- Alpine previews the next A110 with a swoopy sculpture that hints at the sports car’s new design.
- The next-generation two-seater performance machine will launch as a lightweight EV.
- A gasoline-powered A110 remains a possibility, despite Alpine’s current focus on electric power.
Alpine is getting ready to show us the next-generation A110, but apparently a regular car wasn't enough of a teaser. Instead, the French sports-car brand, part of the Renault Group, has unveiled a sculpture previewing the design of its next lightweight two-seater ahead of the full reveal. Because nothing says "sports car" quite like putting one on a literal pedestal.
To the dismay of purists, the third-generation A110 will be fully electric, but Alpine promises to stay true to the model's lightweight philosophy while moving into the inevitable EV era. The company says the new car will be the world's first "true electric sports car," and the sculpture is intended to offer a glimpse at the design direction.
With the next A110, Alpine has started from scratch by developing an aluminum-intensive architecture specifically for fun cars. The platform uses an 800-volt electrical system and two battery packs positioned at the front and rear of the car to preserve a 40:60 front-to-rear weight distribution.
Alpine's Promise: Fun To Drive, Despite Going Electric
That unusual battery layout is one of the more interesting aspects of the new A110. Rather than simply dropping a giant battery underneath the floor and calling it a day, Alpine has packaged the cells around the occupants to keep the car low and maintain the proportions expected from an A110. The company says the setup is designed to deliver the kind of agility associated with the outgoing combustion-powered car.
There will also be plenty of electric muscle. The hardware uses a rear dual-motor setup and torque vectoring to make the EV behave more like a lightweight sports car than a battery-powered missile. The company hasn't revealed the production car's final specifications yet, but it has already said the electric A110 will deliver more than 340 miles (547 kilometers) of range. That number isn't being chased to win some range-war bragging rights, either. Alpine says it chose the target so the car could complete three laps of the Nürburgring at its full potential.
A Gas Engine Is A Definite Maybe
Not sold on an electric sports car yet? There’s potentially good news. Alpine CEO Philippe Krief told Autocar earlier this year that the architecture was deliberately engineered to accommodate an internal-combustion powertrain. The rear battery occupies much of the space where an engine would normally sit. Still, Alpine says relatively small modifications could allow the platform to accept an engine, gearbox, fuel tank, and the other hardware needed for an ICE setup.
That doesn't necessarily mean another gas A110 is coming, though. Alpine's priority remains the electric car, and Krief has made that clear. But the company has kept the door open because of the business opportunities outside Europe, particularly in the United States, where emissions regulations are far less stringent.
Fun For The Whole Family
Beyond the two-seater coupe, a more practical 2+2 derivative will bring back the A310 moniker. It’ll go even farther, with Alpine targeting 370 miles (595 kilometers) on a single charge.
But the first order of business is to roll out the electric A110. Beginning October 12, we’ll have the chance to admire the sculpture at the 2026 Paris Motor Show before the production car breaks cover later.
Next-generation Alpine A110 design sculpture
Motor1's Take: Alpine isn't the only automaker trying to convince enthusiasts that an electric sports car doesn't have to be a contradiction in terms. Against all odds, Porsche is going down the same road with the next-generation 718 Cayman, which will return as an EV while retaining the low-slung proportions and performance-focused character that made the nameplate famous.
Then there's Caterham, which has been teasing its own lightweight coupe. That car could be even more interesting in this context because Caterham has built its entire reputation around keeping weight to an absolute minimum.
