It targets models like the Porsche 718 Cayman and Alfa Romeo 4C
Renault's Alpine brand will be finally back this year with an all-new road car inspired by the Vision Concept from early 2016.
Rumored to be called the Alpine A120, the mid-engined sports car was initially co-developed with Caterham, but the UK-based company withdrew from the project before it was completed. The Alpine production model will be built on a bespoke all-aluminum platform, with the bodywork made from the same metal.
Renault has already confirmed that the Alpine production car will launch as a Première Édition model, built in a limited run of 1,955 units, each priced between €55,000 to €60,000 in France. To order it, customers must pay a deposit of €2,000 euros, with reservations limited to select European countries and Japan. The limited series of 1,955 examples is a reference to 1955, the year the Alpine company was founded.
The Alpine sports car is expected to feature an all-new 1.8-liter turbocharged gasoline engine delivering around 250 hp, but a beefier version tuned by Renaultsport is rumored to arrive later on with more than 300 hp.
Performance-wise, the base Alpine coupé will accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.5 seconds, but full details and specs will be announced later this year. The first deliveries to left-hand-drive markets will take place in late 2017, with right-hand-drive markets including the UK and Japan to get the car in early 2018.
Alpine Première Édition models will feature a plaque fixed to the center console with the production number and will be available in three paint colors: Bleu Alpine (blue), Noir Profond (black), and Blanc Solitaire (white).
While the exterior has pronounced retro touches, the interior is said to have a more modern layout thanks to the instrument panel featuring a TFT display, the extensive use of carbon fiber, and the shift paddles of the automatic transmission.
Image credits: AUTOMEDIA