A110 (2017)

The modern Alpine A110 emerged from Renault's long-standing ambition to revive the Alpine brand, a project that went through multiple false starts before finally reaching production. Development began in earnest around 2012 under the leadership of Bernard Ollivier, with the design team led by Antony Villain drawing inspiration from the original A110 while creating a thoroughly contemporary machine. The Premiere Edition was unveiled in March 2017 at the Geneva Motor Show, where it received an overwhelmingly positive reception from press and public alike.

Technically, the new A110 followed the original's philosophy of lightweight construction and agile handling rather than brute force. It employed an aluminum platform developed specifically for the car, keeping curb weight to just 1,103 kg, remarkably light for a modern vehicle meeting all current safety regulations. The turbocharged 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine from Renault, producing 252 hp in standard form and later 300 hp in the A110 S variant, was mounted behind the driver in a mid-engine layout. The seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox provided rapid shifts, and the car featured double wishbone suspension at both ends.

The A110 quickly established itself as a formidable competitor to the Porsche 718 Cayman and Lotus Elise/Emira, with reviewers consistently praising its steering feel, ride quality, and the way it communicated with the driver through every input. It won multiple Car of the Year awards across Europe and became a staple of track day communities. A one-make racing series, the Alpine Elf Europa Cup, was established to support grassroots motorsport with the car. The A110 GT variant offered a more touring-oriented experience, while the S and later R versions pushed performance further.

As Alpine transitions to an all-electric future with the A290, the A110 represents the last combustion-engined Alpine and has become increasingly appreciated by enthusiasts who recognize it as the end of an era. Production is expected to wind down by 2025, and early signs suggest that well-specified examples, particularly the limited Premiere Edition and the lightweight A110 R, will appreciate in value. The car succeeded in doing what many thought impossible: creating a worthy successor to one of the most beloved sports cars in French automotive history.