When the dust settles after Geneva we'll tot up and see which manufacturer subjected us to the most protracted teaser campaign ahead of this year's show. Alpine and McLaren are currently front-runners and, much as we're loath to play the game, you'll be reading about this car today so it may as well be on PH, right?
So now we have the not all together surprising news Alpine will revive the A110 name for its all-new car, this iconic badge associated with the
dinky 1969 Berlinette
that has, to put it tactfully, clearly inspired the new car's styling. Previous teasers revealed the
aluminium construction
for both platform and bodywork,
the aero
seats
. Now at least we know what it looks like without the camouflage, though in all honesty the recent efforts in hiding the shape and proportions weren't the most strenuous.
No surprises in the name, the final design or the colour chosen to reveal the car in other words. Thankfully the original Berlinette's focus on performance through lack of weight is promised to carry through to the new car too, that car combining an off the shelf Renault powertrain with that compact, low-slung and minimalist body to great effect. We're still left waiting on any hard facts on what will power the Alpine or any numbers beyond that orgininal boast of a sub-4.5 seconds 0-62mph but we're working on the assumption it'll be an off the shelf transverse four-cylinder turbo with a dual-clutch transmission, much like the Alfa Romeo 4C's 240hp 1.7-litre unit. The 1.6-litre motor from the 220hp Clio Renaultsport Trophy would, if the weight is in the same 1,000kg ballpark, seem an obvious starting point. Especially so given the original A110 was also a 1.6. But we'll know on Geneva press day.
If that means the dripfeed of info becomes a proper torrent then it can't come soon enough!
