Tuesday 22nd January 2013

Alpine-Caterham 'advisory board' created

Production of new Alpines moves a step closer with establishment of panel of advisors

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Renault has announced the formation of what it calls an ‘advisory board’ to oversee the introduction of its new Alpine brand. The board will advise senior management both at Renault and at the newly-formed Alpine-Caterham alliance on the evolution of the brand, and oversee development of the new Alpine right through to its launch.

Mouton will be a part of the team

The good news is that there are some notable luminaries on the board which suggest that Renault is serious about nurturing Alpine’s brand image and ensuring it stays true to the principles and rallying heritage of the original company. For example, Jean-Charles Redele, son of Alpine’s founder Jean Redele; Jacques Cheinisse, Alpine’s former sporting director; Jean-Pierre Limondin, a former Alpine engineer;  former rally driver and Alpine test driver Alain Serpaggi; Bernard Darniche, another former rally driver who drove for Alpine in 1973, the year the company won the inaugural Constructors’ World Rally Champinoship; Olivier Lamirault, a Renault dealer who’s heavily involved in Alpine marketing and regularly drives Alpines in historic races, and Tom Mautner, one of the UK’s foremost Alpine and Renault collectors. There was one other name which caught our eye, of course: Michele Mouton, who drove for Alpine between 1974 and 1977, is also on the board.

Board will oversee development of the A110-50

It’s a remarkable line-up and it suggests that Renault is serious not only about resurrecting the brand, but about doing it properly. And while some of these names might not be familiar to many of you, bear in mind that they’re probably better placed to advise on the brand than some of the celeb ‘brand advisors’ we’ve seen draughted in in recent years. They should bring plenty of relevant experience to the Alpine party – and hopefully, as a result, the finished machine should stay true to Alpine’s heritage.

Of course, any mention of Alpine gives us plenty of reason to go for a delve in to the PH Classifieds to see what we can find. Unfortunately, there aren’t any classic A110s around at the moment, but there’s one lonely example of a GTA going – and what a corker it is. Feast your eyes on its flawless white paintwork; take in the slider-laden 80s-tastic dash, and revel in the thought of blatting around with a 2.5-litre turbocharged V6 hanging way out the back. If the new Alpine is anywhere near as delightful as the GTA was, we simply can’t wait.

[pSyCoSiS]

That Alpine looks very nice indeed.

Good luck to them.

They have the know-how to do well with the team members they have..

[BertBert]

Now call me a cynic (as I am), but that looks like an inverse law to me. Progress being inversely proportional to the size and combined age of an advisory board. Bertish prediction - no production car will actually be produced from the Alpine-caterham alliance.
Bert

[OJ80]

Love the look of the new car. That GTA looks like pretty good value, that's only going to increase in value if/when the brand gets relaunched isn't it? Who wouldn't want purpley-brown corduroy seats??

[gemini]

Good luck to them.
We need some more sexy looking motors.

[James P]

Is the advisory board supposed to be advising the Caterham-Alpine alliance as well as Renault? It does not look like Caterham are going to have much input into the alliance - pretty much all the members have Alpine backgrounds and nothing from Caterham.

[Johnston]

The English chap on the board (Tom Mautner) used to run Old Oak Motors in Enfield which was one of the few authorised Alpine dealers in the UK and sold the majority of A610's. I spoke to him a year or so ago (and he actually recognised my A610 as he sold it new despite it being on a different plate than when it was new!) and he really knew his stuff. Greaat to see he is involved as he is deeply passionate about the brand and more importantly about how the cars drive.

I love the cars (have owned an A610 for nearly 5 years now) and can't wait to see what they can do.

[marshalla]

Needs more rappers and B-list Hollywood "celebrities"

if they want to be as successful as Lotus

[rhinochopig]

BertBert said:

Now call me a cynic (as I am), but that looks like an inverse law to me. Progress being inversely proportional to the size and combined age of an advisory board. Bertish prediction - no production car will actually be produced from the Alpine-caterham alliance.
Bert

Agreed. I've worked with the French a few of times and anglo-french working is difficult to say the least.

I can't help feel that Caterham have bitten off more than they can chew with their new car. Caterham build quality is not the greatest IME - you only have to look at the chassis rust on low mileage examples - but it is more forgiveable somehow in that sort of car. People's expectations of a 'proper' car are much higher when it comes to build quality. And let's face it Renault have consistently scored poorly when it comes to that area.

It will be interesting to see who the dealer network ends up being and the build and reliability of the finished product.

