Of course, most people familiar with the A110's story are familiar with its history lessons not to mention its very successful motorsport career ranging from Le Mans to rallying, long before Renault took over Alpine. As time flies, the Alpine A110 is one of the all-time greats, and thanks to such history, the A110 has been reborn for the 21st century.
Surprised? This is the real deal. The one that I just won as a prize from the Forza Horizon 4 Series 17 Horizon Playlist.
Time for a little storytelling about the modern-day A110, the one Chris Harris burnt on one episode of Top Gear and the one James May enjoyed in an episode of The Grand Tour. Unveiled at the 2017 Geneva Motor Show, the new Alpine A110 carries the legacy of its legendary predecessor while offering a driver-focused performance fit on the road and track. It is powered by a four-cylinder 1.8L turbo engine sourced from the Megane, producing 248HP of power and 320Nm of torque while mated to a 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox, resulting in a 0-100kph time of four and a half seconds and a top speed limited to 250kph.
Valuing dynamics than performance, the new A110 uses lightweight materials made specifically for this car inside out as well as its rigid aluminum chassis and unique suspension setup, making it more lively to drive than any sports car it comes across.
Alpine really is the best of the French sports cars which succeeds where others failed and the new A110 is proof that they're on the right path. The way it handles on the corners, it really is a no-nonsense sportscar that values its drivers more than lap times and you know what? I'm starting to fall in love with it now that it's taking its much-deserved day out on British roads. Take a deep breath and you'll know that this is basically one of the most enjoyable cars in ages. Not as quick as its rivals but it's promising to drive and very addictive.
Speaking of which, it's time to see how much the A110 has progressed from the legend to the reborn sports car you're seeing now, and with that, I went to Holyrood to conduct my kind of experiment to prove its evolution.
Let's cue the tape!
After a quick lap around Holyrood, here are the results;
A110 1600S - 1:42.336
A110 - 1:27.321
From the original to the revived A110, it took about 15 seconds to evolve into the very sportscar we're seeing now and I have to say, congrats Alpine for making the new A110 one of the most enjoyable sports cars to drive. For a car that values dynamics over performance, this no-nonsense sportscar deserves praise from those who tried it, those who owned it, and those who want it. In fact, they just did.
To mark this occasion, I made a little party piece for the A110...
Renault owns Alpine and Renault is involved in the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance, one of the greatest Eurasian partnerships in automotive history. This is why I gave a little French-Japanese touch to this great French sports car. Not what you want but hey, this A110 has the "stage girl" magic it needs and I'm starting to fall in love with it even more.
The classic A110 was famed for rally racing but what about the modern A110? To find out, I went to the oasis located at LEGO Valley, tweak it to near A110 Rally specifications, and get going. Roll the tape.
My idea of the A110 Rally made it too mild if I'm honest but still, it's a work in progress.
My rally spec ideas need refining but here's something you need to know; the Alpine A110 is a blast to drive and once you drive it, you will fall in love with the way it behaves and there's no denying that it's one of the best sportscars in ages.
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