Paris show sculpture previews new Alpine A110
So much bigger and better is the new EV, Alpine is evoking Concorde...
Nothing says the French are committed to a project like a preview sculpture. Or ‘artistic vision’, as they prefer. As with all art, the Alpine A110 Sculpture is subject to interpretation. To some it might seem a big odd to have the static installation unveiled after the prototype has run up the Goodwood hill. But that did not represent the car’s final styling, and nor was it destined to feature at the Paris motor show, which is where French manufacturers, understandably enough, love to be the centre of attention.
Why would you want to see a plain old car in Paris when you could see a ‘sculptural expression of art in motion, of energy captured in an instant, designed so that, at a single glance, it evokes the same emotions that guided Alpine's designers in its creation’? Exactly.
This is a proper preview, though, not merely an excuse to remind everyone how great the French were in helping to make the British-designed, Rolls-Royce-powered Concorde (another stated influence). So the front end is what will come to real life, with a V-shaped visage and ‘dual light signature’ that bring to mind both the outgoing car and the original A110. The engineering might be very different to what’s come before from Alpine sports cars, but the appearance will be recognisable. Or clearly related, at least.
The height of the wheel in relation to the overall height promises some drama as well. And while these things are always hard to judge, the A110 Sculpture doesn’t look enormous either, which has to be good news. An A110 that isn’t dainty really wouldn’t be right.
Alpine does suggest that the veil used here ‘suggests lightness and aerodynamics’, so there has to be hope that the promises of a properly lightweight EV sports car will be adhered to. ‘Form follows function’ if of course mentioned in addition. This is going to be an Alpine first and an EV second (as if there was any other way to do it), complete with the Alpine Performance Platform, a bespoke solution that eschews the normal skateboard configuration so occupants can sit closer to the ground.
After the debut of this ‘contemporary, essential and curvaceous interpretation’, we surely won’t be very far off seeing the real thing. 2027 looks like being the year for electric sports cars, with both the A110 and Porsche 718 EV set to be seen for the first time. What quiet days on PH they’ll be. And if a sculpture of an upcoming electric car is all a bit too futuristic, take solace in the fact that there are 30 combustion A110s in the classifieds - Beige Cornaline looks good…
It will undoubtedly be bigger which is a shame and then it's just down to whether an EV is what people want in this sector. PH will have a view and this thread will probably end up just like the Boxster\Cayman replacement thread.
Alpine is an interesting one as it’s not as if the engine was ever the focus point or indeed an engine you lust after…..and yet…. Still want that more than no sound at all in a sports car
I just can’t see these gaining traction until such time as we’re deep deep into EV only territory (2040 onwards).
I have two EVs in the fleet- both lovely in different ways- but not evocative nor chosen for any reason other than tax.
Let’s hope this is good looking, drives well and they can create some want…. Not holding breath for last point
Alpine sold 28,701 A110s in total over nine years, mostly in France, then in Germany with the UK in third place. The French "Malus Écologique" (Environmental Penalty Tax) is one of the primary reasons Alpine is making this new A110 with an all-electric powertrain; they really didn't have a choice when trying to buy any new ICE'd car there is not a good idea now.
If the old A110 was built and sold today as a new car in France, even the base, lowest CO₂ output version would attract €4,818 in tax, with the S/GT models adding €7,248 (or between an extra 7.2-9.1%) to the purchase price - keep in mind there's only 6 g/km difference in CO₂ output between them. For context, buying any new petrol 911 in France now instantly adds an additional €80,000 to the sticker price...
People on here can whine as much as they like but they weren't buying them as the UK didn't even manage to sell more than about 1860 units over the entire nine-year run. No-one in the market is going to be bothered (other than a few motorist beards). It's not like the engine was aurally note-worthy anyway.
tty EU Regs are the main culprit 
TX.
Edit - as for the poster above "buying any new petrol 911 in France now instantly adds an additional €80,000 to the sticker price" isn't that a real shame though as I assume not one single car like that is ever sold in France and/or numbers are so small it may as well be zero.
Variety is the spice of life and all that
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