2018 Alpine A110 Release Date, Specs News: Porsche Cayman Rival Unveiled Ahead of Geneva Motor Show Debut
Alpine has released the first official images of the A110 ahead of its global debut at the 87th Geneva International Motor Show next week. The launch of the highly anticipated two-seat sports car marks the return of the marque after the French automobile manufacturer ceased production in 1995.
According to the automaker, the upcoming sports car will reflect the "timeless principles of compact size, light weight and agility," that made the original A110 berlinette a success. The new sports car's namesake was a two-door car that was in production from 1961 to 1977.
Moreover, the 2018 A110's design language was also inspired by the Vision concept that was unveiled by Alpine in 2016. Based on the promotional images, the sports car has been equipped with aerodynamic features including a flat floor and a complex rear diffuser.
The 2018 Alpine A110 is expected to be lighter than its rivals, one of which is the Porsche 718 Cayman. The sports car will be built using a full aluminum platform and its upper body will also make use of aluminum components, which, in turn, significantly reduce its overall weight and increase its agility on the road. The sports car is rumored to have a curb weight of around 2,204 pounds.
According to AutoCar, the new Alpine A110 will most likely be powered by a 1.8-liter petrol engine that will deliver up to 300 horsepower. The engine is said to be based on the 1.6-liter turbocharged powertrain of the Renault Clio RS. The use of this particular engine will allow the 2018 A110 to go from 0 to 62 miles per hour (mph) in about 4.5 seconds.
The 2018 Alpine A110 will be unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show during the automaker's press conference at Hall 4 of the Palexpo convention center on Tuesday, March 7, at 1:15 p.m. CET/7:15 a.m. EST.
The all-new two-seat sports car is scheduled to go on sale later this year and the first 1,995 units will carry the "Premium Edition" badge.