For too long the Porsche Cayman has had the sub-50k mid-engine sports car sector tied up, but is there a worthy competitor in the new Alpine A110? The headlines look promising, rear-wheel drive, mid-engined two-seater made from aluminium to keep weight down to just 1103kg – a whopping 300kg less than a 718 Cayman. The A110 makes do with a 1.8-litre, four-cylinder turbo unit mated to a seven-speed auto gearbox, yet it produces 249bhp at 6000rpm and 236lb ft at only 2000rpm (Alpine have even confirmed this engine will produce 300bhp-plus during it’s lifetime). This gives a power-to-weight ratio of 229bhp per ton, slightly better than the 225bhp per ton of the entry-level 718 Cayman. In short, the A110 will sprint from 0-62mph in 4.5 seconds and onto a electronically limited top speed of 155mph.
Okay, let’s go back to that weight figure. 1100kg even for a compact two-seater sports car is an incredible achievement these days. Alpine have said this is more about driving pleasure than lap times, refreshing to hear in a world where most sports cars are judged on their ability to lap a certain German track most buyers won’t venture to. Some of the plaudits must go to Caterham’s involvement with the Alpine revival in it’s early stages of development until it’s unexplained departure in 2014. The lightweight philosophy surrounding the A110 is plain to see when you look at the basics. The Sabelt-designed seats can only be adjusted with a spanner, the speakers weigh a third of the usual Renault ones and the suspension set-up is run on passive dampers which are lighter than adaptive dampers. Interestingly, the passive dampers do create more body roll as is the standard set up to suit all types of driving and not just hairpin corners, however body roll is not overly noticeable thanks to the small, lightweight body (just 4180mm long, 1798mm wide and 1252mm high).
At this point I know what some of you are thinking, if this is a true driver’s car, why no manual gearbox? Put quite simply, cost. The A110 is hoped to sell big numbers for a small sports car and creating a brand new manual gearbox would negate that too much. Despite this, the seven-speed Getrag double clutch gearbox is massively improved over the six-speed from the Clio RS 220, shifting when you want and giving you confidence in it’s response. Despite their efforts though, Porsche’s PDK ‘box in the Cayman is still superior. There are other areas where cost-cutting has given the Alpine less of a quality feel to its German rival too. Hard plastics line the interior, but it’s a catch-22 whereby they’re much lighter than metal and leather alternatives. But we shouldn’t nitpick too much into the quality of the thing given this is Alpine’s first car for two decades. Encouragingly, the layout of the interior is driver focused as the centre console is designed around the three driving modes (normal, sport and track), none of which change the car too dramatically, emphasising how brilliantly set up the car’s chassis is.
In case you’d thought i’d forgotten about the Alfa 4C, I haven’t. It’s just the 4C was designed to work on a track first and it shows in real life, whereas the 718 works equally well through a chicane as it does nipping to the shops. In terms of practicality (something most A110 reviewers haven’t bothered to mention), the A110 can hit 46mpg on a combined cycle which is an impressive 8mpg better than the 718. Behind the transversely-mounted engine, rear luggage space is tight at best as only the metal boot-lid opens up and not the glass hatch, it’s the same story up front as the fuel tank sits below the front boot making it rather shallow.
Renault should be commended on reviving the Alpine brand especially considering the stiff competition. No one expected the A110 to be such a hit upon it’s release and when right-hand drive models come to Britain next summer you can bet they will fly out of the showrooms. Judging by the positive response, I doubt this will be the only Alpine model to go into production in the next decade. There’s a foundation to be built on here and Renault may have built it’s most important car for some time and it’s not even a Renault!
Specs:
Price: £50,000 (estimate)
On sale: June 2018
Engine: 4cylinder, 1.8-litre, turbo, petrol
Power: 249bhp at 6000rpm
Torque: 239lbs at 2000rpm
Gearbox: 7-speed dual-clutch automatic (wet)
Kerb weight: 1103kg
Top Speed: 155mph (limited)
0-62mph: 4.5secs (claimed)
Fuel Economy: 46.3mpg
C02, Tax Band: 138g/km, 26%
Photos used are sourced under legal tab.
Let's Drive 
Leave a comment