Alpenglow Hy6 gets 9,000rpm hydrogen V6

Alpine always promised more was coming from the Alpenglow concept - now it has 750hp

By Matt Bird / Monday, 14 October 2024 / Loading comments

While hydrogen currently has its well-known drawbacks as an automotive fuel (availability and storage, mainly), it isn’t hard to be seduced by the idea of lower carbon combustion engines. We’ve already seen an Alpine Alpenglow concept tease just the idea with a 340hp four-cylinder engine at Le Mans this year. Now the six-cylinder engine promised is a reality, creating the Alpenglow Hy6.

It doesn’t just represent a modest power gain, either, the 3.5-litre twin turbo V6 screaming out 750hp at 7,600rpm - before crashing into a 9,000rpm cutout. The unit has been specifically designed for revs, too, with a much smaller stroke (82.3mm) than bore (95mm) so those pistons can fire away with real urgency. Peak torque of 568lb ft arrives at 5,000rpm, further reflecting its obvious raciness. When did you last hear of peak torque at 5,000rpm, even in a concept? It’s great news. A six-speed Xtrac sequential demonstrates the motorsport intent (hydrogen can be used to fuel Le Mans racers at 2028) while an Inconel exhaust ought to bring a soundtrack befitting of the specs. This isn’t just racing car flight of fancy, either: Alpine says the Hy6 tech ‘could be transposed to series production.’

The same points are made about hydrogen as a fuel for the six-cylinder Alpenglow as was the four-pot, so we won’t dwell on them too long. There are three fuel cells that store dihydrogen at 700bar to the side and behind the passenger compartment, which is dropped to 200bar by a pressure regulator for ignition. ‘Numerous’ safety measures have been implemented to ensure compliance with Regulation 134, a European standard for hydrogen vehicles.

Marking Hy6 out from 4 are additional cooling vents, a more prominent rear spoiler, a larger side fin and a generally more extreme vibe. And it was hardly a wallflower before. The interior now gets ‘a new fabric that reacts to light in metallic and blue colours’ as well as magenta for the starter button and an interior brace. Alpine has even gone to the extent of fitting camera brackets to the concept, the intention being for the sight of the car and sound of the V6 to be filmed on circuit. Nobody could accuse the Alpenglow project of being done by halves.

Alpine Motorsports VP Bruno Famin said: “With the development of this brand new Hy6 V6 engine, we are demonstrating our commitment to hydrogen research, which could herald motorsport applications with high-performance levels. A solution for continuing to cultivate the passion for motor racing using a very noble V6 with remarkable specific power and a sound to thrill drivers and spectators with its maximum revs at 9,000 rpm. The Alpenglow Hy6 concept is the perfect example of what is possible to achieve the essential step of reducing carbon emissions in motorsport.”

Hard not to admire that kind of ambition, even if the days of hydrogen-fuelled, 205mph, 9,000rpm V6s - for track or otherwise - seem a little way off still. But given the choice of hydrogen being used in a fuel cell for an EV, or as a lower carbon fuel for a combustion engine, there’s not really a decision to be made when it comes to cars that look like the Alpenglow. Here’s hoping this shape and this engine can get a proper run out in due course.