What's the news?
The eagerly-awaited Alpine A110 has just debuted at the Geneva Motor Show. We already knew that the aluminium platform and body would help keep weight down, but a dry figure of 1,080kg seems scarcely believable by today's standards. Neat weight-saving touches abound, such as the Sabelt bucket seats and specially-designed rear brake calipers with integrated parking brake actuators, and Alpine claims a weight distribution of 44:56 front to rear.
Propulsion is provided by the new Renault-Nissan 1.8-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine, breathed on by Alpine's engineers to create 252hp and 320Nm of torque. While those numbers aren't exactly earth-shattering, the low mass of the car means a 0-100km/h time of 4.5 seconds is said to be achievable on the way to a top speed of 249km/h. A seven-speed Getrag DCT gearbox is utilised and three switchable driver modes (Normal, Sport and Track) are available.
Pictures of the car's final form had already leaked last week, and showed a sleek design that draws much inspiration from the original A110 Berlinette. We now know that a flat floor and rear diffuser have negated the need for a rear spoiler, and Alpine claims that the overall shape actually produces downforce. Double wishbone suspension is used front and rear, while famed wheelmakers Fuchs provide the gorgeous 18-inch alloys that hide Brembo's latest braking technology. All the right ingredients are here, so let's hope that the A110 will be as good to drive as the specs suggest...
Anything else?
Fittingly, the A110 will be built in the same Dieppe factory as its illustrious predecessors. The plant has also produced luminaries such as the Clio V6 and Megane R26.R in the past, and some of the workers still wear protective clothing bearing the original Alpine logo. That's true passion.
The A110 Premiere Edition is set to cost €58,500 in its native France, with deliveries of the first right-hand drive cars occurring next year. We await with bated breath.