Alpine 110 2019 - Lightweight and fun!
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- Опубліковано 28 чер 2019
- Alpine is a name you might dimly remember. A French sportscar manufacturer long forgotten. Except that it's back. And this Renault-owned brand is gunning for class-leading performance coupes like Porsche's 718 Cayman and BMW's M2 with this car, the A110.
Background
Alpine has quite a history. So much so in fact that you might wonder why it's taken Renault so long to revive the brand. Founder Jean Redele created the marque to build lightweight, compact, highly agile sportscars, but the company has also been highly instrumental in Renault motorsport success, the Alpine-Renault team claiming the World Rally Championship manufacturers' title in 1973.
In more recent road car terms, there's been little that's been properly Alpine-badged since the sleek GTA coupe of 1985, but in 2012, a joint venture with Caterham Cars was hatched to revive the brand. It was based around creating the design you see here, but Caterham pulled out of the project in 2014. Leaving Alpine to complete the task of bringing what has become this A110 model to market.
Driving Experience
Powering this mid-engined rear wheel drive Gallic tearaway is a 1.8-litre turbocharged four cylinder engine mated to a quick-shifting 7-speed paddle-shift Getrag dual-clutch auto gearbox - there's unfortunately no manual option. As you'd expect, there's a driving modes system offering Normal, Sport and Race options. As for the figures, well rest to 62mph occupies 4.5s en route to a limited top speed of 155mph. By comparison, a Porsche 718 Cayman manages 5.1s and 171mph.
The aluminium body has a low centre of gravity - there's a near-perfect 44/56 front-to-rear weight distribution - and doesn't need the overly stiff spring rates and broad tyres that some rivals depend on for cornering vim. There are hollow lightweight ant-roll bars instead of solid heavy ones - one reason why the kerb weight of this car can dip beneath the 1,100kg mark. Armed with this information, you start to understand why the performance of this car betters its Cayman counterpart, even though this Alpine engine's 252PS output is much lower.
Design and Build
The A110 is based almost completely on the Alpine Vision concept car that the brand showed to the press in Monaco back in 2016. It's an attractive, distinctive thing, though inevitably perhaps, not quite as eye-catching as the model that inspired its badging, the A110 Berlinette of 1969, styled by Giovanni Michelotti and recognised widely as one of the most beautiful sports cars of all time. But back to the present. The bodywork of this modern day A110 is entirely constructed from aluminium
And inside, well like most mid-engined sports cars, this one is a strict two-seater. You get a couple of deeply-bolstered sports bucket seats upholstered in leather and alcantara and finished with evocative blue stitching. Cabin quality is better than you might think given the Renault heritage. True, there are Renault switches and controls deployed in certain places but that's all been done quite tastefully. There are two flat screen TFT displays, one viewed through the wheel - a 10-inch screen for the instrument gauges. The other 7-inch monitor is in the centre of the dash for the navigation and telematics. As for practicalities, there's a 100-litre boot in the front and another 96-litre boot area in the rear.
Market and Model
There are two A110 variants on offer, the 'Pure', which has a more driver-centred minimalistic approach, and the 'Legende', which is more luxurious. The 'Pure' variant costs around £47,000, while the 'Legende' is around £51,000. Finding a car to try might be a challenge: there are only a handful of Alpine dealers in the UK - all large Renault dealer group outlets. Both A110 models get a driving mode selector with three options: Normal, Sport and Race. In terms of specific spec, the 'Pure' variant has light weight Sabelt monocoque leather seats, 17-inch light-alloy wheels, air-conditioning, a satellite navigation system, the 'mySPIN' Alpine smartphone mirroring system and front and rear LED lighting.
