Alpine A110

Alpine A110
Lothar Spurzem · CC BY-SA 2.0 de · source
Name	Alpine A110
Manufacturer	Alpine (Société des Automobiles Alpine)
Production	1961–1977; 2017–2021 (revival)
Class	Sports car
Body style	2-door coupe
Layout	Rear-engine, rear-wheel drive; rear-mid in revival
Engine	Inline-four engines (Renault-based); turbocharged options in revival
Designer	Giovanni Michelotti (early), Jean Rédélé involvement

Alpine A110 The Alpine A110 is a sports car lineage originating with a lightweight coupe produced by Alpine from 1961 to 1977 and revived by Alpine (Groupe Renault) from 2017. The model achieved notoriety through victories in international World Rally Championship rounds, acclaim from critics at events like the Paris Motor Show and Goodwood Festival of Speed, and influence on later designs by firms such as Renault and collaborations with designers like Giovanni Michelotti.

History

Conceived by Jean Rédélé after success in events like the Monte Carlo Rally and built with support from Renault and suppliers such as Société des Automobiles Alpine, the original A110 evolved from Alpine prototypes displayed at the Salon de l'Automobile de Paris and raced in European rallies including the Rallye Monte-Carlo and Tour de Corse. During the 1960s and 1970s the car competed against contemporaries from Porsche, Lotus Engineering, and Fiat in events organized by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile and under homologation rules set by FIA Group 4. Financial and industrial changes involving Gordini, Renault Sport, and acquisitions by Groupe Renault affected production until the original line ended in 1977. The 2017 revival, developed by teams at Renault Sport Technologies and unveiled at venues like the Geneva Motor Show, referenced the original through styling cues and modern engineering partnerships with suppliers such as Sabelt and Brembo.

Design and Engineering

The original A110 employed a fibreglass body over a tubular steel shell with mechanical components sourced from Renault 8 and Renault 12, featuring rear-mounted Cléon-Fonte and later Sierra-era inspirations in layout. Revival models used an aluminium chassis and bonded body techniques developed alongside engineers from Lotus Cars-adjacent suppliers and powertrain tuning by Renault Sport. Suspension geometry, braking systems, and aerodynamic detailing were influenced by testing at circuits like Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours and wind-tunnel work associated with firms such as Technische Universität München collaborations. Styling drew on previous coachbuilders and designers including Michelotti and echoed proportions seen in contemporary concept cars by Pininfarina and Bertone.

Performance and Specifications

Original A110 variants featured inline-four engines with displacements commonly ranging from small-capacity units under 1.3 L to larger 1.6 L tuners, producing outputs competitive with cars from Alfa Romeo, BMW, and Datsun rally rivals. Weight figures were kept low through fibreglass construction to rival lightweight designs from Lotus and MG, enabling quick acceleration and nimble handling on stages similar to those in the Acropolis Rally and Rallye Sanremo. The modern A110 used turbocharged powerplants and a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission developed alongside Getrag-type suppliers, with power, torque, curb weight, 0–100 km/h and top-speed figures benchmarked against models such as the Porsche 718 Cayman, Audi TT RS, and Alpine A110 Cup competition spec cars.

Models and Variants

Throughout its history the A110 spawned numerous factory and privateer variants: early lightweight berlinettes, rally-prepared homologation specials used in FIA World Rally Championship events, later road-going series and limited editions coordinated by Renault Sport and coachbuilt examples. Revival-era derivatives included sport, premiere edition, and track-focused Cup and Sprint models produced in collaboration with suppliers like Öhlins for suspension tuning and Brembo for braking. Special editions commemorated motorsport achievements and anniversaries akin to celebratory models from Jaguar and Ferrari; bespoke commissions paralleled one-offs from coachbuilders such as Alfa Romeo's historical collaborations.

Motorsport and Racing

The A110 secured landmark victories in rallying, most notably the manufacturers' title in the inaugural World Rally Championship season, with drivers and teams associated with figures like Ove Andersson-era crews and privateers contesting rounds at the Safari Rally and RAC Rally. Competitors included factory efforts from Ford Motor Company, Lancia, and Fiat across gruelling surfaces from tarmac of the Tour de Corse to gravel of the Acropolis Rally. Revival models have been campaigned in one-make series, GT cups and historic racing events at venues such as Goodwood Revival and Le Mans Classic, often prepared by specialists involved with Prodrive-adjacent engineering practices.

Production and Sales

Initial production took place at facilities connected to Alpine and subcontractors allied with Renault; volumes were modest relative to mass-market models from Peugeot and Citroën, constrained by hand-built methods and rally homologation runs. The 2017 revival used centralized manufacturing within Groupe Renault networks, supplying European markets and export destinations competing with niche sports cars from Porsche, Lotus Cars, and rivals; sales and distribution were managed through dealer networks including those of Renault and campus showrooms at events like the Geneva Motor Show.

Reception and Legacy

Critics from publications linked to automotive journalism circles including comparisons to Porsche 911 and praise during appearances at the Goodwood Festival of Speed have cemented the A110's status among enthusiasts, historians at institutions like the National Motor Museum, and collectors in auctions alongside models from Ferrari and Aston Martin. The A110's influence is visible in contemporary lightweight sports car philosophy embraced by marques like Lotus Cars and in motorsport heritage initiatives by Renault Sport. Its legacy persists through museum exhibits, historic rally entries, and cultural references in media collaborating with organizations such as Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile and classic car clubs.

Category:Sports cars