Alpine A110 2019 review

Dieppe. A pretty seaside village on the north coast of France. Founded only a thousand years ago, it has been through various conflicts but has retained its beautiful waterfront, comfortable reputation for producing top-notch scallops, and has been one of the world's most respected performance car makers for the past 50+ years. .

Alpine, the brainchild of one Jean Redele - racing driver, motorsport innovator and automotive entrepreneur - is still located on the southern edge of the city.

Never officially imported into Australia, the brand is virtually unknown here to anyone but dedicated enthusiasts, as Alpine has a distinguished history in rallying and sports car racing, including winning the 1973 World Rally Championship and the 24 1978 Hours of Le Mans.

Redele has always been loyal to Renault, and the French giant eventually bought his company in 1973 and continued to build Alpine's shiny lightweight road and racing cars until 1995.

After a nearly 20-year dormancy, Renault revived the brand in 2012 with the launch of the stunning A110-50 concept race car and then the mid-engined two-seater you see here, the A110.

It is clearly inspired by the Alpine model of the same name, which completely wiped out rally venues in the early 1970s. The question is, will this 21st century version build this car's cult reputation or bury it?

Alpine A110 2019: Australia Premiere
Safety Rating	-
engine's type	1.8 L turbo
fuel type	Premium unleaded gasoline
Fuel efficiency	6.2l / 100km
Landing	2 Places
Price from	$77,300

Is there anything interesting about its design? 9/10

The last example of the original Alpine A110 was released from the Dieppe factory in 1977, and despite more than four decades separating it from this newcomer, the 2019 A110 is actually the new generation version.

The new A110 is more than a hat to its idiosyncratic predecessor, it perfectly updates the distinctive, purposeful look of its not-so-ancient ancestor.

In fact, A110 development team lead Anthony Willan says: “We were wondering; if the A110 never disappeared, if this new car was a sixth or seventh generation A110, what would it look like?”

The eighteen-inch Otto Fuchs forged alloy wheels perfectly match the style and proportions of the car.

Appropriately finished in a very French shade of alpine blue, our test car was one of 60 "Australian premiere" cars, and the design is full of intriguing details.

With a length of just under 4.2 m, a width of 1.8 m and a height of just over 1.2 m, the two-seater A110 is at least compact.

Its curved LED headlights and round fog lamps sink into a prominently curved nose in a full and unabashed reboot, while round LED DRLs accentuate the throwback effect.

The overall look of the neatly serrated bonnet is also familiar, with a huge under-bumper grille and side vents creating an air curtain along the front wheel arches to complete the treatment with a focused technical touch.

Round LED DRLs highlight the return effect.

The steeply angled windshield opens into a small turret with a wide channel running down its inlet, and the sides are narrowed by a long notch under the influence of aerodynamics.

An example of a tight-wrapped surface: the rear is just as taut, with features such as X-shaped LED taillights, a heavily curved rear window, a single center exhaust and an aggressive diffuser continuing the expressive design theme.

Aerodynamic efficiency matters a lot, and close inspection of the rear side window as well as the diffuser reveals a neat air duct at its trailing edge directing air towards the mid/rear mounted engine and the underbody is flattened almost flat. The overall drag coefficient of 0.32 is impressive for such a small car.

A110 also proudly wears its French heart on its sleeve with an enamel version Le Tricolor attached to the C-pillar (and various points in the cabin).

Eighteen-inch Otto Fuchs forged alloy wheels perfectly match the style and proportions of the car, while body-matched blue brake calipers protrude through the slim split-spoke design.

Inside, it's all about the colorful one-piece Sabelt bucket seats that set the tone. Finished in a combination of quilted leather and microfiber (which extends to the doors), they are separated by a floating buttress-style floating console with control keys at the top and a storage tray (including media inputs) at the bottom.

You'll get a sports steering wheel in leather and microfiber (12 o'clock and alpine blue decorative stitching).

Highlights include stylish body-coloured panels in the doors, Ferrari-style push-button gear selection, slim alloy shift paddles attached to the steering column (rather than the wheel), matte carbon fiber accents on and around the console. round air vents and a 10.0-inch TFT digital instrument cluster (which converts to Normal, Sport or Track modes).

The chassis and bodywork of the A110 are made of aluminum, and the matte finish of this material adorns everything from the pedals and perforated passenger footrest to several dashboard trim pieces.

The quality and attention to detail is so outstanding that just getting into the car feels like a special occasion. Everytime.

How practical is the interior space? 6/10

Practicality is the oil for a two-seater sports car. If you need everyday functionality, look elsewhere. Rightfully so, the Alpine A110 puts driver interaction at the top of its priority list.

