Alpine A110 to be axed?
Discussion
bcr5784 said:
While we are name dropping let's add Nick Mason and Rowan Atkinson to the list of owners.
With May and Murray, that’s quite a list of celebrities/enthusiasts who have driven a lot of performance cars who are now owners. I really hope Alpine can hang on because as I mentioned if the numbers come up one of their showrooms will be my first stop. 
bcr5784 said:
While we are name dropping let's add Nick Mason and Rowan Atkinson to the list of owners.
I listen to a lot of Floyd in the car. Wonder who Nick Mason listens to?On a Le Mans trip Nick Mason wandered down the stairs of the bar in the hotel we and the Porsche team were staying at. Whole place went quiet and poor Nick retraced his steps upstairs !!
Miserablegit said:
bcr5784 said:
While we are name dropping let's add Nick Mason and Rowan Atkinson to the list of owners.
I listen to a lot of Floyd in the car. Wonder who Nick Mason listens to?On a Le Mans trip Nick Mason wandered down the stairs of the bar in the hotel we and the Porsche team were staying at. Whole place went quiet and poor Nick retraced his steps upstairs !!
bcr5784 said:
Miserablegit said:
Well then you must ask him next time you are over for drinks!
While you are at it ask him if he often feels the need to apologise to friends for buying a Renault with only 250bhp and an automatic gearbox.Edited by Prestonese on Tuesday 26th May 16:29
The Hypno-Toad said:
bcr5784 said:
While we are name dropping let's add Nick Mason and Rowan Atkinson to the list of owners.
With May and Murray, that’s quite a list of celebrities/enthusiasts who have driven a lot of performance cars who are now owners. I really hope Alpine can hang on because as I mentioned if the numbers come up one of their showrooms will be my first stop. 
No, what this shows is that those who know have invested their own money into the A110 - notwithstanding the privacy issues., a well oiled marketing team could have field day with that customer list.
Edited by maz8062 on Tuesday 26th May 16:53
bcr5784 said:
Miserablegit said:
Well then you must ask him next time you are over for drinks!
While you are at it ask him if he often feels the need to apologise to friends for buying a Renault with only 250bhp and an automatic gearbox.The Hypno-Toad said:
bcr5784 said:
While we are name dropping let's add Nick Mason and Rowan Atkinson to the list of owners.
With May and Murray, that’s quite a list of celebrities/enthusiasts who have driven a lot of performance cars who are now owners. I really hope Alpine can hang on because as I mentioned if the numbers come up one of their showrooms will be my first stop. rockin said:
ddom said:
Poor sods. Prolly all on PCP deals....
ddom said:
I’d have probably just driven off as the cop was off his bike and merely dominating the pavement. After the usual police sarcasm he explained it was a very serious offence.
Do you want some vinegar with that chip?Interesting to see that the knowledge of many of the critics hasn't improved, I note some pages ago someone suggested the A110 has a fibreglass body. Maybe confusing it with the original which did, and good examples of which are approaching £100k, despite the "fact" that apparently no-one has heard of them.
I read the following from an interview with the chief designer,
QUOTE Are there sneaky bits of Clio RS lurking under the Alpine’s skin?
“No sir! We can dispel that. There has been lots of speculation and imagination, but almost nothing has been carried over from a Renault besides under-the-skin components like wiring. We have a bespoke extruded and bonded aluminium chassis. We have bespoke front and rear axles and suspension. The engine is all-new – not a re-bored Clio engine. It is a new aluminum block 1.8-litre engine with around 250bhp and 236lb ft. It does not exist in any other Renault-Nissan alliance vehicle. I’m not saying it will never exist in any other car…but its first application is in the Alpine.”
“The gearbox is a new Getrag seven-speeder, not the gearbox from the Clio RS, which has a six-speed dry clutch, but this is a seven-speed wet clutch.” END QUOTE
Further, the aluminium body is apparently made in Italy by the factory which produces Aston Martin bodies, the Brembo brakes come from Italy as do the Sabelt seats. The gearbox from Getrag/AMG is German, as are the Otto Fuchs wheels.
So Dieppe is once again under threat, but in reality it is largely an assembly plant so can go if necessary. I think the group have two RenaultSport factories in Paris and if production levels of such cars are to be compromised, it would make absolute sense to combine Alpine with RenaultSport geographically. I am aware it wasn't an ideal solution in the past but over the past 65 years there have always been rather blurred lines between Alpine, Gordini and RenaultSport.
I read the following from an interview with the chief designer,
QUOTE Are there sneaky bits of Clio RS lurking under the Alpine’s skin?
“No sir! We can dispel that. There has been lots of speculation and imagination, but almost nothing has been carried over from a Renault besides under-the-skin components like wiring. We have a bespoke extruded and bonded aluminium chassis. We have bespoke front and rear axles and suspension. The engine is all-new – not a re-bored Clio engine. It is a new aluminum block 1.8-litre engine with around 250bhp and 236lb ft. It does not exist in any other Renault-Nissan alliance vehicle. I’m not saying it will never exist in any other car…but its first application is in the Alpine.”
“The gearbox is a new Getrag seven-speeder, not the gearbox from the Clio RS, which has a six-speed dry clutch, but this is a seven-speed wet clutch.” END QUOTE
Further, the aluminium body is apparently made in Italy by the factory which produces Aston Martin bodies, the Brembo brakes come from Italy as do the Sabelt seats. The gearbox from Getrag/AMG is German, as are the Otto Fuchs wheels.
So Dieppe is once again under threat, but in reality it is largely an assembly plant so can go if necessary. I think the group have two RenaultSport factories in Paris and if production levels of such cars are to be compromised, it would make absolute sense to combine Alpine with RenaultSport geographically. I am aware it wasn't an ideal solution in the past but over the past 65 years there have always been rather blurred lines between Alpine, Gordini and RenaultSport.
Miserablegit said:
And, as has been pointed out on more than one occasion by Blade7, he was only part of a team that designed some car in the nineties so what value is his opinion.
It’s not as though he’s ever been involved in Formula 1 where handling is fairly key.
In fact who is Gordon Murray ?
Someone that hasn't played a part in the design of a successful F1 car for over 30 years. It’s not as though he’s ever been involved in Formula 1 where handling is fairly key.
In fact who is Gordon Murray ?
blade7 said:
Miserablegit said:
And, as has been pointed out on more than one occasion by Blade7, he was only part of a team that designed some car in the nineties so what value is his opinion.
It’s not as though he’s ever been involved in Formula 1 where handling is fairly key.
In fact who is Gordon Murray ?
Someone that hasn't played a part in the design of a successful F1 car for over 30 years. It’s not as though he’s ever been involved in Formula 1 where handling is fairly key.
In fact who is Gordon Murray ?
blade7 said:
HighwayStar said:
True but I’d imagine he’s forgotten more than anyone else knows on here about design and dynamics of a car.
Judging by what he's designed in the last 20 years, he seems to have forgotten quite a lot. blade7 said:
HighwayStar said:
True but I’d imagine he’s forgotten more than anyone else knows on here about design and dynamics of a car.
Judging by what he's designed in the last 20 years, he seems to have forgotten quite a lot. Gassing Station | Alpine | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff