Free Car Mag love the Alpine A110 and here is a sneak peek at our 2018 issue where we celebrate the wonderfulness of the best sportswear in ages.
Designed and manufactured in France, the mid-engined, two-seater coupé features aluminium construction to keep weight to a minimum and sophisticated double-wishbone suspension. The A110 Première Edition is powered by a turbocharged, 1.8-litre, four-cylinder petrol engine, which develops 252PS. Like all Alpines, it’s rear-wheel drive.
Limited to 1,955 examples – a nod to the year Alpine was founded – the A110 Première Edition was fully reserved within days of going on sale. The production series A110 will follow shortly. The first new model for two decades, the A110 Première Edition marks the relaunch of Alpine. Conceived as a standalone business unit within Groupe Renault, Alpine has an ambitious long-term strategy that invokes the vision and determination of its founder, Jean Rédélé.
The turbocharged 1.8-litre direct injection four-cylinder engine – customised by Alpine with speci c intake, exhaust, and turbo systems plus bespoke calibration – develops a maximum power output of 252PS at 6,000rpm, with 320Nm of torque from just 2,000rpm.
The car’s excellent power to weight ratio (228PS/tonne), plus a launch control
function, enables the A110 to sprint to 62mph in 4.5 seconds. Its top speed is electronically limited at 156mph. The lightweight construction ensures excellent fuel economy (46.3mpg NEDC Combined) and low CO2 emissions (138g/km), too.
The limited-edition A110 Première Edition comes very highly specified as standard. There is no options list – buyers simply choose between Alpine Blue, Noir Profond (black) and Blanc Solaire (pearlescent white) paintwork.
Included on each A110 Première Edition are lightweight 18-inch Otto Fuchs forged aluminium wheels, an active sports exhaust, Focal audio system, carbon bre interior accents, brushed aluminium pedals, leather-trimmed Sabelt one-piece sports seats, a numbered Première Edition plaque on the centre console and tasteful Tricolore badges on the rear pillars.
Proudly displaying a numbered plaque on the centre console, each A110 Première Edition comes fully-equipped as standard, underlining the car’s day-to-day usability. Satellite navigation, climate control and cruise control ensure the A110 Première Edition is as effortless in everyday use as it is fun to drive. The Alpine Telemetrics, meanwhile, allows drivers to record lap times on track days and store performance driving data.
The A110 Première Edition also comes equipped with MySpin mobile phone connectivity, which ‘mirrors’ the driver’s smartphone to allow safe and simple use when on the move, further underlining the car’s day-to-day usability.
As well as a rich heritage in building agile, lightweight sports cars that are in their element on winding mountain roads, Alpine is also well-known for competing at the highest level of international motorsport. Its crowning glories include winning the 1973 World Rally Championship title and outright victory at the 1978 24 Hours of Le Mans.
It is in that same spirit that Alpine today competes in international endurance racing.
Its title-winning FIA LMP2 World Endurance Championship programme showcases the brand’s ambition and commitment to motorsport. New for 2018, the recently announced one-make Alpine Europa Cup for race-prepared A110 Cups, which will be run by Alpine’s racing partner Signatech, demonstrates the coupé’s performance as well as Alpine’s commitment to customer racing. Free Car Mag will be at the front of the queue.
