RE: Alpine A110 gets 305hp with RaceChip

[Prestonese]

Schmed said:

Awesome. All that work and it just about hits the bhp output of a base Cayman ...

All that work with downsizing the 718 and they only shaved zero kgs from the weight (don't get me started on the 718T).

We can go on all day if you really want to.

P.S. you give us stick all the time for posting on the Porsche forums but can't seem to resist coming on an Alpine thread to er... contribute....

Edited by Prestonese on Friday 16th August 00:45

[herebebeasties]

Schmed said:

Awesome. All that work and it just about hits the bhp output of a base Cayman ...

Thank for this genuinely insightful, witty and engaging comment. It has taught me things I never thought I'd master and truly brightened my day. I salute you, sir!

P.S. If you spent less time trolling people on the Internet and more time outside exercising, you wouldn't prefer lardy cars where you make less of a dent in the power to weight ratio! True story!

[SidewaysSi]

Schmed said:

Awesome. All that work and it just about hits the bhp output of a base Cayman ...

How much have you lost in depreciation?

[springfan62]

Schmed only comes on Alpine topics because we are more understanding of his issues than all the 718 haters on the Cayman forum.

Personally I think he rather likes the Alpine cos we are all such a friendly bunch.

[Sporky]

I have to say, looking at that colour scheme, I can see why some people think the A110 isn't a looker. Is that greige?

[Trickytimes]

I had the dubious pleasure of a drive in my A110 from Leeds to Manchester yesterday for its first service. Flooring it on the motorway reminded me that it really doesn’t require any more power unless you are tracking it. I have had a dozen + Porsche’s and still love the marque but love the different feel of the Alpine. I had a GT4 before and for all it was more powerful it was almost unusable on British roads. I really do believe that the power output of the Alpine in none S format is just about perfect for the UK.

[Varelco]

2 year warranty on the engine. Not the gearbox though... the bit that's running at its design limit on a standard car. Wonder how well it stays cool too?

[Prestonese]

Trickytimes said:

I had the dubious pleasure of a drive in my A110 from Leeds to Manchester yesterday for its first service. Flooring it on the motorway reminded me that it really doesn’t require any more power unless you are tracking it. I have had a dozen + Porsche’s and still love the marque but love the different feel of the Alpine. I had a GT4 before and for all it was more powerful it was almost unusable on British roads. I really do believe that the power output of the Alpine in none S format is just about perfect for the UK.

It really excels on the motorway in my view - quick and remarkably comfortable. That said, on most B roads this car is perhaps even too fast. At least it isn't fast and dull which cannot be said for a lot of modern cars.

[Derek Chevalier]

Varelco said:

2 year warranty on the engine. Not the gearbox though... the bit that's running at its design limit on a standard car. Wonder how well it stays cool too?

Does the gearbox tend to run hot?

[bcr5784]

kambites said:

I think it's the Getrag 7DCT300 which is rated to 300Nm (216lbft). Interestingly that means the A110S is actually 15lbft over the limit as standard unless they swapped to the 7DCT500 for the S version of the car.

No the gearbox is actually rated at 320nm despite its monika. That said in standard form several dynos (including Litchfields) say the standard car maxes at 340nm and puts out 10+ more hp than it's rated 250PS. Getrag are working on upgrades which will take it to 400nm and allow hybridisation. Personally I'd be wary of upping the torque until it gets a stronger box - or the present one proves very conservatively rated. The fact that Alpine haven't increased maximum torque on the A110S - merely extended it to 6400 revs - says something.

[bcr5784]

Derek Chevalier said:

Does the gearbox tend to run hot?

On track I believe both engine and gearbox are on the margin for temperature. The car protects itself by going into limp mode until it cools down. I haven't seen any reports of issues on the road.

[kambites]

Getrag already have a 500Nm version (the 7DCT500) and a torque-split hybrid version (the 7HDT300). I think there's a 150Nm version as well.

Getrag certainly seem to claim 300Nm for the 7DCT300, at least in their press releases. Renault may know something better, I suppose. I dare say there's a margin for error in the specification Getrag claim.

Edited by kambites on Friday 16th August 12:36

[Addymk2]

Who in their right mind would fit a 'Race Chip' to an expensive car?

All that little box does is fools your standard ECU into thinking it's receiving optimum parameters. It tells your boost sensor that you're effectively getting less than peak boost, making the turbo work harder etc. The mind boggles.

For the same price you could have an actual remap designed for your car by a competent tuner.

This has to be a paid advertisement as no competent petrol head would go near one with a barge pole.

[Addymk2]

'RaceChip said its tuned A110 completed the sprint 1.5 seconds quicker than the factory model despite the test being done on one of the hottest days of the year (so inlet temps were far from optimum).'

The sensor didn't know that

[bcr5784]

kambites said:

Getrag already have a 500Nm version (the 7DCT500) and a torque-split hybrid version (the 7HDT300).

Getrag certainly seem to claim 300Nm for the 7DCT300. Renault may think they know better...

Edited by kambites on Friday 16th August 12:33

The bigger box very likely doesn't fit - and given Alpines obsession with weight I think they would be better waiting for the DC300 uppgrade which weighs about the same (sans hybridisation). I believe the Getrag data sheet now says 320nm - but no matter the 400nm that many tuners are quoting is way above the design limit of the box (which was quoted at 300nm when the box was announced).

[Derek Chevalier]

bcr5784 said:

Derek Chevalier said:

Does the gearbox tend to run hot?

On track I believe both engine and gearbox are on the margin for temperature. The car protects itself by going into limp mode until it cools down. I haven't seen any reports of issues on the road.

Ahh , what is it with modern cars and their marginal cooling systems.

[Wills2]

There is a good video of the Litchfield version vs a 718 GTS on carwow, the Litchfield car is bloody quick over the qtr mile, just beats the 718.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJuSx3zf9pg

[T-195]

Sporky said:

I have to say, looking at that colour scheme, I can see why some people think the A110 isn't a looker. Is that greige?

It is a strange colour that doesn't really suit the car.

[CedricN]

DDg said:

Wills2 said:

There is a good video of the Litchfield version vs a 718 GTS on carwow, the Litchfield car is bloody quick over the qtr mile, just beats the 718.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJuSx3zf9pg

Surprising (and stonking!) result in the standing quarter. Looks good in red too.

Schmed must be crying into his wking sock

Im normally not that interested in 1/4 mile times, but that alpine was seriously impressive! Surprising!

[kambites]

CedricN said:

Im normally not that interested in 1/4 mile times, but that alpine was seriously impressive! Surprising!

Certainly impressive but it is a modified car and all the others were standard.