The Return of a Legend

When Renault announced the return of the Alpine brand in 2017, the automotive world held its breath. The challenge was immense: reinventing the iconic 1960s A110 for the modern era without losing the ultra-lightweight, pure driving ethos that made the original so beloved. The resulting 2017 Alpine A110 proved to be a masterstroke of engineering, deliberately turning away from the modern horsepower wars in favor of Colin Chapman’s philosophy of ‘adding lightness.’

Constructed almost entirely from aluminum, the new A110 weighs roughly 1,100 kg, undercutting rivals like the Porsche 718 Cayman by a significant margin. This low mass allows the car to operate with softer suspension tuning, yielding a ride quality that is virtually unheard of in a dedicated sports car.

Powertrain and Dynamics

Nestled behind the seats is a 1.8-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, shared with the Renault Mégane RS but uniquely tuned for the Alpine. Pumping out 252 horsepower, the engine is mated exclusively to a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission. While purists lamented the lack of a manual gearbox, the rapid-fire shifts keep the turbo spooled and the acceleration relentless.

• Construction: 96% aluminum body and chassis
• Brakes: Brembo calipers with unique rear integrated parking brake
• Seats: Sabelt bucket seats weighing just 13.1 kg each

The Driving Experience

On a winding backroad, the A110 feels alive in a way few modern cars do. Because it is so light, it changes direction telepathically. The suspension breathes with the road rather than fighting it, absorbing mid-corner bumps without upsetting the chassis balance. There is a deliberate amount of body roll engineered into the car, acting as a natural communication tool to let the driver know exactly where the limits of grip lie.

The steering is quick and incredibly precise, if slightly light. The combination of turbo swooshes and a crackling exhaust note provides an appropriately dramatic soundtrack for a spirited Sunday drive.

A Segment Defining Car

In an era of increasingly heavy and complicated vehicles, the 2017 Alpine A110 stands as a beacon of purity. It is a car designed specifically for the joy of driving, sacrificing absolute track times for real-world engagement.