Tag Archives: A110

News

Alpine A110 set for sub-tonne, £200k last version

Leave a comment

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on the situation that Alpine sells fewer than 1500 automobiles per 12 months within the EU till the mannequin is withdrawn from sale.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.”

Motorsport

This New Alpine A110 Trim Makes The R Model Slightly More Affordable

We’ve seen a lot of iterations of the mid-engine Alpine A110 since its launch almost seven years in the past. Now, there is a new taste. It’s referred to as the A110 R Turini and it serves as a cheaper-but-still-expensive various to the range-topping R.

The distinction between the 2 is the dearth of carbon fiber wheels. The new A110 R Turini does away with the light-weight wheels in favor of 18-inch alloys with a matte black look. But this downgrade nonetheless is not a discount by any stretch of the creativeness.

In France, the latest A110 mannequin retails from €106,000, about $114,000 at present alternate charges. Go for the full-fat R mannequin and you will be paying an eye-watering €112,000 (almost $121,000).


Car review

Alpine A110 R

Conditions were favourable on the day of our performance tests and, while the A110 R didn’t quite match its acceleration claims, it certainly went quicker than any other derivative we have timed previously.

Launch control is engaged in either Sport or Race driving mode. With electronic stability control set to ESC-Track, you simply hold the car on the brake pedal and give both shift paddles a long pull. The car governs its revs at about 3500rpm, feeding the clutch out quite progressively as you lift off the brake, and making for a getaway that feels brisk but not rapacious, and – thanks to those warm Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres – is always delivered under control, with a surfeit of grip over grunt.

Averaged in two directions, our test car managed 60mph from rest in 4.2sec (half a second quicker than the A110 Première Edition we tested in 2018), and a standing quarter mile in 12.5sec (13.2sec for the standard car). 

In broader terms, of course, that’s not particularly quick for a near-£100,000 sports car (BMW M4 Competition: 3.9sec, 12.1sec; Porsche Cayman GT4 RS: precisely the same). So the question you soon come to acquaint yourself with when driving the A110 R is: how much do I really want a lot of power in my track-ready sports car? How much do I need to accelerate really quickly, or to hear a really appealing, free-revving, multi-cylinder engine?

It isn’t that difficult to answer at least one of those questions, because the A110 R is certainly quick enough to get your pulse racing – on the road or on the track. It responds with a little bit of softness and latency when you apply power from middling revs, but then pulls cleanly and purposefully to well beyond 6000rpm.

So, for a four-cylinder turbo, this motor is strong enough, and it’s well matched to a dual-clutch gearbox of well-chosen ratios that shifts crisply in manual mode.

But, although Alpine has put in plenty of effort to better tune the R’s exhaust, intake resonator pipe and engine cover to give that engine a deeper, more dramatic audible character than it has elsewhere, it does lack some richness and distinguishing mechanical appeal, as well as really big-hitting firepower. For this price, other sports cars give you significantly more of both, leaving the A110 R’s chassis plenty of ground to make up.

Track Notes (Millbrook Proving Ground, Hill Route)

Alpine estimates that the Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres on the A110 R are worth between one-half and a full second of lap time at most circuits, compared with the Pilot Sport 4s on an A110 S.

They certainly give the car a powerful hold on dry asphalt, and its tautly controlled body, stability-minded chassis tuning and huge stopping power give you huge confidence to go barrelling into braking zones, and to challenge yourself with how much speed you can carry from apex to apex.

You have to drive the car harder still to tease any adjustability at all from what is a pretty serious-feeling handling balance – and, for the most part, in vain.

The four-cylinder engine typically can’t overwhelm the driven axle’s grip level when accelerating out of tighter bends, and it takes a lot of corner-entry speed to start to move the rear of the car around  on a trailing throttle.

