine 4cyls, 1.8-litre, turbo, petrol; Power 249bhp at 6000rpm; Torque 239lb ft at 2000rpm; Gearbox 7-spd dual-clutch automatic; Kerb weight 1103kg; Top speed 155mph (limited); 0-62mph 4.5sec; Fuel economy 46.3mpg; CO2 138g/km; Rivals Porsche 718 Cayman, Alfa Romeo 4C
https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-revie...s/alpine-a110-premiere-edition-2018-uk-review
Should I buy one?
Unquestionably, you should experience an A110 before you take your £50,000 and bolt, unthinkingly, for the familiarity of Porsche or BMW.
Both manufacturers' rival models are quicker than the A110, and while the 718 Cayman S possesses a depth to its handling you’ll never tire of exploring, the M2 opens a sluice gate for cheap rear-driven thrills. You’d be delighted with either.
But probably not as delighted as you’d be with an A110. It is not flawless, but the contrasting attributes that appeal in its German counterparts are bedfellows in the A110, which manages to be both fun and interesting at almost any speed. On British roads, it can entertain like few others.
Alpine A110 Première Edition specification
Where Sussex, UK Price £51,805; On sale Now; Engine 4cyls, 1.8-litre, turbo, petrol; Power 249bhp at 6000rpm; Torque 239lb ft at 2000rpm; Gearbox 7-spd dual-clutch automatic; Kerb weight 1103kg; Top speed 155mph (limited); 0-62mph 4.5sec; Fuel economy 46.3mpg; CO2 138g/km; Rivals Porsche 718 Cayman, Alfa Romeo 4C
https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-revie...s/alpine-a110-premiere-edition-2018-uk-review
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Carbuyer review
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Carwow review