With the official production launch of the Alpine A110 in low orbit, the hype surrounding the resurgent sports carmaker seems to be quite warranted as early impressions paint a picture of a machine that’s both refined, playful, powerful, and incredibly sharp around corners.
But even before that’s finally settled, reports have emerged that a more hardcore version of the A110 is already in the works. AutoExpress reports that a more aggressive suspension setup and uprated components, a more disciplined weight reduction regimen, and a power figure touching 224kW would be the highlights of this more focused variant.
That emphasis on lightness is what will likely contribute most to the performance gains, especially because the standard car already weighs roughly 1,100kg. Pair that with the extra power extracted from the mid-mounted 1.8-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol motor - the same engine powering the upcoming Renault Megane RS - and it should even be able to keep up with most supercars on an open track if geared correctly.
One of the names being shortlisted for this mystery variant is the ‘A110 Sport’, and given the timing, could be unveiled shortly after the sales debut of the base car in Europe. From that starting point, the A110 will be spreading into multiple markets throughout 2018, including Australia as previously confirmed by Renault’s local arm.
This news adds more credence to the argument that both Alpine and Renault are pouring in a sizeable amount of investment into the A110 project and roadmap, following the announcement that a single-model race series will be established around it called the Alpine Europa Cup.
The Alpine A110 is a car that has a lot of weight on its shoulders, with both the burden of the French marque’s motorsport heritage and the reputation of Renault hanging in the balance. Putting aside their parent company, the revived Alpine name could very well become the surprise rival to Porsche, pairing Lotus-like agility with luxury and a certain amount of design elegance.
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