French fancier
Alpine’s A110S brings more power and more focus. An evo favourite just got even more tempting…
‘AVERY FOCUSED SPORTS CAR… BUT STILL comfortable.’ Those are the seemingly disparate goals Alpine is aiming for with its new A110S. The firm has long hinted that a more serious model would follow the basic A110, and the A110S is it. Revisions to the engine and suspension boost performance and cornering ability in equal measure, while visual changes ensure the S cuts its own form above the existing Pure and Légende.
A more aggressive chassis set-up is the key difference. Front springs are stiffer by 50 per cent, with dampers retuned to match, while the bump stops have been redesigned and the front and rear anti-roll bars are twice as firm as before. The car sits 4mm lower over new wheels (still 18-inchers) and tyres (215mm in section at the front, 245mm behind), the Michelin Pilot Sport 4 rubber having a compound specific to the A110S.
A reconfigured stability control system – particularly in Track mode – will allow drivers even more access to the chassis changes, and stopping shouldn’t be a problem either, with standard fitment of the excellent 320mm Brembo braking set-up optionally available on other Alpines. Alpine quotes a kerb weight of 1114kg, which on paper is 16kg more than the Pure, but 9kg lighter than the Légende. A carbonfibre roof panel, saving a further 1.9kg, is optional.
The goal, according to chief engineer Jeanpascal Dauce, is for greater focus than the more playful A110 models we’ve seen so far. Both high-speed stability and handling precision have
apparently improved, though Dauce does stress the A110S will still be a comfortable car, and that it should still be enjoyable regardless of driving experience – two key qualities of the standard car.
Under the rear deck is a more potent version of Renault’s 1.8-litre four-cylinder. The turbocharged unit now produces 288bhp at 6400rpm thanks to 0.4bar of additional boost. This gives it more punch than the 276bhp Mégane RS, though less than the RS Trophy (296bhp), but it’s 39bhp stronger than the regular A110. Torque is rated the same at 236lb ft, from 2000 to 6400rpm.
Transmission is still by a seven-speed Getrag dual-clutch unit to the rear wheels, with a brakebased e-diff to enhance traction. On paper the changes are good for a 0-62mph time of 4.4sec, only a tenth better, but Alpine promises a more thrilling power delivery, particularly in the 50007000rpm top-end range.
Visual changes are subtle, amounting to a ground-sniffing stance, a new paint option – mattfinish Gris Tonnerre – and carbon and orange flag motifs. The orange theme is continued inside for the stitching on the wheel and the 13kg Sabelt seats. While more expensive, with a provisional starting price of €66,500 (£59,200), we won’t have to wait long to discover whether it’s worth it: the A110S is already available to order, and the first deliveries will begin before the year’s end.