Alpine Excites ICE Fans Amid a BEV-Heavy Paris Auto Show

While battery-electric vehicle launches dominate this week’s Paris Motor Show 2024, one of the biggest buzzes among the debuts was around performance internal-combustion-powered cars from Renault’s sports sub-brand Alpine.

Hordes of press craned to see the wraps coming of the brand’s fastest model so far, the Alpine A110 R Ultime that delivers hypercar performance from a diminutive, double overhead cam 16-valve 1.8L turbocharged Renault TCe rear-mounted gasoline engine driving the rear wheels.

This model, limited to just 110 production models, claims 340 hp and 309 lb.-ft. (419 Nm) of torque enough to achieve the 0-to-62 mph (100 km/h) sprint time of 3.8 seconds.

It enjoys a wide power band with maximum power delivered at 6,000 rpm while top torque output is from 3,200 rpm, producing 59 lb.-ft. (80 Nm) more than Alpine’s current fastest model, the A110 R Turini.

Special race-developed features include a modified turbocharger with turbine and compressor, a new DW6 gearbox with improved torque capacity, an Akrapovic titanium exhaust system, four Ohlins adjustable dampers, a bespoke braking system with 13-in. (330 mm) AP Racing bi-material discs, high-performance brake pads and new cooling ducts.

Alpine's aerodynamicists have increased the vehicle's downforce upped by 352 lbs. (160 kg) of additional downforce at Vmax compared to the A110 R Turini.

However, some observers point out that the brand may be over-reaching a bit with what is still an everyday, user-friendly sports car by slapping a hypercar sticker price of $289,303 (€265,000 ), including purchase taxes, on it.

The car’s visuals just do not justify that hypercar price tag when put against recently launched new models from Aston Martin, Ferrari and McLaren, which boast both street-cred looks and even more performance.

Hyper Hydrogen

However, where the automaker does get the hypercar image right is with the latest rendition of its exciting Alpenglow Hy6 hydrogen-burning concept car.

The car has the Hy4’s 2.0L 4-cyl. replaced with a more powerful all-new in-house developed V-6.

This hydrogen-fueled, twin-turbocharged 3.5L V-6 boosts the vehicle's power output from 335 hp to 729 hp compared with the first road-going Alpenglow Hy4.

Those true hypercar looks come thanks to a refined design that presents its new engine in a transparent case and adapts its aerodynamic characteristics to the new performance of this rolling laboratory.

Bruno Famin, vice president of Alpine Motorsports, says: “With the development of this brand new Hy6 V-6 engine, we are demonstrating our commitment to hydrogen research, which could herald motorsport applications with high-performance levels.

"A solution for continuing to cultivate the passion for motor racing using a very noble V-6 with remarkable specific power and a sound to thrill drivers and spectators with its maximum revs at 9,000 rpm. The Alpenglow Hy6 concept is the perfect example of what is possible to achieve the essential step of reducing carbon emissions in motorsport.”