Alpine's New A110 Replacement Could Offer a Gas Engine After All

Out of all of the new cars that we don’t get here in the United States, arguably none are more frustrating than the Alpine A110. The lightweight French sports car, aimed directly at tempting buyers away from the likes of the Porsche 718 Cayman, puts an extreme focus on the joy of driving. With the current generation model set to be replaced shortly, Alpine executives have started giving more concrete hints about the next-generation machine—and while we’ve been told up until this point that the upcoming A110 is an electric vehicle, Alpine boss Philippe Krief just confirmed that a gas-burning variant isn’t entirely off the table.

The car is slated to arrive on the Alpine Performance Platform, which utilizes extensive amounts of aluminum and features 800-volt architecture. (The platform currently underpins the Renault 5 Turbo 3E hot hatch, though it will be refined further for the Porsche fighter.) It will utilize a bifurcated battery pack, with one part behind the driver and one in the nose of the car—this enabling the brand to target a 40:60 weight distribution for the A110.

The new A110’s platform.

The lack of a battery in the floor also means the car can be slammed to the ground, keeping it in line with the current offering in terms of height. In-wheel mounted motors, of which there are two on the rear axle, provide a more compact and lighter solution than more traditional units. Alpine is also rather proud of the torque and power density provided by the setup, though specifics are not yet public. The vehicle itself will be slightly larger overall than the current model, but this should allow for convertible and 2+2 variants expected down the line. That’s all exciting stuff, but Krief’s latest comments mark a new shift.

“Yes, the platform is designed to accommodate internal combustion,” Krief said, according to AutoExpress. “That doesn't mean we will do it, but we are ready for it. The most important thing is to offer an excellent product. People don't buy sports cars because they need them but because they want them. So we need to create something exceptional; it doesn't matter if it's EV or combustion."

Alpine

Krief further noted that having powertrain flexibility could provide Alpine with access to different markets, but that Europe is still the main focus. Considering Alpine reportedly delayed its plans hit the U.S. market in the coming years, we’ll take that as a wishful hint as to what’s coming; given the current situation surrounding EV adoption in the States, a gas-powered version of the A110 might be the best path forward for the U.S. market if the brand is still committed to that idea. That’s not to say that the EV won’t be compelling in its own right, as Alpine believes that car will outpace the current Cayman around the Nurburgring. That would certainly signal the start of the EV sports car age in my book.

Born and raised in Metro Detroit, associate editor Lucas Bell has spent his entire life surrounded by the automotive industry. He may daily drive an aging Mustang, but his Porsche 944 and NB Miata both take up most of his free time.