Renault's Alpine sports car division is making a comeback after more than 2 decades. Although details are scarce, the parent company has confirmed that the Alpine A120 sports car's body panels and chassis will be made of lightweight aluminum.
Aptly called Alpine A120, for now, the sports car is a tribute to the original A110 version, which dominated the rallying world in the 1960s. Alpine took to Twitter and showcased the body and chassis architecture of the A120 coupe.
#Alpine have revealed images showing the aluminum chassis and bodywork of the A120 sportscar. pic.twitter.com/1YbeQtcnvh
— The Speed Demon (@SpeedDemon250) January 17, 2017
According to Alpine, the lightweight material is the key to realizing internal targets for the car's performance and to produce a high-quality finish. AutoCar UK reported that the Alpine A120 will debut during the 2017 Geneva Motor Show this March.
The Alpine A120 sports cars are considered a Premier Edition. So, only 1955 will initially be built in celebration of the sports car's first launch. These comeback cars will be available in 12 European countries. Right-hand drive markets such as Japan and the UK will follow suit but production will not begin until 2018.
The sports cars are estimated to be priced around €55,000-€60,000 ($58000-$64000). For those wanting to secure one of the limited-edition Alpine A120 sports cars, a €2000 (or around $2100) deposit via the downloadable app "Alpine" can be placed.
Prospective buyers can only choose between 3 available colors: blue, black, and white. However, more app options will be added as the production draws near.
The Alpine A120 seems to be a worthy adversary of the Porsche Cayman. The resurrected sports car could be the lightest in its class, weighing around 110kg. The A120 is lighter by more than 200kg than the Porsche Cayman.
In terms of engine, a mid-mounted 1.8-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine derived from the 1.6-liter used in the Clio Renault sport could power the coupe. A possibility of a dual-clutch automatic transmission will also be part of the car.
An output of 250-300 bhp is expected for the Alpine A120 with a 0-62mph time of 4.5sec. Latest reports claim that the sports car will house instead of the 225kW 2.0-litre engine from the upcoming Megane RS, as reported by AutoEvolution.
However, all these have not yet been confirmed by Alpine. Despite the numbers being tough, we will have to wait until the Alpine A120 hit the tracks and prove its worth in beating the Porsche.
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