Wednesday 29th January 2020

Alpine A110 SportsX concept revealed

Unique off-road sports cars are all the rage at the moment - here's Alpine's SportsXy effort

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Alpine is definitely not done milking its past rally successes with the A110, as illustrated by the purposeful-looking concept it's just revealed at the Festival Automobile International in France. The A110 SportsX is based on the 252hp Pure, but receives a raft of Monte Carlo Rally-inspired chassis and design upgrades in a nod to the original model's 1973 triumph there. Including - as you'll have noticed - a lifted and widened chassis for maximum Monte stance.

The car actually sits 60mm higher and 80mm wider than standard as a result of its bespoke suspension hardware, with visible underbody protection and a set of Michelin Primacy boots (with proper sidewalls) adding to the aggression. It's all capped off with tape over the spotlights and a pair of skis on the roof; even a new Alpine logo adds to the look. It leaves us longing for a roadgoing version that we can actually buy but, alas, the car is officially, "not available for sale". Boo.

At least we're not long from the A110 Rally's arrival, which is an actual competition version of the A110 available for order - and a likely benefiter (in terms of the attention it'll receive) from the creation of the SportsX concept. It was revealed in autumn 2019 at the Rallye Mont-Blanc in Morzine and following its homologation is on course to battle it out for real on the world stage. As a GT4-based machine, it's eligible to compete in the WRC's RGT class against Abarth 124s and Porsche Caymans in a rear-wheel drive class definitely worthy of your attention. See here for proof.

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Search for an Alpine here

[Burnham]

I really like that. Very nice!

[Lotobear]

...how to devalue a brand/image just as it's gaining some credibility with the cognoscenti

I really like(d) these but looks like they're going to go the way of the Mini, the brand being prostituted for all its worth - 'sportbrake' version next?

Reminds me of the Rover Streetwise

[Wammer]

Why is Alpine putting tape in a cross on the spot lights, on both this and the rally car?

[lukeharding]

Seems like some engineers managed to go a bit bonkers without anyone asking. Looks funky and different to me, and I like it! We need more wacky concepts I think.

[Gitwhoismiserable]

What about the COG, will it be prone to flipping over?

[CooperS]

I like it, wouldn't buy one but I do like the giving it a go attitude

[Maldini35]

Just don’t!

[lukeharding]

Gitwhoismiserable said:

What about the COG, will it be prone to flipping over?

The ride height has been raised by 60mm, not 60cm, so I doubt it

[CacheMonet]

I think it looks fantastic, and I am usually the first person to tear the new crossover craze to shreds.

I would imagine having a little more travel and height might actually suit a lightweight flowing sort of car quite well too.

[ogrodz]

I really do like the look of that... The stance and rear seems right, something I cannot say for the road going variant.

I wonder what the additional height and width would do to drive feel and handling?

[WokkaWokka]

To the usual foaming at the mouth idiots.

It’s a concept. If we didn’t have conceptual design we’d literally have nothing.

[Bob watson]

At last something with the potential of a proper sports car for the real world.Effective suspension ,slightly raised,lightish weight,great handling and enough power.All it needs is a decent manual transmission and reasonable price.For goodness sake Alpine ,get it in production NOW!!

[Tim bo]

Nice looking skis those.

[Julian Thompson]

Now that’s cool. I love it!

[Fetthobler]

Love it, like an Ariel Nomad with everyday usability! What's not to like?

[Kenny Powers]

Very Mad Max. Pretty cool as a concept.

[Chubbyross]

Wammer said:

Why is Alpine putting tape in a cross on the spot lights, on both this and the rally car?

It’s made in France. They’ll fall out otherwise.

[loskie]

I like it but I liked the Volvo S60 cross country and I think it was a huge flop.


PH poster who built Rally Miata last year one step ahead of Renault I think.

[ducnick]

They need to put this into production. It’s perfect for British roads being a perfect size but having enough suspension travel for our mix of rock and dirt roads linked by smart
Motorways.

[Midgster]

I really like the regular A110.
I like this even more. Looks great