In 1954, Jean Rédélé, a garage proprietor and race car driver, introduced a brilliant small sports car, the Alpine A106. It looked good and was the true epitome of what a sports car should be, within the limitations of the period. Over time, other models were developed, all with that special Alpine purity until a merger with Renault Sport which ultimately signalled the demise of the Alpine name. In 2007, before the world of motoring changed completely, the legendary name was resurrected but delays meant that the first modern Alpine, the A110, did not appear until 2017.
Alpine’s strategic plan, we learn, outlines the development and launch of three all-new electric sports cars – a compact car, a crossover, and a new version of the A110 – by 2026. The first model that will make an appearance will be the electric GT Alpine X-Over (concept pictured in the factory) but don’t be over-anxious as it will be a while yet. In the meantime let’s concentrate on the petrol-powered here and now.
On The Outside
Crucially, when designing the new A110, the engineers made more than just a nod to, arguably, the most illustrious version of the car, the original A110 Berlinette of the early 1970’s, by incorporating many design elements into the new model. Truly, they could not have done a better job; the little sports car looks fabulous, making even the brilliant Porsche Cayman look a bit dowdy.
The Alpine A110 is crafted with a light weight aluminium body and chassis and features a flat underbody and diffuser for a smoother drive. Light up the road in all directions with the car’s four LED front headlamps, as a well as LED tail-lights with dynamic indicators. It comes with a choice of alloy wheels and sundry optional extras and various colours are offered, but by far the most popular shade is the traditional blue.
On The Inside
The Alpine A110's interior looks special. There's leather on the steering wheel, doors and dashboard, as well as a sprinkling of carbon fibre trim. Lightweight bucket seats and adjustable steering make getting comfortable easy, although very tall people might feel a little hunched but it’s still worth it for the experience.
The Alpine of today differs from its predecessor by virtue of a 21st Century multimedia system including a seven-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth connectivity and two USB outlets. It is smartphone-inspired, intuitive with customisable widgets, and compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
The controls behind the steering wheel activate voice recognition so that the driver can control a smartphone’s operating system or run Google’s Online Search for addresses. The onboard navigation system provides a wealth of information in real time including traffic updates and upcoming service stations with fuel prices, which is handy. The Alpine Telematics menu (which all sporting drivers are going to love and is standard on the A110 S upgrade) includes real-time readings or bar charts displaying key metrics such as turbo pressure, gearbox temperature, torque, power, steering wheel angle and acceleration, while the built-in chronograph keeps track of performance on race circuits, should you be so inclined.
The Alpine multimedia system is available, depending on the version, with a standard audio system: Focal audio system (two speakers + two tweeters) and Focal Premium audio system (two speakers + two tweeters + one subwoofer). Compatible with over the air firmware updates, the multimedia system ensures the system is always operating in an as up-to-date format as possible and will make it possible to add a Wi-Fi connection in the near future.
On The Road
To maximise driving pleasure, each version of the Alpine A110 comes with three driver-selectable modes: Normal, Sport and Track. Normal mode is geared more towards comfort while Sport mode is optimised for more dynamic driving and gear shifting – including the capability of shifting gears down and increasing engine revs (for a similar kind of smart boost obtained from double clutching, if anyone remembers that) between shifting up through the transmission. The throttle and engine response, power steering sensitivity, gear-shifting and exhaust valve activation all change according to the mode the driver selects.
All of the variants are light and agile and come with a four-cylinder 1.8-litre turbocharged engine, paired with a ‘Getrag’ seven-speed automatic gearbox with a dual wet clutch to deliver an iconic Alpine experience. The entry-level model of the A110, features the Alpine chassis and a 252hp engine offering similar driving characteristics to the aforementioned original Berlinette; light, lively and precise, delivering a vibrant drive on twisting roads.
The New Alpine A110 GT is the range’s Grand Tourisme sports coupé. With 300bhp and, once again, the renowned Alpine chassis, it strikes a fine balance between performance and comfort. Versatile and elegant, this is a sports car perfectly suited to everyday and long-distance driving, as well as more involved drives on intriguing highways. At the top of the range the premium A110 is focused on performance with 300bhp and a uniquely tuned Sports chassis. If a little light race-track workout is to taste then optional semi-slick tyres and a new custom-made aerodynamic body kit brings enhanced thrills.
The point is, this may not be the most powerful or fastest car around today, but it unquestionably is the most fun. Versions of this fine sports car are available in Great Britain and MHH International’s bespoke service can export from the UK to Ireland, New Zealand, Kenya, the Caribbean and other global destinations. Check in with us about availability if this is the car for you. Make it a gift to yourself.
