The saying “win on Sunday, sell on Monday” still carries weight in the automotive world and Alpine is one of the latest examples. 2021 was indeed a good year for the small French carmaker. It ventured into Formula One and won the Grand Prix in Hungary while simultaneously pushing ahead with the Endurance program in the Hypercar category. The company’s motorsport strife has been perfectly reflected by the revamped Alpine A110, which is even more exciting.
Alpine has made it clear that electrification is something it is working towards. They even teased three upcoming EV high-performance models, among which a performance version of the upcoming Renault 5, as well as an EV, based on the Alpine A110. However, the internal-combustion version of the small, mid-engine sports car is not going anywhere just yet. In fact, in light of the brand’s recent motorsport success, the A110 has become even more exciting.
The new A110 range consists of three versions. You still get the base car, which packs 252 horsepower and 235 pound-feet (320 Nm). With a curb weight of just 2,429 pounds (1,102 kg), you can see why even the base A110 manages 0 to 62 mph (100 km/h) in just 4.5 seconds.
Alpine A110 GT
The Alpine A110 GT gives the compact sports car a more sophisticated interior, with adjustable, comfortable leather seats, on six rails, with blue overstitching, and Park Assist, with a rearview camera. More importantly, power from the 1.8-liter turbocharged inline-four is now 300 horsepower and 251 pound-feet (340 Nm). The GT gets upgraded Brembo brakes with 320 mm, dual-material rotors, and blue calipers. You also get 18-inch Legende diamond-cut black rims and a sports exhaust system.
Alpine A110S
The revamped A110S is the most interesting one, as it is the most performance-oriented. Like the GT, it features the 300-horsepower version of the 1.8-liter turbo-four, which allows for a 0 to 62 mph (100 km//h) sprint in 4.2 seconds. More importantly, the revamped A110S brings a new aero kit, and for the first time, it gets a rear wing.
Through extensive wind-tunnel testing, engineers found that the Alpine A110S needed significant improvement in aerodynamics, in order to achieve its maximum speed – 171 mph (275 km/h). With its low curb weight and sticky, Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tires – 215/40 R18 front, 245/40 R18 rear – the Alpine is a proper track weapon.
Like the GT, the S features 320 mm Brembo brakes, as opposed to the base car’s 296 mm rotors. The performance intentions of the A110S are further accentuated by the orange brake calipers. The A110 continues to rely on a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic to send power to the rear axle.
Like the exterior, the interior is also noticeably sportier. It features Sabelt Sport adjustable seats, finished in black microfiber and leather, with orange stitching. Other additions to the A110S include 18-inch sport wheels and a sport exhaust system.
New Equipment
While the A110’s main purpose is performance, you still get an upgraded infotainment system. Granted, the 7-inch touchscreen is on the small side, but Alpine says it’s smartphone-inspired and very intuitive. Navigation, Bluetooth connectivity, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto come as standard, and you also get two USB ports.
While performance-oriented the Alpine A110 is still flexible enough, as a street car. It allows you to choose between three different driving modes – normal, sport, and track. Moreover, being styled after the iconic Alpine A110 from the 1960s, it’s one of the best retro-futuristic sports cars and a worthy spiritual successor, especially given the direction Alpine is taking.
With a starting price of €59,500 and €71,500 for the A110S, it’s hardly a bargain. Moreover, it’s dangerously close to cars like the Porsche 718 Cayman GTS and BMW M2 Competition. That said, it’s certainly one of the more unique propositions, in the segment, and after all, James May bought one, so it must be good right?