Car Alpine sportS could Spawn coNvertible And high-performance Models !

Reborn brand is contemplating adding a convertible and more powerful models to its hotly anticipated sports car range

Early interest in the sale of a new Alpine sports car company bosses have been given the confidence to investigate the issue of creating a family of spin-offs, including higher performance and a convertible version of the car.

In the build-up to the launch of a sports car, which will be revealed this winter, before the sales begin early next year, Alpine has revealed two concepts: rally-inspired Alpine Celebration (shown below) and more production-oriented Alpine Vision. The latter, which is said to be 80% representation of the production model, highlighting the Alpine plans to create a point of difference from rivals such as Porsche and Lotus by focusing on compact dimensions and agility direct control without sacrificing interior comfort.

"If you look back through our history, where we can most legitimately is to build a rear-wheel-drive sports car rear-engined lightweight, agile and fun to drive every day, rather than running the fastest to 150mph," said boss Alpine Michael van der Sande.

"We did not make a big, heavy, powerful cars for the racetrack or autobahn; we're building cars that will delight of a reasonable speed on and that does not compromise on the quality of the interior to reach it."

Powertrain details have not been revealed, beyond the fact that the engine will be a turbocharged four-cylinder unit of capacity is not specified. However, Autocar understands the engine will be a 1.8-liter unit developed from the 1.6-liter turbocharged engine used in the Renault Clio RS.

engine output is also disclosed at this stage, but sources have indicated that the launch of Alpine will have around 250bhp as standard and up to 300bhp in the version-higher performance that will use more aggressive turbocharging.

"We have more ideas than funds at this time, but it is one of the challenges from the start a brand from scratch," says van der Sande. "We must prove the existing demand for the car and then begin to see which of our plan makes the most sense. A faster version looks like it will have the potential, and I can imagine convertible beautiful could be a possibility, but nothing is decided . "

The Alpine will be sold through a network of 60-80 European dealers initially, the majority of which will be part of existing Renault facilities.

Right-hand-drive models will be built for sale in the UK, van der Sande confirmed, before also saying that building the brand outside of Europe was possible at a future date.

“For now, Europe is the focus,” he said. “As a brand, we must build step by step, and awareness of our history varies around the world - but, longer term, anything is possible, be it the US, China or elsewhere in the world.” He also reiterated that Alpine would expand to sell a family of cars in time, with at least one SUV already having been mooted.

“We have six or seven ideas on the drawing board, but whatever we do in the future must always be underpinned by an authentic sports car,” he said. “That’s what we’re known for and that’s what we must get established before we start expanding the range.”

Q&A with ANTONY VILLAIN, ALPINE DESIGN DIRECTOR

How long have you been working on the sports car?

“About four years ago I moved from the Clio and Captur projects to Alpine. It’s a small team, but one that gets involved in every aspect, from designing the car to designing the branding or livery of the Le Mans race team. We do it all, but because of that it is a very different project.”

How did you start?

“The first thing I did was take the team to an Alpine collector. We spent days sketching, painting and photographing about 20 cars. We wanted to understand the heritage and what codes identified the brand. The A110 was central to it, of course, but there is more to Alpine than a single car.”

What were the conclusions?

“Compact dimensions, light weight and agility were key. Keeping things simple is key to elegance — but not too simple so we end up with something as pure as a race car. We want refinement, too. This is not an Alfa 4C with a singular purpose.”

The first pre-production car is finished. Are you pleased?

“It’s in the factory, yes. All I will tell you is that it has soul, and that was one of our goals. Some cars are almost too clinical to have soul. The Alpine is beautiful but not clinical. It has signatures from the past but is very modern in its execution.”