A110R “Radical”
Discussion
I wouldn't say you were being too critical, but I think you just want the car to be something it's not.
[The car has been strongly marketed as an uncompromising track biased model. That’s what attracted me in the first place]
The gearbox limits vs the same engine in the Megane are what they are, it would be nice if that wasn't the case, but it is. The R appears just as fast around the Nurburgring, with I think far fewer laps done, I can find a 7:30 for the R vs a fastest 7:33 for the Trophy R.
[I appreciate your view, but you’ve conflated my comment which was purely around the shared base engine disparity. Comparing a 1082kg sports car with a 1306kg 4 door hot hatch, albeit heavily reengineered for track use is perhaps a case of “apples & pears”. Also using ring times to illustrate capabilities is a slippery slope. It is worthless unless it’s officially approved times with factory spec cars that can be bought from a dealer. In that case it was 7:40.1 back in ‘19 for the Trophy R. I have not seen anything yet for the A110R, but you would reasonably expect a faster time.]
The Emira comment about tuning, this hasn't yet been proven as far as I know? The Lotus engineers appear to have struggled with heat, and no one knows what asking more of the engine is going to do to temperatures and reliability. If modifying is on the cards, you can get the R remapped AND fit an LSD from MP Rezeau.
[Watch this space. I’m disappointed with the Emiras 1400+kg weight & wouldn’t consider one. But the AMG unit could be the saving grace with out of the box 450+ bhp if Mercedes allow them to tap into it. I fully expect Lotus to produce a stripped, carbon adorned halo model in a year or 2 that will have the ability to really compete with Porsche.
Why spend £97k on a new car that then needs expensive mods to optimise its undoubted potential. Not sure the Alpine warranty arrangements would give any cover either].
On the price of it... Well, things are just really really expensive now, right? I don't much like the price either which is why I backed out, but maybe we all just have to get our heads around the fact that this is how it is now, just gotta suck it up if we want one.
[Absolutely agree. But if you are fortunate enough to have £100k burning a hole in your pocket the competition is stiff. Thanks for taking the time to respond to my post.]😉
[The car has been strongly marketed as an uncompromising track biased model. That’s what attracted me in the first place]
The gearbox limits vs the same engine in the Megane are what they are, it would be nice if that wasn't the case, but it is. The R appears just as fast around the Nurburgring, with I think far fewer laps done, I can find a 7:30 for the R vs a fastest 7:33 for the Trophy R.
[I appreciate your view, but you’ve conflated my comment which was purely around the shared base engine disparity. Comparing a 1082kg sports car with a 1306kg 4 door hot hatch, albeit heavily reengineered for track use is perhaps a case of “apples & pears”. Also using ring times to illustrate capabilities is a slippery slope. It is worthless unless it’s officially approved times with factory spec cars that can be bought from a dealer. In that case it was 7:40.1 back in ‘19 for the Trophy R. I have not seen anything yet for the A110R, but you would reasonably expect a faster time.]
The Emira comment about tuning, this hasn't yet been proven as far as I know? The Lotus engineers appear to have struggled with heat, and no one knows what asking more of the engine is going to do to temperatures and reliability. If modifying is on the cards, you can get the R remapped AND fit an LSD from MP Rezeau.
[Watch this space. I’m disappointed with the Emiras 1400+kg weight & wouldn’t consider one. But the AMG unit could be the saving grace with out of the box 450+ bhp if Mercedes allow them to tap into it. I fully expect Lotus to produce a stripped, carbon adorned halo model in a year or 2 that will have the ability to really compete with Porsche.
Why spend £97k on a new car that then needs expensive mods to optimise its undoubted potential. Not sure the Alpine warranty arrangements would give any cover either].
On the price of it... Well, things are just really really expensive now, right? I don't much like the price either which is why I backed out, but maybe we all just have to get our heads around the fact that this is how it is now, just gotta suck it up if we want one.
[Absolutely agree. But if you are fortunate enough to have £100k burning a hole in your pocket the competition is stiff. Thanks for taking the time to respond to my post.]😉
this is arm chair discussion/ pub talk to put bluntly....
in the real trackday world, it's just about fun and usage of consumables like tyres, brakes and fuel... which can add to overall cost and down time.
this is the only car to move that along substantially since the elise.
and this is the track ready version.
