Friday Feature: 2023 Alpine A110 R
Alpine is a brand that many people might not know and for good reason. It is not found (or sold) in North America and has all ties leading back to France. In this week’s blog post, we will explore a little history of the Alpine car company and learn about the car that saw the most success from its introduction, the A110 R.
Throwing It All the Way Back to WWII – Alpine Company History
Alpine is a sporting brand created by Jean Rédélé – a young man with a huge interest in motorsport, in 1955. The inspiration behind the name came from Jean’s favourite playground – the Alps and the company saw huge success almost immediately in 1962 when the A110 appeared on the market. During this time, Alpine and Renault worked very close together mainly because the name Alpine was sold and serviced by Renault dealerships.
Alpine made a name for itself in the racing industry 15 years after entering the automotive market when they monopolized the podium of the famous Monte Carlo Rally in 1971 and winning it again in 1973. This was also the year they became the first manufacturer to be crowned World Rally Champion.
2023 Alpine A110 R
The 2023 Alpine A110 R starts at €100,000 which is equivalent to about $149,320 CDN in current exchange rates. It made its debut on the market on October 4, 2022 featuring a redesigned body kit and a more aggressive chassis setup, both helping to enchance the race car vibe that Alpine was going for. Alpine has continuously attempted to make this car true to its creation with every new model it produces and has done a wonderful job so far, with the R model really standing true to the track ready sports car the French were going for.
The 2023 A110 R features carbon fiber in a couple of key places and all for good reason – the hood (redesigned with vents to improve aerodynamics), the seats (a pair of fixed-back bucket seats that have six-point Sabelt harnesses), the tires (4 unique 18 inch Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2) and the rear window (replaced by a carbon fiber piece with air intakes feeding the turbocharged 1.8 litre inline-four engine) to name a few. We will discuss some more places later in the post.
This version makes 300 horsepower, 251 lb-ft of torque and comes equipped with a 7 speed dual clutch automatic transmission. Alpine claims this car will go from 0-62 mph in 3.2 seconds, a few tenths quicker than the A110 model. It also sees a lower suspension sitting 0.4 inches lower and can be lowered another 0.4 inches thanks to adjustable shock absorbers, with the anti-roll bars and springs becoming stiffer. New Brembo clampers with an upgraded cooling system helps to add to the braking performance.
A lot of inspiration was taken by the Formula 1 Racing cars which is what the brand Alpine was introduced as on the market, so obviously aerodynamics plays a very big role for the A110 R. For the 2023 A110 R edition, the aerodynamics have been reworked to increase downforce will lessening drag. A wider and more defined diffuser built from carbon fiber and fiberglass showcase vertical endplates on either side. This helps to isolate the diffuser from “dirty” air coming off from the rear wheels.
The rear wing is the same shape as the standard car’s and is placed further back and on swan-neck mounts which help to reduce lift. Carbon fiber side skirts also help with aero efficiency and give the car a more planted look.
Did you Know: The rear generates 64 lbs more downforce at top speed compared to the A110 S Aero Kit? Alpine admits that drag is down by 5% helping the A110 R to reach top speeds of 177 mph.
On the outside, there is a blue hue – the same found in Formula 1 racers – on the doors that also feature red door pulls. The rest of the cabin is decorated in microfiber and carbon fiber bits while the infotainment system comes equipped with a telemetry system, which is used to provide information about the drivers performance or vehicle – again, like a race car.
Final Thoughts
Now this version may be made street legal, but to take one of these out on a track would be a dream. Unfortunately, if you live in North America, the only place you will see the A110 R (or any Alpine car for that matter) is in your dreams as Alpine has no plans to enter on the North American market just yet. Check out the poll featured at the end of this post and weigh in with your thoughts!
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