ALPINE OPENS FIRST SHOWROOM IN HUNGARY

Renault Group's sports car brand, Alpine, opens its first showroom in Hungary. The move was announced yesterday at the gala event ahead of the Formula 1 Hungarian Grand Prix by Laurent Rossi, CEO Alpine, Alpine's Vice President and head of sales and marketing Cedric Journel, and Renault Hungária Managing Director, Tamás Wachtler.

The opening of the showroom is part of Alpine's new international expansion strategy, which will help the brand enter new markets and expand its European dealer network. The 60-square-metre showroom is located on one of Budapest's most popular highways, Váci road, where the showroom, which features the brand's latest branding elements, offers a customer experience worthy of Alpine.

The Budapest Alpine Center is operated by the largest car dealership in Hungary, with multiple years of experience and the infrastructure to sell exclusive brands such as Alpine.

The boutique will open early this Autumn. Detailed information is available at https://alpinecars.hu where you can also register for a test drive of the legendary A110 model.

Opening the salon is a key step for Alpine’s expansion in Europe, as we want to promote as widely as possible the unique sporting lifestyle that is based on Alpine’s racing DNA and the innovative developments of Renault Group. Alpine brings together brand loyalty, specialised manufacturing, engineering expertise, with the popularity of Formula 1. Together, these will lay the foundations to create real market value for Alpine and take it to a new level on both the international and Hungarian markets, said Laurent Rossi, CEO Alpine.

We are delighted to bring Alpine to Hungarian customers. For the first time, the legendary A110 model will be available, which has achieved a major success in the history of Hungarian motor racing as well, offering agility, speed and driving pleasure unmatched by any other sports car to date. Although the brand is a dedicated business unit in the Renault Group, thanks to its high quality, bespoke production, we expect Alpine to spur the sales of its sister brands, as the technologies used in both Alpine and Renault road-models are based on Formula 1 developments. In addition, the ever-expanding range of models will also stimulate local sales results, said Tamás Wachtler, Managing Director of Renault Hungária.

Alpine at the forefront of Renault Group’s innovation with exclusive sportscars

As part of Renault Group’s Renaulution, Alpine announced in January 2021 its plans for long-term growth as Renault Group’s brand dedicated to innovative, authentic and exclusive sportscars. Alpine is arguably the epitome of French motoring, building on remarkable victories throughout its history. It is a brand with heritage and pedigree. It is also a factory with highly skilled specialists manufacturing the A110 in Dieppe (France). Today, the activities of Alpine Cars, Renault Sport Cars and Renault Sport Racing are united as one entity under the Alpine brand. The newly created entity intends to be a “new generation” automotive Brand for discerning, passionate early adopters. Alpine also leverages the scale and capabilities of Renault Group and the RNM Alliance including technology with the Alliance EV-native platform, a global manufacturing footprint, a powerful purchasing arm ensuring optimum cost competitiveness, a global distribution network and RCI Bank and Services.

Alpine’s 100 % electric dream garage

The new organizational structure, the intensification of synergies with Renault Group and the Alliance and collaboration with selected partners will be instrumental to support Alpine’s product plan:

• a 100% electric B-Segment Hot Hatch based on the Alliance CMF-B EV platform

• a 100% electric C-Segment Sports Cross Over based on the Alliance CMF-EV platform

• a 100% EV replacement of the A110 developed with Lotus

Alpine intends to be at the forefront of Renault Group’s innovation be it technology, distribution, customer experience or any other area that delivers value for the brand and its customers. As such, Alpine’s next product generation will leverage Renault Group’s latest innovations and will benefit from F1’s technology and expertise: efficient energy management, safety systems and connectivity solutions derived from F1’s high-performance in data analysis and processing that will bring a significant competitive advantage to the Alpine products.

Alpine history

Alpine was founded in 1955 by Jean Rédélé, a young man passionate about competition. He named his company after his favourite playground for racing: the Alps. When the original A110 road car was introduced in 1962, the company began to take off. By then, Alpine and Renault were close collaborators, Alpine cars being sold and serviced by Renault dealerships. By the early 70s, Alpine was a major force in top-flight rally competition. In 1971 Alpine took the three steps on the podium of the world-famous Rallye Monte Carlo for the first time, then again in 1973.

