Alpine A110 to be axed?
Discussion
They didn't do a manual version because the costs would have been more than the profit from the (relatively few) extra sales generated. They estimated that 5% of sales would be manual if they offered both (which sounds believable). If we guess that of those 5%, half went and bought the automatic and half went to buy something else which was available with a manual, that makes about 75 fewer cars a year due to the lack of a manual gearbox...Is it a shame for the 5%? Yes of course it is, but they're a business not a charity.
kambites said:
They didn't do a manual version because the costs would have been more than the profit from the (relatively few) extra sales generated. They estimated that 5% of sales would be manual if they offered both (which sounds believable). If we guess that of those 5%, half went and bought the automatic and half went to buy something else which was available with a manual, that makes about 75 fewer cars a year due to the lack of a manual gearbox...Is it a shame for the 5%? Yes of course it is, but they're a business not a charity.
Of course the fact that they are probably the same people who think those who HnT are "driving Gods" and they can't tell which wheels are doing the driving makes no difference.
Sales would have rocketed I tell you..
SidewaysSi said:
kambites said:
They didn't do a manual version because the costs would have been more than the profit from the (relatively few) extra sales generated. They estimated that 5% of sales would be manual if they offered both (which sounds believable). If we guess that of those 5%, half went and bought the automatic and half went to buy something else which was available with a manual, that makes about 75 fewer cars a year due to the lack of a manual gearbox...Is it a shame for the 5%? Yes of course it is, but they're a business not a charity.
Of course the fact that they are probably the same people who think those who HnT are "driving Gods" and they can't tell which wheels are doing the driving makes no difference.
Sales would have rocketed I tell you..
The FT reported that Renault is undertaking a €2bn cost-cutting plan which will result in the loss of 14,600 jobs. No decision yet on the fate of the Dieppe factory:
"Now, as part of its turnround plan, Renault said it was launching discussions with unions to repurpose plants in France, some of which could stop making cars altogether, and which would involve job cuts.
The group has not made final decisions about the future of six sites in France, including at Flins and Dieppe, as it faces both political and union opposition."
https://www.ft.com/content/82f2a4a5-d897-41f1-ad66...
Can't believe they omitted the PH massive from the list of groups opposing any changes at the Alpine factory.
"Now, as part of its turnround plan, Renault said it was launching discussions with unions to repurpose plants in France, some of which could stop making cars altogether, and which would involve job cuts.
The group has not made final decisions about the future of six sites in France, including at Flins and Dieppe, as it faces both political and union opposition."
https://www.ft.com/content/82f2a4a5-d897-41f1-ad66...
Can't believe they omitted the PH massive from the list of groups opposing any changes at the Alpine factory.
If this is to believed the Dieppe plant has a stay of execution of a year https://www.paris-normandie.fr/actualites/economie...
Latest here: https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/industry/alpine...
Senard said it was “quite obvious that we cannot continue as we are doing today” with the Dieppe factory. He added: “This plant does not manufacture enough vehicles for us to discuss its future serenely. We will look to continue to add value to the Dieppe plant."
Senard said a final decision on Alpine’s future would be taken by incoming chief executive Luca de Meo, who is due to take up his role at the French firm in July.
Speaking to Autocar recently, Renault Group design chief Laurens van den Acker said “it’s inevitable that we’ll electrify Alpine” in the future.
Electrification is inevitable, in the grand scheme of things, so I'm not sure I'd immediately read too much into the last quote. Evidently very much on their radar, though.
Senard said it was “quite obvious that we cannot continue as we are doing today” with the Dieppe factory. He added: “This plant does not manufacture enough vehicles for us to discuss its future serenely. We will look to continue to add value to the Dieppe plant."
Senard said a final decision on Alpine’s future would be taken by incoming chief executive Luca de Meo, who is due to take up his role at the French firm in July.
Speaking to Autocar recently, Renault Group design chief Laurens van den Acker said “it’s inevitable that we’ll electrify Alpine” in the future.
Electrification is inevitable, in the grand scheme of things, so I'm not sure I'd immediately read too much into the last quote. Evidently very much on their radar, though.
Edited by Lewis Kingston on Friday 29th May 11:49
Would make a good platform for an electric car. With it being low-slung the batteries would have to go where the fuel tank is and would probably take up the front boot as well. Rear boot could be redesigned as it would no longer have to accomodate engine and gearbox.
