RE: Renault confirms Alpine-Caterham split

[garypotter]

Kong said:

I still think it's a shame Alpine didn't team up with Lotus. The Evora platform would have been perfect for this, would have saved a fortune in R&D meanwhile keeping the Lotus factory in business.

Very good comment but wonder if the F1 issue had anything to do with it, team lotus and lotus f1!!

[ewenm]

toppstuff said:

Caterham is something of a one trick pony, isn't it?

I mean, surely every person on the planet who wants a Caterham probably already has one by now don't they?

Unlikely given that the 7 is only recently available new in many countries.

[Buff Mchugelarge]

That blue car just looks like a Koenigsegg with a Renault badge on it? It's even got the mid mounted wobbly look rear spoiler?

[Leggy]

Remember seeing this at FoS a couple of years back.
Was stunning.....

[SteveSteveson]

marshalla said:

Prediction : Alpine "Red Bull" special editions to appear, then Red Bull Alpines with engineering consultancy services from a certain Mr. Newey.

I don't know what worries me more about that. The power of the engine or the reliability of a Newey/Renault cars electrics. Neither have a good history.

[ItsaTVR]

Max_Torque said:

I suspect that anyone holding their breath for an "affordable" sports car from either party ought to give up right now! So far in the history of the world, there have been exactly ZERO low volume affordable sports cars........

Yer right about that!

Also...

Them: "The key words for the vehicle are style, enjoyment and sporting spirit."

PH: "We note with some concern that affordability appears to have fallen off that list."
ME: You fail to mention PERFORMANCE is also not on the list...

The Alpine was never an example of affordable in any case, to my recollection.
Of course I'm not a potential customer, so ignore me.
No French cars over here any more any how...

[DreadUK]

This is of course the split that was denied, as is the sale of Caterham.

[ewenm]

Max_Torque said:

I suspect that anyone holding their breath for an "affordable" sports car from either party ought to give up right now! So far in the history of the world, there have been exactly ZERO low volume affordable sports cars........

Lets face it, even with the massive (relatively) volumes of MX5s (from Mazda) and GT86/BRZs (from toyota/subaru) and leveraging the massive and capable manufacturing might of those respective companies, you're gonna pay between 25 and 30 grand for such a car. Reduce the volumes to maybe several thousand (absolute tops) and well, double it, probably treble it tbh!

Isn't an affordable sports car exactly what a Caterham 7 is? The compromise that makes it affordable is the rawness. Most people don't want a raw sports car though, they want something more comfortable (not that I find the 7 uncomfortable even on long drives) and are prepared to accept the two compromises of cost and weight to achieve that.

[Toaster]

toppstuff said:

Caterham is something of a one trick pony, isn't it?

I mean, surely every person on the planet who wants a Caterham probably already has one by now don't they?

You could say the same about Morgan, Morgan have stayed true to their roots with the classics being the core of their sales. It is said that 80% of all 7's produced are still in use.

its only an opinion but I wouldn't think Renault would 'need' Caterham neither do any other manufacturer exactly what value would Caterham bring to Renault or another manufacturer?

[Toaster]

ewenm said:

Isn't an affordable sports car exactly what a Caterham 7 is? The compromise that makes it affordable is the rawness. Most people don't want a raw sports car though, they want something more comfortable (not that I find the 7 uncomfortable even on long drives) and are prepared to accept the two compromises of cost and weight to achieve that.

Spot on

[CraigyMc]

SpeckledJim said:

The new Alpine is utterly stunning.

Just build it. The detail doesn't matter. Just make sure it looks like that.

That's what Audi did with the mark 1 TT, then it started killing people with aero-influenced oversteer crashes.

It turns out that details do matter.

[dandarez]

RTH said:

The Caterham rendering that was put out looked really nice - pity if that is now lost forever.
Their aero 7 bodied car in contrast was anything but attractive.

That's being kind in the extreme!

[DonkeyApple]

marshalla said:

Prediction : Alpine "Red Bull" special editions to appear, then Red Bull Alpines with engineering consultancy services from a certain Mr. Newey.

I suspect that this is exactly what RedBull are up to. There is something in the works and I'm pretty sure it is a car.

I also suspect that Alpine are going to slap a tag well north of £100k on this and Caterham isn't a good enough brand to carry that kind of premium but Newey Bull are.

[dandarez]

Regardless of anything (I do like the Alpine) but I just can't help seeing 2 eyes and a face.

That's it!
It's vying for a role in the next Pixar Disney 'Cars 3'.

[Zombie]

Why's Nelson Munz chasing down an A110?



The lard arse could learn a thing or two from caterham IMO.

"ha ha"

[Caterhamfan]

dandarez said:

and doesn't the new one look huge compared to the original ?!

[DonkeyApple]

Caterhamfan said:

dandarez said:

and doesn't the new one look huge compared to the original ?!

Those originals are tiny though.

[j90gta]

Kong said:

I still think it's a shame Alpine didn't team up with Lotus. The Evora platform would have been perfect for this, would have saved a fortune in R&D meanwhile keeping the Lotus factory in business.

Lotus did indeed design a car for this project and it was allegedly the preferred option within Caterham. However the Malaysian owners of DRB-Hicom, the parent company of Lotus, did not want to have anything to do with Tony Fernandez, the Malaysian owner of Caterham.

[ZesPak]

Caterhamfan said:

and doesn't the new one look huge compared to the original ?!

Hmm, sign of the times? If you want a roof and some structural integrity, you want to have it tested (and pass) for safety, it's hard to make anything that small.
Look at the Mini for example.

On the other hand, if the two were to collide, the new one will rip through the A110 as if it wasn't there.

That said that new blue thing looks lush! Rear end makes it look like a true racecar/supercar.

[KMB]

The new blue thing and the A110 are both great looking cars!