The company went on to win the World Rally Championship Manufacturers’ title later that year. At the same time Alpine’s road car sales were growing. Alpine built a dedicated factory in Dieppe in 1969 – the same site that produces the A110 today – and in 1971 the A310 entered production. Two years later, Alpine was acquired by Renault Group. Alpine achieved its most famous motorsport triumph in 1978 with overall victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

The factory continued to release new and innovative road cars throughout the 70s and 80s, including the A310 V6 and the GTA. Alpine production would eventually cease in 1995. In 2017, the brand presented the new A110, a sports car faithful to Alpine’s timeless principles of compactness, lightness, agility and driving pleasure.

Fast forward to 2021 and Alpine Cars, Renault Sport Cars and Renault Sport Racing join forces under the Alpine flagship, becoming the brand dedicated to innovative, authentic, exclusive sportscars of Renault Group.

The Alpine A110

Underpinning the A110 are the very same technical principles that were determined first by Jean Rédélé, 66 years ago and that has been evident in every Alpine car since, be it a dedicated competition machine or a road-going model.

Alpine cars draw their performance from compact dimensions, a particular focus on lightweight engineering and a high power-to-weight ratio, rather than extremely powerful engines and very wide tyres. A foundational Alpine principle is the elevation of driving pleasure – for drivers with any level of experience - over lap times, top speeds and acceleration figures. Importantly, Alpine cars must be comfortable and civilised in everyday use as well, which is especially true of the new A110.

The A110’s aluminium body is both very strong and exceptionally light. The lightest version of the car, the A110 Pure, weighs less than 1100kg (with fluids). The mid-engine configuration ensures perfect weight distribution for agile and responsive handing, while all-round double wishbone suspension gives a very high degree of control and precision in bends. Ride comfort is a particular strength of the A110. All versions of the sports car use seven speed paddle shift dual-clutch transmissions that deliver almost instantaneous gearshifts.

The common engine is a 1.8-litre four-unit with a turbocharger. In the A110 Pure and Légende this engine develops 252PS, while for the A110S that figure is increased by 40PS to 292PS. All versions of the A110 feature the same three driving modes: Normal, Sport and Track. Inspired by the original 1962 A110 Berlinette, the A110’s exterior design forms a link between Alpine’s heritage and its future.

Led by Frenchman Antony Villain, the design team set out to capture the spirit of Alpine in the car while also creating a design language that would stand the test of time. The twin front headlights, sculpted flanks, distinctive bonnet spine and wraparound rear screen are clearly borrowed from the A110 Berlinette, while the LED running lights and ‘X’-shaped LED taillights, with dynamic turn indicators, hint at the car’s modern-day engineering and performance. The car’s clean, uncluttered silhouette has been achieved by working in parallel with the engineering team.

A completely flat underside and functional diffuser ensures optimal airflow and downforce. Although the exterior dimensions are very compact - contributing to the car’s agility - the cabin still offers enough space for taller drivers to sit comfortably, even if they’re wearing a helmet. Access to cabin is among the best in the sports car sector thanks to the low and narrow sill, while the interior itself mirrors the A110’s lightweight construction.

Alpine in motorsport: racing at the top level

Alpine F1 Team

In September 2020, Group Renault announced that Alpine, a brand born from motor racing, would develop and enter its name in the Formula 1 World Championship. Starting from the 2021 season, Renault Group’s team became Alpine F1®Team, equipped with a Renault E-TECH hybrid engine.

Alpine F1 Team press kit – here

Alpine Elf Matmut Endurance Team

On the heels of its entry into F1, Alpine accelerated its ascent to the highest level of motorsport by

entering the Hypercar category in the 2021 season of the World Endurance Championship. Competing in Endurance since 2013, the Signatech Alpine team has won two European titles, two world championships and has scored three LMP2 class victories in the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Alpine Elf Endurance Team press kit – here