Motorsport

Esteban Ocon Tests Alpine A110 Prototype on the Nurburgring

Formula One driver Esteban Ocon is seen testing the upcoming Alpine A110 variant at the famous Nürburgring. The vehicle completes a lap in 7 minutes and 18.77 seconds, according to CarSpyVideo’s timing.

Ocon’s test took place during the industry pool testing period, which means other vehicles were also on the track. However, his performance suggests he could potentially achieve an even faster time on an empty track without any traffic.

Despite the presence of other cars, Ocon drives the A110 aggressively, taking sharp corners and pushing the car to its limits. The sound of the tires screeching can be heard during some intense moments.

In the video, it is evident that Ocon completes multiple laps. The weather varies, with some shots showing a sunny track and others showing the headlights on and their reflection off the asphalt.

For comparison, the 2012 Corvette ZR1 completed the same course in 7 minutes and 19.63 seconds, as recorded by Chevy.


Motorsport

Hotter Alpine A110 Spied With More Aggressive Body

A new batch of spy photos provides a fresh look at the upcoming high-performance version of the Alpine A110. While the name of this variant is unknown, it is clear that it boasts a more aggressive appearance compared to other existing trims.

The front fascia of this A110 prototype is reminiscent of the Alpine A110 R model, with the addition of canards on the outer corners. Furthermore, the hood features two large openings near the base of the windshield.


Motorsport

New Variant of the Alpine A110 Spotted Testing at the Nurburgring

New spy shots have revealed that Alpine is working on another version of the A110. While the exact name of the model is still unknown, the photos suggest that it will be a more powerful and extreme version of the already capable sports coupe.

The prototype of this new A110 variant is currently being developed on the Nürburgring and nearby roads. The front of the car resembles the existing A110 R model, but with some noticeable enhancements. It features canards on the corners and an additional layer for the front splitter. The hood also has larger inlets near the base of the windshield.

Alpine A110 Extreme Spy Shot

2023 Alpine A110 R

The side profile of the car remains largely unchanged. It is equipped with polished wheels featuring Y-shaped spokes, as well as slotted front and rear brake discs with red calipers. The ride height appears to be even lower than the current A110 R variant.



Motorsport

Alpine A310 Exclusive Rendering Resurrects French 2+2 Sports Coupe

Alpine, owned by Renault, is currently experiencing record sales for its A110 sports car and is operating at maximum production capacity to meet demand. The French brand has plans for further growth in the coming years, including the launch of a full range of new products. One of these is a modern successor to the A310, and we have an exclusive rendering that gives us an idea of what it could look like.

Let’s start with some background information. The A310 was introduced in 1971 as a replacement for the popular A110. It made its debut at the 1971 Geneva Motor Show and initially came with a rear-mounted four-cylinder engine producing 125 horsepower (93 kilowatts). The A310 was heavier than its predecessor and was criticized for being underpowered. In response, Renault gave it a facelift in 1975, which included a more powerful 148-horsepower (110-kilowatt) V6 engine borrowed from other models in the company’s lineup. This made it the high-performance flagship of the brand at the time.


Motorsport

Alpine A110 R Autobahn Run Proves French Coupe Doesn’t Get Enough Attention

It’s safe to say that the Alpine A110 doesn’t receive the recognition it deserves. This small sports car boasts a lightweight design and a powerful turbocharged engine. With its origins rooted in the expertise of Renault’s engineers, this vehicle offers a winning combination. In its most extreme version, the A110 competes favorably with the Porsche 718 Cayman. Still skeptical? Just take a look at the video above.

The footage showcases an Alpine A110 R during a high-speed test conducted on the Autobahn. This particular variant represents the most potent and upgraded version of the sports coupe, which debuted in October of last year. While power is undoubtedly important, there’s an even more impressive figure – the car weighs just 2,385 pounds (1,082 kilograms). Achieving this weight was made possible through a deliberate implementation of carbon fiber, thereby reducing the car’s overall weight by approximately 75 pounds (34 kilograms).