1100kg - say current engine and gearbox weigh 200kg then even with 400kg of batteries and motors it's still a 1300kg vehicle...
but it still wouldn't have a manual box...
1100kg - say current engine and gearbox weigh 200kg then even with 400kg of batteries and motors it's still a 1300kg vehicle...
but it still wouldn't have a manual box...
Miserablegit said:
Would make a good platform for an electric car. With it being low-slung the batteries would have to go where the fuel tank is and would probably take up the front boot as well. Rear boot could be redesigned as it would no longer have to accomodate engine and gearbox.
1100kg - say current engine and gearbox weigh 200kg then even with 400kg of batteries and motors it's still a 1300kg vehicle...
but it still wouldn't have a manual box...
And it will still be a Renault and we all know what a Renault and electrics are like........ 1100kg - say current engine and gearbox weigh 200kg then even with 400kg of batteries and motors it's still a 1300kg vehicle...
but it still wouldn't have a manual box...
HTP99 said:
Miserablegit said:
Would make a good platform for an electric car. With it being low-slung the batteries would have to go where the fuel tank is and would probably take up the front boot as well. Rear boot could be redesigned as it would no longer have to accomodate engine and gearbox.
1100kg - say current engine and gearbox weigh 200kg then even with 400kg of batteries and motors it's still a 1300kg vehicle...
but it still wouldn't have a manual box...
And it will still be a Renault and we all know what a Renault and electrics are like........ 1100kg - say current engine and gearbox weigh 200kg then even with 400kg of batteries and motors it's still a 1300kg vehicle...
but it still wouldn't have a manual box...
DoubleD said:
HTP99 said:
Miserablegit said:
Would make a good platform for an electric car. With it being low-slung the batteries would have to go where the fuel tank is and would probably take up the front boot as well. Rear boot could be redesigned as it would no longer have to accomodate engine and gearbox.
1100kg - say current engine and gearbox weigh 200kg then even with 400kg of batteries and motors it's still a 1300kg vehicle...
but it still wouldn't have a manual box...
And it will still be a Renault and we all know what a Renault and electrics are like........ 1100kg - say current engine and gearbox weigh 200kg then even with 400kg of batteries and motors it's still a 1300kg vehicle...
but it still wouldn't have a manual box...
HTP99 said:
DoubleD said:
HTP99 said:
Miserablegit said:
Would make a good platform for an electric car. With it being low-slung the batteries would have to go where the fuel tank is and would probably take up the front boot as well. Rear boot could be redesigned as it would no longer have to accomodate engine and gearbox.
1100kg - say current engine and gearbox weigh 200kg then even with 400kg of batteries and motors it's still a 1300kg vehicle...
but it still wouldn't have a manual box...
And it will still be a Renault and we all know what a Renault and electrics are like........ 1100kg - say current engine and gearbox weigh 200kg then even with 400kg of batteries and motors it's still a 1300kg vehicle...
but it still wouldn't have a manual box...
And then I think about British cars with Lucas electrics.........
HTP99 said:
Renault and their ("lack of") reliability especially in the electrics department is another oft trotted out line which justifies to the great ill informed as to their anti French car bias.
It's an uncomfortable fact that there are no French cars whatsoever on sale today in North America, a market that demands reliability. Not many Italians selling there either - apart from the supercars. The bottom line is that "reliability" is best found away from Europe. Germany is the exception - although many of the "German" cars on sale in North America are build right there in North America.rockin said:
It's an uncomfortable fact that there are no French cars whatsoever on sale today in North America, a market that demands reliability. Not many Italians selling there either - apart from the supercars. The bottom line is that "reliability" is best found away from Europe. Germany is the exception - although many of the "German" cars on sale in North America are build right there in North America.
And yet ironically they buy lots of jaguar Land Rover products 
rockin said:
It's an uncomfortable fact that there are no French cars whatsoever on sale today in North America, a market that demands reliability. Not many Italians selling there either - apart from the supercars. The bottom line is that "reliability" is best found away from Europe. Germany is the exception - although many of the "German" cars on sale in North America are build right there in North America.
Such an outdated philosophy. Those ‘bulletproof’ modern Porsche’s, non grenading BMW’s and Audi’s. The only difference is their warranty. Generally they suck it up.
For a county which ‘demands’ reliability you don’t see their highest selling truck in many places outside the US. And as has been said, they live JLR products
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