I wish we had more manufacturers that build these types of cars. Heavier, wider and higher HP is never the answer even if it can be a 1-lap wonder.
in the real trackday world, it's just about fun and usage of consumables like tyres, brakes and fuel... which can add to overall cost and down time.
this is the only car to move that along substantially since the elise.
and this is the track ready version.
I wish we had more manufacturers that build these types of cars. Heavier, wider and higher HP is never the answer even if it can be a 1-lap wonder.
I thought “armchair discussion” between like minded enthusiasts is what motoring forums are all about!
I am a lifelong performance car & track day enthusiast. Hence no real need for a lecture about the benefits of lightweight, robust cost effective cars. I simply hoped to gain a better insight from new owners. (Other than it is very pretty to look at & hardly anyone has one).
I am a lifelong performance car & track day enthusiast. Hence no real need for a lecture about the benefits of lightweight, robust cost effective cars. I simply hoped to gain a better insight from new owners. (Other than it is very pretty to look at & hardly anyone has one).
Blindsided said:
I thought “armchair discussion” between like minded enthusiasts is what motoring forums are all about!
I am a lifelong performance car & track day enthusiast. Hence no real need for a lecture about the benefits of lightweight, robust cost effective cars. I simply hoped to gain a better insight from new owners. (Other than it is very pretty to look at & hardly anyone has one).
Well it must be faster than the Trophy R (one of my favourite cars btw) as it has the same engine but is 250-300kg ish lighter I am a lifelong performance car & track day enthusiast. Hence no real need for a lecture about the benefits of lightweight, robust cost effective cars. I simply hoped to gain a better insight from new owners. (Other than it is very pretty to look at & hardly anyone has one).
I'll try and answer your questions in the edit.
TX.
Edit - for me the price is justified as the S is £70k with a few options Vs the R that has almost no options. You then have all the trick carbon incl the wheels and seats, look at the seats man! The lower and arguably better suspension that can be altered for track work. Taking weight out of a very light car anyway. Then a certain amount of exclusivity I guess as you rarely see Alpines on the road so the R imho will be a very rare sight. I was actually sold on any version of the car within 100m of driving one. It's a very special car and I for one am gobsmacked that it seems to get overlooked by the many.
Edited by Terminator X on Thursday 10th August 22:59
I personally can't conceive spending £97k on one BUT according to https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/business-manufa... almost half of 2023 sales have been the 110R!
So clearly Alpine know their market better than I do/
So clearly Alpine know their market better than I do/
bcr5784 said:
I personally can't conceive spending £97k on one BUT according to https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/business-manufa... almost half of 2023 sales have been the 110R!
So clearly Alpine know their market better than I do/
1863 sales and half were the R!So clearly Alpine know their market better than I do/
TX.
Thanks Tx. I completely understand the allure of the R. It looks absolutely stunning and fair play to Alpine for producing such a purist drivers car. Great to see a car produced in 2023 that takes the engineering & design principles previously championed by Lotus, but adds considerable comfort and all round ability.
I was well on the way towards sucking up the price & buying one. But I know the capabilities of the shared with Trophy R engine very well. Comparatively light, compact and reasonably fuel efficient, so very appropriate on the face of it for a mid engined lightweight car. Some quirks, as it is pretty well maxed out at 300bhp/400nm, with resultant greater engine cooling requirements than usual, but it does the business in a £50k+ track friendly FWD hot hatch.
I’m not sure that a detuned version of this engine and no LSD will allow the A110R to live up to its obvious potential (& the marketing hype) as a real track weapon. I can totally see the attraction as a fast road car. I’d want it primarily as a track toy to replace the Megane, so unfortunately it won’t float for me. I hope you really enjoy your car it is a stunning thing!
BTW I remember you posting in the Subaru Impreza forums back in the day. I still have a ‘06 Spec C Type RA on 40k miles. Haul it out 3 or 4 times a year for a supreme adrenaline rush. It is probably the only car I could never sell.
I was well on the way towards sucking up the price & buying one. But I know the capabilities of the shared with Trophy R engine very well. Comparatively light, compact and reasonably fuel efficient, so very appropriate on the face of it for a mid engined lightweight car. Some quirks, as it is pretty well maxed out at 300bhp/400nm, with resultant greater engine cooling requirements than usual, but it does the business in a £50k+ track friendly FWD hot hatch.
