The Alpine A110: a true modern great
Celebrating evo’s beloved Alpine A110
“A modern classic in every sense of the term’, high praise indeed, and reserved for the very best, the thrill seekers, those cars of the highest calibre. Cars such as the Alpine A110, one of the great sports cars of all time, a bona-fide modern icon, an eCoty runner-up no-less, a legend not in the making, but already established and one of the greatest driver’s cars of the last 25 years.
A car steeped in history
Alpine didn’t have to resurrect its fabled A110 model in 2017. The original diminutive two seater sports car arrived in 1962, dominated world rallying before going on to win the inaugural World Rally Championship in 1973. The A110’s place in the history books was secured, its legendary status unquestionable. Alpine could have rested on its laurels. Thankfully it didn’t.
Alpine wanted back in the sports car arena. It wanted to showcase that in a world of motoring excess, its philosophy of light weight, compact dimensions and efficiency of purpose had a place in the motoring landscape. Throw in everyday comfort, cutting edge technology and functionality that would allow the 21st Century remake to be as comfortable on the road as it would be exciting on the track, and the A110 was a winner in many eyes before it turned a wheel. The A110 recipe was tantalising when released, the finished product insatiable once tasted.
How good? In 2018 the A110 finished second only to a pure-bred supercar in evo Car of the Year. Six years later the sensational A110 R finished second, again to a car that is widely regarded to be one of the greatest of all time. The R finished so close you could barely slide a slither of carbon fibre between it and the winner.
Pure driving
From those first miles in the A110 the way it drives has marked it out as one of the very best driver’s cars. Out of the box it demonstrated a dynamic repertoire that we had dreamt of a manufacturer delivering, but never thought one would be able to so in today’s world of restrictive regulations.
Yet Alpine delivered it all. “The A110’s ride, handling and overall feel are sublime”, we said at the time, “it’s a magical car”. Still is. There is something unique in how the A110 flows with the road, changing direction with immediacy yet always in control, never thrown off line or caught unawares. It’s a testament to Alpine’s lightweight philosophy and the team behind the A110’s instance that keeping mass down had to be a reality not simply a suggestion.
This unflinching approach resulted in a car that’s delicate in its action, feelsome and accurate. Brakes that are brilliantly balanced, a body that’s totally in control, natural in its movement. Intuitive, engaging and delivering eye widening thrills.
An A110 for all tastes
In its short lifetime the A110’s appeal and success has led Alpine to develop the model’s breadth of capabilities and offered a range of distinct models. All are powered by the 1.8-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine and mated to the seven-speed twin-clutch gearbox offering an instinctive and involving powertrain regardless of the model you choose.
Now a family of four - the A110, GT, S and R - Alpine’s family offers something for every taste, yet drive any variant and the driving experience remains equally engaging. The A110 remains true to the original’s purity, the GT a luxury approach that includes a leather trimmed interior matched with larger brakes, a sports exhaust and convenience items such as parking sensors.
Step up to the S and, like the GT, power increases from 252hp to 300hp, spring stiffness increases by 50 percent, anti-roll bars are thicker and the dampers are re-tuned to match and control the larger tyres fitted to its 18-inch wheels. Yet despite its performance focus it remains as compelling and rewarding on road as it does on track. A perfect blend for many.
For the ultimate blend of fast road and track driving Alpine has created the 300hp R. With its carbon fibre bodywork, aggressive aerodynamic appendages, adjustable chassis, Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres and pared back interior the R is the A110 in its most focussed form. Thanks to Alpine’s lightweight philosophy the R remains as compelling, riveting and rewarding to drive on the road as it is exhilarating to experience the track, with its higher levels of downforce delivering even greater driver engagement, rewarding like few others at this or any price point.
Regardless of the A110 you find yourself in, the thrill of driving is at your fingertips.
