Renault’s Alpine has unveiled the last hurrah for its petrol-powered performance models – but it costs more than $500,000, powered by a tuned four-cylinder engine.
Alpine – the sports-car maker owned by French brand Renault – has revealed its most powerful modern-era car yet, the Alpine A110 R Ultime.
It is also the most expensive, priced from €330,000 ($AU533,000) in the form pictured here – or a mere €265,000 ($AU428,000) for buyers willing to go without the two-tone blue paint.
That makes the A110 more expensive than the cheapest Ferrari supercars – which start from about €200,000 – and approaching the price of the latest V12-powered Ferrari 12Cilindri, which starts from €395,000 ($AU638,000) in Europe.
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It is powered by a tuned version of the standard A110’s 1.8-litre turbo four-cylinder engine – which debuted in the Renault Megane RS hot hatch – with extensive styling, suspension and aerodynamic changes.
The Ultime – French for ‘ultimate’ is limited to a symbolic 110 examples as a “road-legal circuit car” and is likely the car maker’s final petrol-powered performance model as the A110’s successor – and entire Alpine line-up – goes electric.
The special edition was unveiled at the Paris motor show alongside the Alpine A390 ‘beta’ electric SUV concept.
The latest Alpine A110 variant is not expected to reach Australia, as the brand exited local showrooms in 2021 after three years following the introduction of more stringent crash safety standards which also saw the Nissan GT-R sports car dropped.
MORE: Alpine A110 sports car axed in Australia
A batch of 15 of the 110 Alpine A110 R Ultime will feature the unique ‘La Bleue’ gradient exterior treatment the show car was presented in – featuring a Poltrona Frau and Sabelt blue leather interior – priced at a cool €330,000 ($AU533,000).
This makes it more than twice the cost of the most expensive A110 currently on sale – the A110 R Le Mans – listed at £121,990 ($AU237,000) in the UK.
The remaining 95 A110 R Ultime examples start at €265,000 ($AU428,000), and can be had in an array of colours and features from the Alpine Atelier Sur-Mesure programme.
This includes 27 exterior colours, 10 shades of leather upholstery and four different Alcantara choices to personalise the sports car’s interior
There’s also embroidery, embossing and leather braiding which Alpine will use on the centre console, steering wheel and dashboard to the buyer’s preference.
Outside, 18-inch front and 19-inch diameter forged alloy wheels are wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres and work with a honed aerodynamic package claimed to deliver an additional 160kg of downforce.
Buyers can also choose specific colours for the bonnet, fins and rear spoiler, as well as other exterior parts.
The mid-mounted 1.8-litre four-cylinder petrol engine’s turbocharger has a new turbine and compressor to deliver 257kW and 420Nm – eclipsing the ‘standard’ A110 R’s 221kW/340Nm, and significantly more than the 215kW/320Nm peak Australian A110 S models produced.
Alpine says the 1104kg Ultime can accelerate from 0-100km/h in 3.8 seconds – 0.1 seconds quicker than the A110 R Le Mans.
To deal with the increased power and torque, a stronger six-speed dual-clutch transmission has been fitted, while the suspension sees Ohlins adjustable dampers added.
There’s also a new braking system including larger 330mm AP Racing discs and uprated brake pads, as well as additional cooling ducts.
While Alpine is rolling out new electric models as part of a global expansion there’s still no confirmation it will make a return to Australian showrooms to take on rivals including the upcoming electric Porsche 718 Boxster and Cayman.
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