Alpine can also be focusing on a kerb weight under 1000kg, giving the brand new A110 the same power-to-weight ratio because the Cayman GT4 RS, rated at 348bhp per tonne.

Autocar understands Alpine’s ambition is to beat the GT4 RS’s Nürburgring lap time of 7min 4.51sec. In October, spy photographers clocked the A110 at 7min 18.77sec with Ocon behind the wheel, suggesting there’s nonetheless extra for Dieppe to unlock.

The new variant is predicted to be the ultimate outing of the present A110 earlier than it is retired to make means for the next-generation electrical mannequin, and it may put on the Ultime identify to mirror this place.

A110 gross sales are set to be severely restricted over the subsequent couple of years, as a result of European Union’s new GSR2 security requirements. The present automotive would not adjust to the requirements, which can come into impact this July, however has been granted a two-year keep of execution on the situation that Alpine sells fewer than 1500 automobiles per 12 months within the EU till the mannequin is withdrawn from sale.

Roberto Bonetto, Alpine’s vice-president of engineering, instructed Autocar: “We believe we can use that to keep the A110 on sale in its most important European markets until July 2026 and hope to develop our market presence outside of the EU in order to export the balance of our cars and maintain a viable production volume for the factory.”