In addition, the 'Legende' gives you a high-gloss carbonfibre-trimmed cockpit, parking sensors and a rear camera. Specific bi-colour 'Legende' 18-inch wheel rims pay tribute to the original motif of the A110 Berlinette 1600S. Two other 18-inch wheel rims are available to choose from as an optional extra. Both models can be ordered with an upgraded FOCAL audio system complementing the two speakers and two subwoofer tweeters. And in the 'Legende' version, you can add heated seats and an active sports exhaust. There's a choice of three body colours - 'Blanc Irise' (Iridescent white), 'Blue Abysse' (Abyss Blue) and 'Gris Tonnerre' (Thunder Grey).
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I would like to own an Alpine A110.
This is probably one of the best car reviews I have ever seen, I think you covered everything. Great car, great review.
We're glad you enjoyed the review, Matt 👌
The best review I have seen. Suggest potential buyers watch this.
Thanks Rodney 👍 great to see comments like this
I own an A110PE and it's a pleasure every time I go for drive. Simple once you test drive you will sell your children to get one, lol
@@rodneyapcar9384 🤣
Love that car and what a great review!
Thanks Mr Vinci 👍
This is how car reviews should be done, takes me back to the original Top Gear with Chris Goffey. +1 subscription
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Great review but just a thing : this is not a twin turbo 4 cylinder, single turbo but it is twin scroll :)
Wow, nice format! Subscribed.
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C’est de très loin la meilleure présentation que j’ai pu voir sur l’Alpine !
Merci à vous
Mangetout Rodney, mangetout!
Thorough as always
My fun- dreamcar!!
Love A110 ♥️
👍👍👍
Fabulous detailed review! What a great little car! Congratulations to the Alpine team who made it happen
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Going by this review this channel deserves a Lot more viewers n so many more subscribers totally sensible very honest unbias covers everything you need to know and thank God Noting silly or overblown hollywood type hype I have enjoyed this more than any other review on a car no silly slides no tyre smoking, just an honest in-depth review mate many many thanks I spend an excellent pleasurable time
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Fantastic review.
Thanks 👍
Best review ive seen. Thx.
Thank you for watching 👍
Quality video. Thanks!
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I read that this cars design has people either loving it or hating it. I'm seriously in the love it camp. One of the better looking cars in its day and I'd say the same for this reimagined one too.
A great review. Very thorough and balanced. I'm still a bit irked by that £450 road tax which seems so unfair considering its g/km co output. How long before we see the Premiere at £40k.
Fabulous review. It won't sell, of course, but as a halo car, it's a brilliant product for Renault.
Already 6000 sold worldwide ! Most in France followed by believe it or not Germany of all places and Belgium and Italy ! Not too bad for a 2 seat sportscar.
@@blackbess338 Excellent - I HOPE it sells a million, but by definition these cars don't tend to sell massively - it's a fabulous car - love that engine.
Blackbess It's a succes....as a future A110 owner I would not even mind if they sold less of them.... 😬
Brilliant review. Picking mine up next week. Was wondering if I’d made the right decision at the price but this review has my confidence up now! Thanks for such a thorough going over!
We're glad this review helped with your buying decision, Billy! Enjoy your new car 👍
how do you feel about your decision now?
quick review? im in a similar position now.
One year later, a thorough and comprehensive review. A potential improvement would have been to test the storage space rather than only question it.
Many thanks for watching 👍
Closing the door sharply via the glass,he would be running for his life ,if it were mine
Really good review, answered pretty much all my questions . I do now wonder if I can get my feet in the pedal box comfortably , I have to take my shoes off if I get in a caterham ! A test drive will provide the answer 😀
Fantastic to hear that you found the review useful, Bob! Thanks for watching 👍 Be sure to subscribe for more in-depth vehicle reviews: bit.ly/319ZKoT
Very good, thorough and informative review. ”BBC-like” which is meant as complimentas the highest of standards.
Thanks Henrik 👍 great to see comments like this
The thing I like about the A110 compared to the 918 is the gearing. The pleasure of driving a car like this lies in sawing through gears 2-3-4. You can't do that in a 918 unless you're going over 220 kph. For real world driving, this car hits a sweet spot for most B roads.