However, with limited space to work with the car's design team, he made it livable, with surprisingly large boot space and modest storage options making their way throughout the cabin.

The high-support sports seats with high flanks require the use of the "one hand on the A-pillar and swing in/out" technique to get in and out, which won't work for everyone. And one day, a few things are missing inside.

Glove box? No. If you need to refer to the owner's manual or get the service book, they are in a small bag attached to the partition behind the driver's seat.

Door pockets? Forget it. Cup holders? Well, there is one, it's tiny and located between the seats, where only a two-piece circus acrobat could reach it.

There is a long storage box under the center console, which is very convenient, although it is difficult to reach and remove things from it. The media inputs lead to two USB ports, an "auxiliary input" and an SD card slot, but their placement at the front of that lower storage area is tricky, and there's a 12-volt outlet right in front of the inaccessible cup holder.

However, if you and the passenger want to go on a weekend trip, surprisingly you can take some luggage with you. With the engine located between the axles, there is room for a 96-litre boot in the front and a 100-litre boot in the rear.

We were able to fit a medium (68 litre) hard suitcase from our three-piece set (35, 68 and 105 litres) into a wide but relatively shallow front trunk, while the wider, deeper but shorter rear trunk is best suited for soft luggage . bags.

Another missing item is a spare tire, and a neatly packaged repair/inflation kit is the only option in case of a puncture.

Does it represent good value for money? What functions does it have? 7/10

The Alpine A106,500 Australian Premiere Edition costs $110 before travel expenses and competes with an interesting line of lightweight two-seaters with similar performance.

The first thing that comes to mind is the painfully beautiful $4 Alfa Romeo 89,000C mid-engined coupe. For some, its exotic carbon-fiber chassis relies on a suspension that's too stiff, and self-steering is hard to handle. For others (myself included), it offers an exceptionally pure driving experience (and those who can't handle its physical nature need to be tempered).

Lotus founder Colin Chapman's "Simplify, then lighten up" engineering philosophy is alive and well in the form of the Lotus Elise Cup 250 ($107,990), and less than $10k more than the MRRP A110 provides access to a thoroughbred Porsche 718 Cayman ( 114,900 XNUMX USD). ).

It comes with a 7.0 inch multimedia touch screen including MySpin mobile phone connectivity (with smartphone mirroring).

Of course, part of the A110's substantial price comes from its all-aluminum construction and the low-volume manufacturing techniques required to make it. Not to mention the development of an entirely new design and the global launch of a respected but dormant brand.

So, it's not just about the bells and whistles, but FYI, the list of standard equipment on this lightweight screamer includes: 18-inch forged alloy wheels, an active valve sports exhaust system (with engine noise aligned with driving mode and speed), brushed aluminum pedals and passenger footrest, leather-trimmed one-piece Sabelt sports seats, automatic LED headlights, sat-nav, climate control, cruise control, rear parking sensors and power-folding heated side mirrors.

Alpine Telemetrics driving data system provides (and stores) real-time performance metrics including power, torque, temperature and boost pressure, and lap times for track day warriors. You'll also get a leather and microfibre sports steering wheel (complete with 12 o'clock marker and Alpine Blue decorative stitching), Alpine branded stainless steel treadplates, dynamic (scrolling) indicators, automatic rain-sensing wipers, and 7.0 inch multimedia touch screen including MySpin mobile phone connectivity (with smartphone mirroring).

There is a long storage box under the center console, which is very convenient, although it is difficult to reach and remove things from it.

The sound comes from the French specialist Focal, and although there are only four speakers, they are special. The main (165mm) door speakers use a flax cone structure (a sheet of flax sandwiched between two layers of fiberglass), while (35mm) inverted-dome aluminium-magnesium tweeters are located at either end of the dash.

Enough to keep going, sure, but for over $100K, we expect to see a rear-view camera (more on that later) and the latest security technology (more on that later).

What are the main characteristics of the engine and transmission? 9/10

The all-alloy Alpine A110 (M5P) 1.8-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder engine is closely related to the engine under the hood of the Renault Megane RS.

Alpine has changed the intake manifold, exhaust manifold, and overall sizing, but the big difference here is that while it's still transversely mounted, Alpine has the engine in a mid/rear position and drives the rear wheels (rather than a nose-driven RS). ). fronts).

Thanks to direct injection and single turbocharging, it develops 185 kW at 6000 rpm and 320 Nm of torque in the 2000-5000 rpm range, compared to 205 kW/390 Nm for the Megane RS. , while Megane has a capacity of 356 kW/ton.

Drive goes to a Getrag seven-speed (wet) dual-clutch automatic transmission with Alpine-specific gear ratios.

