What's the news?
Renault is resurrecting the famous Alpine brand, and the first fruit of its labour is beginning to take shape at the historic Dieppe factory.
Previewed by the Vision concept, it will take direct aim at the likes of the Porsche Cayman, and draws several styling cues from the legendary A110 of the 1960s and 1970s. A 0-100km/h time of 4.5 seconds has been confirmed, along with the intent to deliver the first cars to customers in late 2017, and full technical specifications will be released early in the New Year.
The first 1,955 cars to roll off the line will be known as the Première Edition, and eager buyers now have the opportunity to reserve one of those with a deposit of €2,000. That number refers to the year 1955, when Jean Rédélé established the niche company. Available in white, black, or the classic 'Bleu Alpine' and individually numbered with a plaque on the centre console, customers will also be able to select their own preferred build number depending on availability.
Anything else?
While there's no word yet regarding the car's availability in Ireland, right-hand drive cars for the UK and Japan are expected to arrive slightly later than the left-hand drive models. It's expected to sell for between €55,000 and €60,000 in its native France, putting it right in contention with the other competitors in its market segment. Alpine's Managing Director Michael Van der Sande remarked: "Alpines made such a mark because of the elegance of their designs, their nimble handling and their memorable successes in world class motor racing and rallying. The interest that the announcement of Alpine's return has generated across the globe inspired us to give sports car enthusiasts and Alpine fans early opportunity to reserve the new car."