[dingocooke]

rhinochopig said:

BertBert said:

Now call me a cynic (as I am), but that looks like an inverse law to me. Progress being inversely proportional to the size and combined age of an advisory board. Bertish prediction - no production car will actually be produced from the Alpine-caterham alliance.
Bert

Agreed. I've worked with the French a few of times and anglo-french working is difficult to say the least.

I can't help feel that Caterham have bitten off more than they can chew with their new car. Caterham build quality is not the greatest IME - you only have to look at the chassis rust on low mileage examples - but it is more forgiveable somehow in that sort of car. People's expectations of a 'proper' car are much higher when it comes to build quality. And let's face it Renault have consistently scored poorly when it comes to that area.

It will be interesting to see who the dealer network ends up being and the build and reliability of the finished product.

This...

Imagine the nightmare of chairing those meetings with all those ego's raging? Or even worse, with half of them missing, who then get the minutes and want their own way; I think Berts prediction is on the money. Caterham will do well to manage producing an Alpine, but I hope they pull it off; Alpine always made interesting cars; I do wondr why they need catrham to do it though; would it not be cheaper simpler and more effective to do it in France?

[f328nvl]

BertBert said:

Now call me a cynic (as I am), but that looks like an inverse law to me. Progress being inversely proportional to the size and combined age of an advisory board. Bertish prediction - no production car will actually be produced from the Alpine-caterham alliance.
Bert

Absolutely agree: An advisory board that size presumably meet in the Albert Hall if the O2 isn't available. What is this Caterham/Renault thing all about anyway? I can understand Caterham's needs, but what do Renault get from the association?

http://rjmghome.blogspot.co.uk/

[BaronVonVaderham]

I'll help them out with some advice:

PUT A MANUAL GEARBOX IN IT

[clarki]

BaronVonVaderham said:

I'll help them out with some advice:

PUT A MANUAL GEARBOX IN IT

Cricky - someone please change the record!!

As the owner of a GTA "back in the day" and currently running an R26R this could very well be my next car. Stunning looks and great history - lets hope this advisory group know what theyre doing.

[V8 FOU]

Having owned a GTA turbo for many years and many miles, I really want this.
One of those "sell everything" cars methinks.....

[DonkeyApple]

marshalla said:

Needs more rappers and B-list Hollywood "celebrities"

if they want to be as successful as Lotus

Indeed, also a significant shortage of ropey old hookers and badger impersonating rock stars. I can only assume that Fernandez will be taking the correct course of action when he makes his advisory board.

On a serious note, it seems like a good list of people. Le Frogs take their motoring heritage very seriously (as their people have a habit of burning things down that they don't like or not turning up for work) and it looks like this board is there to ensure that Renault deliver a car that is in the true spirit of the Alpine brand.

Certainly the drawings are of a rather stunning car and the only downside is that this car along with Alfa's 4c if priced in the manner that a volume producer is able to do will add further pressure to the more niche manufacturers who cannot hope to ever compete on cost. It's clear to see why TF has joined this partnership.

[Zumbruk]

It's "drafted" ...

Nice looking car.

[RacingBlue]

Now that front end works very well on that Alpine. On the new Clio RS? Hmmmm....

[BuzzLightyear]

I really hope they do manage to get this into production and, if it's pitched in the right price bracket, it could do well with those who prefer a more "left-field" choice of car.

I have never owned an Alpine (or even a Renault come to that) but have always had a soft spot for Alpines, from the A110 on.

From what I have seen and read, Fernandez is quite a shrewd nut and I don't think he would waste his time and £ on something he didn't think would bear fruit (and a profit).

I'll take one in the French Racing Blue, like in the pics

[KMB]

This is a genuinely innovative car that looks great, let's hope that the anglo-french working team can get it into production... It will be tough but not impossible.

PS - I work for an American company in France, if it was this partnership then we'd be buggered from the outset!

[DonkeyApple]

KMB said:

This is a genuinely innovative car that looks great, let's hope that the anglo-french working team can get it into production... It will be tough but not impossible.

PS - I work for an American company in France, if it was this partnership then we'd be buggered from the outset!

Track record for Anglo-Frog engineering is pretty good from the Chunnel and Concorde to various big projects in France. So hopefully it should be all OK.

[rsRob]

f328nvl said:

Absolutely agree: An advisory board that size presumably meet in the Albert Hall if the O2 isn't available. What is this Caterham/Renault thing all about anyway? I can understand Caterham's needs, but what do Renault get from the association?

http://rjmghome.blogspot.co.uk/

Re: what do Renault get, have a read of this: http://www.caterhamtechnology.com/manufacturing-en...

"For larger manufacturers, niche and low-volume products are often difficult to integrate to production facilities and processes that are more appropriate for mid to high volume production"