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How much fuel does it consume? 8/10

Claimed fuel economy for the combined (ADR 81/02 - urban, extra-urban) cycle is 6.2 l / 100 km, while the 1.8-liter four emits 137 g / km of CO2.

Over almost 400 km of often "enthusiastic" driving, in the city, suburbs and on the highway, we recorded an average consumption of 9.6 l / 100 km.

Definitely a miss, but not bad considering we were constantly hitting the off button on the standard stop-start system and regularly using the accelerator pedal's ability to move to the floor.

The minimum fuel requirement is 95 octane premium unleaded petrol and you only need 45 liters to fill the tank.

What is it like to drive? 10/10

At just 1094kg (target weight was 1100kg) and a 44:56 front-to-rear weight distribution, the all-aluminum A110 is every millimeter the mini supercar you hope to be.

It only takes two or three rotations of the Alpine wheels to realize he's exceptional. The Sabelt seat is excellent, the chunky handlebar is perfect, and the engine is instantly ready to go.

The electromechanical power steering is felt immediately after the first turn. The trunk is quick and the road feel is intimate without the feedback penalty that the Alfa 4C pays.

Engage launch control and you sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.5 seconds and the engine adds a suitable raucous background track, a full charge of air flowing through the intake manifold right behind your ears. Accelerating to a rev ceiling close to 7000 is a real pleasure, and maximum torque is available from just 2000 rpm to five.

Pressing the Sport button on the steering wheel makes shifting snappier and keeps low gear ratios longer, and the already smooth dual clutch really gets racing. Hold the lower lever in manual mode and the transmission instantly shifts to the lowest gear the engine revs will allow, and the active valve sports exhaust makes rough pops and bumps under acceleration. The Track mode is even more hardcore, allowing for more slip in corners. Brilliant.

Inside, it's all about the colorful one-piece Sabelt bucket seats that set the tone.

The mid/rear engine provides a low roll center, and the double wishbone suspension (front and rear) combines ultra-sharp dynamics with a remarkably civilized ride.

Alpine says the A110's light weight and super-stiff chassis means its coil springs can be soft enough and the anti-roll bars light enough that even our really average urban asphalt pavement doesn't cause too much pain.

The A110 is beautifully balanced, amazingly agile and quite accurate. Weight transfer in fast corners is handled to perfection and the car remains stable, predictable and extremely entertaining.

Grip with Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tires (205/40 fr - 235/40 rr) is grippy, and the torque vectoring system (due to braking) quietly keeps the direction in the right direction if an overzealous pilot starts to overstep the line. .

Despite the modest curb weight of the A110, braking is on a professional level. Brembo offers 320mm ventilated rotors (front and rear) with four-piston alloy calipers at the front and single-piston floating calipers at the rear. They are progressive, powerful and consistent.

The only downsides are the clunky multimedia interface and the unfortunate lack of a rearview camera. But who cares, this car is amazing.

Warranty and safety rating

Basic Warranty

3 years / 100,000 km


guarantee

What safety equipment is installed? What is the safety rating? 7/10

In terms of active safety, the A110's exceptionally dynamic capabilities help you avoid accidents, while special technologies include ABS, EBA, traction control, stability control (disabled), cruise control (with speed limit) and hill start assist.

But forget about higher order systems like AEB, lane keeping assist, blind spot monitoring, cross traffic alert or adaptive cruise.

And when it comes to passive safety, you're protected by an airbag for the driver and one for the passenger. That's all. Weight savings, huh? What can you do?

The safety of the Alpine A110 has not been assessed by either ANCAP or EuroNCAP.

How much does it cost to own? What kind of guarantee is provided? 7/10

The Alpine A10 is covered by a three-year warranty or 100,000 km. According to Alpine, the first two years cover an unlimited number of kilometers. And if at the end of the second year the total number of kilometers remains less than 100,000 km, the warranty is extended for the third year (still up to the total limit of 100,000 km).

So you can hit the 100,000 km mark in the first two years of the warranty, but that means you won't get the third year.

Free roadside assistance is available for 12 months and up to four years if your Alpine is regularly serviced by an authorized dealer.

There are currently only three dealers - one each in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane - and service is recommended every 12 months/20,000 km, with the first two at $530 each and the third up to $1280.

You also need to consider a pollen filter ($89) after two years / 20,000 km and an accessory belt change ($319) after four years / 60,000 km.

It only takes two or three rotations of the Alpine wheels to realize he's exceptional.

Verdict

Don't let the overall rating fool you. Alpine A110 is a real classic. While practicality, safety, and cost of ownership don't impress the world, it delivers a driving experience that makes everything right with the world every time you get behind the wheel.

Would you like to have an Alpine A110 in your toy box? Tell us what you think in the comments section below.