I’m not sure that a detuned version of this engine and no LSD will allow the A110R to live up to its obvious potential (& the marketing hype) as a real track weapon. I can totally see the attraction as a fast road car. I’d want it primarily as a track toy to replace the Megane, so unfortunately it won’t float for me. I hope you really enjoy your car it is a stunning thing!
BTW I remember you posting in the Subaru Impreza forums back in the day. I still have a ‘06 Spec C Type RA on 40k miles. Haul it out 3 or 4 times a year for a supreme adrenaline rush. It is probably the only car I could never sell.
Edited by Blindsided on Friday 11th August 10:53
Terminator X said:
Blindsided said:
I thought “armchair discussion” between like minded enthusiasts is what motoring forums are all about!
I am a lifelong performance car & track day enthusiast. Hence no real need for a lecture about the benefits of lightweight, robust cost effective cars. I simply hoped to gain a better insight from new owners. (Other than it is very pretty to look at & hardly anyone has one).
Well it must be faster than the Trophy R (one of my favourite cars btw) as it has the same engine but is 250-300kg ish lighter I am a lifelong performance car & track day enthusiast. Hence no real need for a lecture about the benefits of lightweight, robust cost effective cars. I simply hoped to gain a better insight from new owners. (Other than it is very pretty to look at & hardly anyone has one).
I'll try and answer your questions in the edit.
TX.
Edit - for me the price is justified as the S is £70k with a few options Vs the R that has almost no options. You then have all the trick carbon incl the wheels and seats, look at the seats man! The lower and arguably better suspension that can be altered for track work. Taking weight out of a very light car anyway. Then a certain amount of exclusivity I guess as you rarely see Alpines on the road so the R imho will be a very rare sight. I was actually sold on any version of the car within 100m of driving one. It's a very special car and I for one am gobsmacked that it seems to get overlooked by the many.
Edited by Terminator X on Thursday 10th August 22:59
That all said if I had an unlimited budget/exotic fleet would I have an R in it…. Yeas absolutely
After a lot of deliberation , I have cancelled my R order.
It looks a fab car, I may well regret the decision.
Few things made me decide .
I bought my Legende as a road car not for track use and love it , few subtle mods but still a road car and never been on track/ no wish to take it on track.
I am lucky enough to own a 911 GT3 and a fairly heavily modified Cayman 987.2 , plus a few other cars.
If I wanted to go on track I would take one of those,
Money, I decided I didn’t want to part with my current 110 to buy the R,
I never use the GT3 as it’s too harsh/focussed
So I’m buying a car that I won’t have a use for , mainly to keep it parked up, either that or I’d love it so much I’d end up using it as a daily and wearing it out…
The final ‘nail’ however is the constant ‘special editions’ I ordered the R , then they announce the Le Man’s , version with even more ‘bits’ added, and now another track version going round the ring.
I’m just about to fit a plate lsd to mine but the cost of the Diff/ brake mods/ dampers/ inlet and exhaust mods are much less than buying an R, yes it’s not an R but.
Will I regret cancelling, yes probably.
It looks a fab car, I may well regret the decision.
Few things made me decide .
I bought my Legende as a road car not for track use and love it , few subtle mods but still a road car and never been on track/ no wish to take it on track.
I am lucky enough to own a 911 GT3 and a fairly heavily modified Cayman 987.2 , plus a few other cars.
If I wanted to go on track I would take one of those,
Money, I decided I didn’t want to part with my current 110 to buy the R,
I never use the GT3 as it’s too harsh/focussed
So I’m buying a car that I won’t have a use for , mainly to keep it parked up, either that or I’d love it so much I’d end up using it as a daily and wearing it out…
The final ‘nail’ however is the constant ‘special editions’ I ordered the R , then they announce the Le Man’s , version with even more ‘bits’ added, and now another track version going round the ring.
I’m just about to fit a plate lsd to mine but the cost of the Diff/ brake mods/ dampers/ inlet and exhaust mods are much less than buying an R, yes it’s not an R but.
Will I regret cancelling, yes probably.
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