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Great cars and even better value second hand 👍🏻
Get the Stage 1 tuning pack from Lichfield and it’s absolutely perfectly for British B Roads
🚙🇫🇷💙🇬🇧
Nice car, shame about it hasn't got a manual gearbox option though.
Manual mode paddle is better than a stick. It's all about compromise. I love my A110
Make your mind up. It is an Alpeen, not a 1950s/1960s Alpine made by Roots Group. You seem to float between the two pronouncements. As you are testing a car, you need to say it’s name properly. As a previous owner of the original A110 and about to purchase a new Alpine A110, it is a constant irritation that British testers cannot pronounce its name. Otherwise, very very good and informative test. Thanks.
Loved this car.. Newest model (2021-present) misses the mark by ruining the front end proportions.
The round headlights and aggressive rear haunches gave it its appeal. The new one may be great, but it looks like a Toyota now.
Needs a manual gear box though
Twin turbo?? 🤦🏻♂️
I’ve watched a number of reviews of this car and I’m deeply troubled and bothered by it.
I’m bothered because notwithstanding that it’s a differentiated brand to Renault, the switchgear makes me think it is one.
I’m bothered by the price, for something of lesser build quality than something ‘german’ perhaps..
I’m bothered that a vast majority of reviews are very good
I’m bothered principally that my head says get a bmw or Mercedes, Toyota supra even a lotus, but EVERYTHING, including my heart is telling me to get one, sod the potential depreciation and quality of fit and finish, just get one and enjoy driving again......
Ok, I’ve now driven an S and a Legende and I get it...the S is planted and has a lovely sharp turn in but very firm and especially so at low speeds, verging on too stiff, but get some speed behind you and it handles brilliantly. The extra 40bhp was to me only slightly noticeable and mainly at the top end of the Rev range and certainly in ‘sport mode’. Gearbox superb and seats incredibly comfortable. Infotainment not as bad as some of the reviews make out though frankly I’d rather watch the road and enjoy the drive than worry about the radio. The induction is a better noise in any event. I drove the legende after the s and it felt slightly too soft (context possibly) and steering felt marginally less sharp which I suspect was down the smaller dia wheels. But you can live with it day to day. Its quick too and you get a sense of speed too. It’s great fun and the dealers are heavily pushing the collector angle. I’m trying to believe it. It truly is a masterpiece, a little creaky at times, but I think you just accept it for what it is. Superb car, more refined lotus in my opinion. Very taken with it, though still trying to convince myself it will hold its value as well as a Porsche or supra, without doubt its a hoon of a car and well worth a drive, as soon as you do you’ll get it.
@@jamiebird8302 Ultimately, if you have to choose, which one would you get? A110 or A110S?
The front of this car looks like a 1999 Toyota Celica in the US not sure about Europe everything else looks great i would take one over a boring Porsche BMW or BENZ any day.
No manual transmission, not interested!
A strangely sterile review, presented as if reading from a slightly glitchy autocue. Lots of details on the specification, but I have no idea if the reviewer actually enjoyed driving it.
Hi there, sorry you feel that way about this review. We aim to provide a comprehensive breakdown of the car to help viewers decide if it's the right vehicle for them.
@@OsvUkVehicleSupply Thanks for the reply. Sorry, that came across unnecessarily harshly. It is certainly comprehensive and does fill a niche left by other less detailed reviewers. I think this kind of review is great for more practical, family oriented cars where specification, interior space etc is particularly important. In this case, I would have liked to have seen much more of a focus on how engaging it is to drive.
Great Brand, but not a nice car.... french Scrap
Far too much talking, not enough driving, plenty of idioms though.
Hi there, thanks for the feedback. We specialise in long-form, in-depth reviews that give viewers an extensive look of the vehicle to help them decide if it's right for them.
About twice as expensive as it should be. Pass.
Is you fo real?
They are cars more than twice the price that don't deliver as good as a driving experience as this one, it is so successful they had to increase the factory output ,i think they priced it just right lol, if you can't afford it a megane rs would fit you nicely.