Alpine: Soon topless and as a pure Stromer
FUTURE From 2026 onwards, Alpine will only manufacture e-models. At the development center in Les Ulis, engineers are working on the electric A110 E-ternité. Just eight years after the relaunch, Renault is sending the two-seater to the charging station.
The successor to the A110 planned for 2026 will hit the road as a fully electric sports car (gallery above). At the same time, the model range will have grown to three electric models by then. In addition to the classic, a compact car based on the revived, electrically powered R5 is planned for next year and a crossover GT for 2025, which will be based on a Group platform but will be a completely independent model.
Typical DNA of the brand remains intact
The new models are being developed at Alpine's development center in Les Ulis near Paris. 200 experts are preparing the brand for the electric future, facing particular challenges in the electrification of the A110.
Head of Development Olivier Guintrand: "We definitely want to retain the typical Alpine DNA. That's why the engineers refrained from adopting the electric platform of the Mégane eTech. This would mean we would give up the ground clearance typical of the A110. The vehicle would then stand too high. That's why the 62 kWh energy storage system was split so that there are four modules under the front hood and eight in the rear."
Target for the E version 1320 kilogram weight
Power transmission of the currently 178 kW (243 hp) drive is handled by a two-speed gearbox developed by Alpine. As it stands today, the electric A110 accelerates to 100 km/h in 4.5 seconds, and the top speed is reached at 250 km/h. The two-seater currently weighs 1378 kilograms. The two-seater currently weighs 1378 kilograms, but the engineers are optimistic that the weight will be reduced to 1320 kilograms by the time it goes into series production. The combustion engine-A110-weighs 1120 kilograms and has a maximum speed of 260 km/h to 280 km/h, depending on the variant.
Range of the Stromer up to 420 kilometers
The distribution of the battery helps with the weight distribution. With a ratio of 42 percent at the front and 58 percent at the rear, the electric A110 almost matches the values of the combustion engine model (43/57). The engineers in Les Ulis provisionally state a range of 420 kilometers, although this is reduced to 260 kilometers at 120 km/h on the highway. By way of comparison, the combustion engine version covers 550 kilometers on a single tank.
Fresh air variant under homologation
While the electric A110 won't be introduced for another three years, an A110 with an open roof will probably be launched next year, because many customers keep asking for an open A110. The two halves of the roof can be easily removed and stored in the two luggage compartments. Homologation is currently underway for the fresh-air variant (gallery below).
In May there is a big celebration in Dieppe
The A110 is built at Renault's smallest plant in Dieppe, where the brand's history began in 1955. That was when Jean Rédélé developed his first sports car. The brand was later taken over by Renault. In 1973, Alpine celebrated its first major success by winning the World Rally Championship, which thousands of Alpine fans will celebrate over a weekend in Dieppe on May 19-21. The first electric prototype, the Alpine E-ternité, will also be on display there.
Rising sales also in Switzerland
2022 was another record year for Alpine, with registrations worldwide up by more than 33 percent. Launching sales in new markets, Alpine continues its international expansion and expands its dealer network by almost half. Sales in Switzerland rose 32 percent in 2022, making Switzerland the sixth-largest market worldwide, and the order backlog for 2023 will last for several months. So there are plenty of reasons for a hearty celebration,
