Tag Archives: Alpine

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Alpine reveals hydrogen-combustion sports activities automotive with 335bhp

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Alpine has unveiled the Alpenglow Hy4, a hydrogen-combustion supercar that will likely be used to develop the expertise for future highway and observe vehicles.

An evolution of the Alpenglow concept proven two years in the past, it tomorrow makes its dynamic debut at Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium as a showcase of the efficiency potential of the rising expertise.

It is powered by a brand new turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine mentioned to be unrelated to the A110’s. Hydrogen is drawn from three tanks, every carrying 2.1kg of the fuel at 700 bar of stress. This is then injected into the cylinders at 40 bar alongside a sprig of water that’s mentioned to scale back poisonous NOx emissions.

The powerplant can rev to 7000rpm – 200rpm greater than its restrict within the top-rung A110 R – and sends as much as 335bhp by means of a sequential gearbox. Performance is alleged to be corresponding to its petrol counterpart.

To accommodate the system, Alpine has tweaked the Alpenglow’s proportions in contrast with the 2022 idea. It sits barely greater and the crash construction has been reworked to suit two occupants, as an illustration, and the sidepods now host the hydrogen tanks.

The automotive will perform demonstration runs at a number of high-profile occasions, informing the event of an all-new hydrogen-powered V6 that’s below means at Alpine. That engine is earmarked to exchange the Alpenglow’s current four-pot by the tip of this 12 months and can most certainly energy the corporate’s entrant for the 2027 version of the Le Mans 24 Hours – the primary 12 months that hydrogen-combustion vehicles will likely be allowed to compete. Alpine mentioned it’s “paying close attention” to such regulation adjustments throughout motorsport.

Alpine Alpenglow Hy4 – rear quarter

The model additionally steered that the V6 may even be certain for its future highway vehicles. Bruno Famin, vice-president of Alpine Motorsports, mentioned: “As a part of our lively participation in decarbonising motorsports, we see the hydrogen inside combustion engine as a particularly promising resolution.

“We know that hydrogen will likely be an important step in decarbonising the subsequent generations of endurance vehicles and may be for Formula 1 vehicles, significantly by switching to liquid storage for higher compactness and efficiency.

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

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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

Zagato’s New Sports Car Has A Removable Long-Tail Rear Bumper

Zagato has a beautiful new automobile known as the AGTZ Twin Tail. It pays homage to the Alpine A220 that raced at Le Mans, and it is based mostly on the mid-engined Alpine A110 sports activities automobile. But that is extra than simply one other beautiful wanting, ultra-expensive car.

Like the Alfa Romeo TZ1, the Iso Rivolta GTZ, and different Zagato builds earlier than it, the AGTZ has a shapely rear finish design. But right here the again finish is definitely detachable; The Twin Tail provides you the choice of a protracted tail search for higher aerodynamics or a stocky brief tail design for every day cruising. Both iterations of the Alpine-based sports activities automobile look beautiful.

Zagato AGTZ Twin Tail
Zagato AGTZ Twin Tail

Zagato doesn’t say what powers the Twin Tail, however it possible retains the manufacturing facility A110’s turbocharged 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine, rated at 249 horsepower from the manufacturing facility. In the A110 the engine is paired to a seven-speed dual-clutch computerized and rear-wheel drive, which helps it to 62 miles per hour in about 4.5 seconds. Zagato doesn’t say how a lot weight it added with the additional bodywork, both, however the base A110 weighs a scant 2,429 kilos—so it shouldn’t be rather more than that.

 

If you’re one of many 19 fortunate patrons of this stunning bespoke Alpine, you’ll be capable to choose any livery or inside shade mixture you want. Zagato showcases the primary two vehicles in blue and white, in addition to a 3rd automobile with a good-looking blue, white, and purple ‘tricolore’ Hommage livery as a nod to the French flag.

Zagato AGTZ Twin Tail
Zagato AGTZ Twin Tail

Prices begin at €650,000, and practically half of them have already been spoken for. The Zagato AGTZ Twin Tail makes its in-person world debut on the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este in May.

Motorsport

Alpine Sold Over 4,000 Sports Cars In 2023

Alpine had all-time excessive gross sales in 2023 when Renault and Dacia manufacturers a part of the identical group posted sturdy gross sales.

