Tuesday 10th June 2014

Renault confirms Alpine-Caterham split

Renault officially severs ties with Caterham and takes sole ownership of Alpine sports car project

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So the rumours were true - Alpine and Caterham have officially parted ways this morning. In a joint statement issued on behalf of the short-lived cooperative formerly known as the Societe des Automobiles Alpine Caterham, Renault confirmed it has now bought the British brand out of the deal, acquiring 100 per cent of the venture in the process.

Predictably, the fledgling sports car (revival) operation becomes Societe des Automobiles Alpine as a result - although this change won't go through until a general meeting is held later this month.

Expect purer expression of Alpine's heritage

No-one is saying if any money changed hands (ownership was previously split 50:50 between Renault and Caterham Group), but interestingly the statement hasn't ruled out other forms of cooperation in the future. Albeit with the proviso that these would need to be "in line with each company's strategic policy directions" - thus giving credence to the suggestion that 'creative differences' were behind the scenes.

As PH had previously observed it was odd that no-one on the Alpine side of the operation seem to have any real knowledge of (or even interest in) the existing Caterham product portfolio. So perhaps the whole thing was doomed from the start. We did ask Caterham for a comment, but were referred back to the official statement as the only source of news at this stage.

New Alpine Berlinette and new Caterham C120 still on the cards
On the plus side, both parties have confirmed that they are still moving ahead with new sports car plans, although obviously now independently.

Caterham's post-Seven plans to be confirmed

In a separate release, Alpine is promising to launch the "Berlinette of the 21st century" in 2016. The previous Alpine Berlinette being the legendary A110 , this suggests we can look forward to a lightweight rear-wheel drive coupe, as speculated.

Bernard Ollivier remains at the head of Alpine project, saying: "With 90 per cent of design specifications complete and an interior design to be finalised before the summer, enthusiasm is growing around the future Alpine production car. The key words for the vehicle are style, enjoyment and sporting spirit."

We note with some concern that affordability appears to have fallen off that list. But Dieppe has once again been confirmed as the site for chassis and bodywork assembly for the new Alpine.

Caterham was more succinct, simply saying that more news about the 'C120 project' will be available in "due course" - which we're lead to believe actually means a matter of weeks.

 

 

[tbc]

Probably arguing over who does the electrics.

[synXero]

I want that blue thing so much.

[SpeckledJim]

The new Alpine is utterly stunning.

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

[r11co]

Stoopid idea anyway.....

[marshalla]

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

[soad]

synXero said:

I want that blue thing so much.

Me too.

[RTH]

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.

[MikeG88]

Renault days of making interesting cars are over.

[talksthetorque]

So Renault's design is 90% complete except for the interior.
This must mean Caterham's design is finished.
(Goes round back of Caterham's shed to find lots of soft touch plastics)

[Fayaz LP640]

Its a shame for what could have been, starting with that stunning concept, but the writing has been on the wall for a while now.

[articulatedj]

This explains why Caterham was out looking for money.

The good news is that we will have two very different cars to choose from, both in the purist sports car vein. Not a bad thing at all.

[Petrus1983]

articulatedj said:

The good news is that we will have two very different cars to choose from

Or none at all when they both run out of money.

[bubney72]

Good, Renault Alpine sounds as it should. Caterham involvement would have made it seem like a cheap kit car type joke.

[kenno78]

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 the (Red Bull) relationship with Infinity would stop that happening.

[toppstuff]

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?

[n4aat]

Holy st.

That blue car is stunning.

Where's my balaclava.

[Zoin]

kenno78 said:

I suspect the (Red Bull) relationship with Infinity would stop that happening.

Would it? Doesn't Renault still own a majority stake in Nissan? Or am I out of touch?

[bertie]

Problem here is they are fundamentaly different types of organisation.

Its like the mouse trying to teach the elephant to dance!

[anonymous-user]

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!

[Kong]

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.