Alpine: Gendarmes on express duty

The French Gendarmerie's new Alpine A110 fleet replaces the Renault Mégane R.S. models, which are also very sporty. Richard Filmotte, head of the Gendarmerie's squadron and curator of the Gendarmerie National Museum, tells how the new sports car revives a more than 50-year association between the Gendarmerie and the legendary Berlinette.

Order on French roads
For decades, the Renault R4 and Estafette models were the epitome of law and order on French roads. With the expansion of the freeway network in the 1960s, ever more powerful and faster vehicles came into focus.

Richard Filmotte. "When operating at speeds of around 230 km/h, it is crucial that our emergency drivers can trust their vehicle completely. The main task of the rapid response teams is to protect road users. In the event of an incident, we need to be able to respond quickly."

Driving training on a race track
Each team for the Alpine A110 is carefully selected. Drivers undergo a thorough examination, and their driving skills are evaluated on a race track, according to Filmotte. After the Berlinette took its leave in 1973, the Gendarmerie switched to the Alpine A310, which was in use until 1987. It was followed by the R18 Turbo, the R21 Turbo, the Mégane II and the Mégane R.S.

Equipment with specific accessories
After being assembled in Dieppe in Normandy, the 26 Alpine A110s will be handed over to the specialist company Durisotti near Lille. There they will be fitted with special accessories such as flashing lights and sirens, as well as decals and reflective markings.

In a few years, one of these new vehicles should also be parked next to its ancestors in the Gendarmerie Museum in Melun. Richard Filmotte will then look after it with the same care as the A310 that he himself was privileged to drive earlier in his career.

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