This is AM Drive, Motor1’s each day take a look at the information you want earlier than you get in your automotive.

Alpine Sold 4,328 Cars Last Year

The Renault Group’s efficiency arm, Alpine, loved double-digit development in 2023 as demand elevated for the third consecutive 12 months. Deliveries surged by 22.1 % in comparison with 2022, reaching 4,328 models. The A110, the corporate’s sole mannequin, emerged as the preferred two-seater sports activities coupe in Europe, particularly in Germany the place gross sales elevated by 34 %, in addition to in Belgium (+32 %) and at house in France (+26 %).


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).


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.


News

From the motorsport archive: on this day in 1968

In 1955, Jean Rédélé decided to name his new sports car company Alpine as a tribute to his successful performances in the Alpine Rally, where he drove his highly modified Renaults.

However, despite the company’s name, Alpine cars were unable to win the famous race held in the mountains of southern France. The cars often faced mechanical issues, which prevented them from achieving victory.

Eager to overcome this ongoing challenge, Alpine entered five factory-prepared A110s, along with 13 other Alpine vehicles, into the 1968 event. They faced tough competition from Renault-Gordini 8s, Ford Escorts, Lancia Fulvia Coupés, Daf 55s, Alfa Romeo GTAs, Porsche 911s, and more. Surprisingly, there were no Mini Coopers, but there were some unusual entries like a “simply hideous” truncated Citroën DS and a Vauxhall Ventora.

Unfortunately, the race was marred by heavy rain and fog during the first leg, resulting in accidents and failures for many participants. Out of the initial 64 vehicles, only 25 managed to survive the 845-mile journey from Marseille to Aix-les-Bains. At the front, three Alpines battled with two Alfas.

For the following 520-mile mountain loop, the treacherous conditions persisted, reducing the number of remaining competitors to just 16 by the end of the night. An Alpine led the race, followed by a Lancia and an Alfa Romeo.

The final leg involved a 955-mile journey back down to Antibes. The focus was on the intense competition between René Trautmann and Jean-Louis Barailler, who were separated by a mere 15 seconds. Meanwhile, Jean Vinatier was already 11 minutes behind. To everyone’s delight, Vinatier achieved victory in the glorious sunshine, redeeming the disappointment of previous years.

Motorsport

Alpine A290 Electric Hot Hatch Spotted for the First Time

In May of this year, Alpine, the French performance brand owned by Renault, revealed the A290_β prototype as a more powerful version of the upcoming Renault 5 revival. It was announced that the production model based on this concept would be available in 2024. Today, we have the first glimpse of what it will look like, thanks to a set of spy photos.

The images show a camouflaged A290 test vehicle. Despite the coverings, it’s evident that the overall profile will remain largely unchanged from the concept car, with the main difference being the switch from a two-door layout to a four-door body style.


News

New Alpine A310 Coming as Electric, Four-seat A110

The French company, Alpine, is planning to reintroduce the A310 as a stylish, four-seat electric sports car. The company’s executives have confirmed that the upcoming model will stay true to Alpine’s core values of lightness and agility. This revival of the A310 is part of a larger initiative by the Renault Group’s sporting brand to launch seven new electric cars by 2030.

The new A310 will share the same Alpine Performance Platform (APP) as the upcoming electric A110 coupe, which is scheduled for release in 2027. It is expected that the A310 will serve as a more practical option compared to the flagship two-seater A110, similar to the relationship between the Porsche 718 Cayman and 911 models.

The APP architecture focuses on performance and flexibility and will form the foundation for a compact four-seater that promises engaging driving dynamics, aiming to become an iconic future sports car. Alpine’s marketing director, Bruce Pillard, emphasized that even though their future models will be electric, they will retain the essence of Alpine vehicles with their agility and lightweight feel.

Design director Antony Villain stated that they plan to create a 2+2 sports car that combines the concept of the A310 with the current APP platform. The final design is expected to be completed within 18 months.

This decision to make the A310 a four-seater aligns with Alpine’s broader strategy to transition from a niche manufacturer to a major player in the global automotive market. Their diversified lineup will include the A290 hot hatchback based on the Renault 5, the A110 in both coupe and roadster versions, the A310, the GT X-Over crossover, and luxury models in the D- and E-segments. All of these models are set to be released within the next seven years.

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.