With a sports car study Renault now gives an outlook on the comeback of the Alpine brand. The compact mid-engine coupe named Celebration Concept celebrated its premiere on the sidelines of the 24-hour race in Le Mans. The occasion was not just the 60th birthday of the brand: The study also wants to give an outlook on the production model expected for 2016 - the first in 20 years.
The classic model of the blue-orange two-seater is the classic Alpine A110 from the 60s. The flat, centrally folded front hood with the typical double headlights comes from him (but covered with the racing style in the study). Overall, the study is much closer to series production than the Alpine A2012-110 prototype concept vehicle presented by Renault in 50.
The manufacturer does not provide information on the motorization. It would be conceivable to use the 1,6 liter turbo gasoline from cooperation partner Nissan. The four-cylinder currently used with output values of up to 140 kW / 190 hp is also to be used in a variant with significantly more than 200 hp in the Golf GTI competitor Nissan Pulsar Nismo.
The price for an Alpine could be between 30.000 and almost 70.000 euros, depending on the design and effort. Depending on whether the French are based on fun cars that are still suitable for everyday use, such as the Toyota GT86, or on uncompromising lightweight driving machines such as the Alfa Romeo 4C.
Specific Renault plans for the Alpine renaissance have been known since around 2012. Initially a cooperation with the British sports car manufacturer Caterham was discussed, but in the end it was decided to handle the project alone. Sports cars with the Alpine logo still enjoy icon status in France - comparable to the nimbus of Porsche in Germany or Maserati in Italy. The first of the flat flounders with polyester skin and Renault engines went into series production in 1955 - as a continuation of French sports car construction, as once celebrated by Bugatti. 1995 came the temporary end for the sports car manufacturer, which had meanwhile been taken over by Renault.
Author: Holger Holzer / SP-X
