To understand what it means to play across the board in the automotive world, just look at what Alpine is doing: “les bleus” as the French call them in jargon, they race in F1 and in the 24 Hours of LeMans which this weekend will take the away with the 92nd edition. But not only that: they have a legendary small supercar on their list – the A110 – and an incredible range of sporty but “normal” cars, from the Clio to the Austral, from the Espace to the Capure.
No generalist car manufacturer in the world is so eclectic. And few are so loved in their homeland. Suffice it to say that when last Friday after the administrative and technical checks – an appointment organized in the Place de la République in Le Mans – Charles Milesi, Ferdinand Habsburg and Paul-Loup Chatin together with Matthieu Vaxiviere, Mick Schumacher and Nicolas Lapierre were literally overwhelmed by the public affection. Popular support confirmed the following day with the parade in the city centre, where the Alpine A424 passed amidst the applause of thousands of spectators.
And to think that the car that will fight for a whole day on the terrible 13,626 kilometers of the Circuit de la Sarthe has a relative that races in F1 and an almost infinite series of models on the list.
At the 24 Hours the battle will be tough – crazy lineup, with 23 Hypercars out of the 62 cars on the track – but that’s not the point.
The crux of the matter here is being able to leverage racing technology for production cars. A difficult path which, however, seems to be successful at Alpine: after killing the Renault F1 in the cradle (an operation disputed by many) the French company has managed to establish itself in the elite world of supercars. Fernando Alonso put a lot of effort into it before abandoning them for Aston, of course, but it is precisely the overall project that has worked.
So in the Alpine range, alongside the very light and very fun A110, there is something else. Result of the transformation of the Alpine brand into a sporty set-up of the series models. With the extra refinement that tries to connect to the philosophy of the sports brand: it is no coincidence that these versions are called “esprit Alpine”. So, for example, the new “dressed up” Clio really makes a different impression. A few numbers to understand the matter: in just 2 years Alpine sales have doubled, while the A110 has been crowned the best-selling sports car in France and ranks in the Top 5 of the sports coupé segment in Europe.
We then arrive at the Austral E-Tech full hybrid with 200 horsepower (but the range also includes the quieter Mild Hybrid Advanced and Mild Hybrid) which mixes sportiness with the obvious nature of a family car. However, the sporty Alpine soul comes out at any time if desired thanks to the new 4Control advanced system with 4 steering wheels which makes trajectories very precise and thanks to the well-known multi-sense system which offers up to 5 different driving configurations to adapt driving to road conditions and the driver’s wishes: engine sound and response, steering stability, interior lighting and driver screen configuration.
Obviously all this “Alpine esprit” comes from the brilliant A110 which revives the myth of Jean Rédelé, the Renault dealer from Dieppe who founded the Alpine, with a very modern and very fun to drive car. Rédelé was a great racing enthusiast and a brilliant driver: from a Renault 4 CV he created the first Alpine (the A106), then he immediately became a legend. And the conquest of impossible goals such as the Monte Carlo Rally, Tour de Corse and – even – the World Rally Championship. All goals achieved with the same recipe: lightness, lightness and more lightness.
“Ingredients” that we find intact – this is the beauty – in the new Alpine 110. Simple, light, full of historical references: one of the most fascinating recipes of our times. Yes, because, if the design is identical to that of the original model (we are almost a replica) then the technique offers a refined aluminum frame and an engine derived from the large series (it is that of the Megane), i.e. an 1800 turbo but from 252 HP (which can become over 300 on other versions), plus placed in a central rear position. All combined with double wishbone front and rear suspension and rear-wheel drive. Niceties.
The must here is discovered on the scales: the A110 stops the needle at 1080 kg. An absolute record made possible by the aluminum body and an obsessive search for lightness. From the upholstery to the suspension, through to the 13.1 kg monocoque seats. This is the Alpine spirit we were talking about. And this is why “les bleus” are so loved: they delight motorsport and sports car enthusiasts.
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