Project CARS 3: Etincelle de Renault

If there's one French carmaker that knows about motorsport more than anyone, it's going to be Renault. From the Formula 1 track to the Rallycross, this French carmaker's known to have some serious motorsport resume, and in Project CARS 3, the two stars of Groupe Renault, the Renaultsport Megane, and the Alpine A110 are here to shine on the track.

We begin with the Renaultsport Megane IV, the latest itineration of Renaultsport's flagship hot hatch designed to take on the likes of the Honda Civic Type R. Powered by a 1.8L turbo engine producing 280PS of power and 390Nm of torque, it's the most powerful Renaultsport vehicle ever made, and it can be mated to either a manual or an EDC gearbox. It features a reworked chassis that takes advantage of its efficiency, agility, stability, and comfort as well as its 4CONTROL four-wheel steering system and four bump-stop shock absorbers. Legend has it that its stripped-off version claimed the Nurburgring front-wheel drive crown at the time of 7:40.1, faster than the Honda Civic Type R FK8.

And finally, the Alpine A110, the rebirth of the best of the French sports cars that time forgot. With looks inspired by the original rally-winning classic, the modern-day A110 delivers serious sportscar performance enthusiasts are clamoring for thanks to its lightweight materials, rigid aluminum chassis, and unique suspension setup. However, the A110 you saw in Project CARS 3 wasn't just an ordinary A110 because this is the A110S, a more powerful version with the tuned 1.8L turbocharged engine producing 292ps of power and mated to a 7-speed Getrag DCT. Apart from the engine upgrade, it features improved dynamics to make it more potent on the road and track.

These two stars of Groupe Renault really do shine on the track because of their unique dynamics that proved their worth. The Renaultsport Megane, in its Trophy chassis, did upset even the most beefed up hot hatches in town because of its nimble dynamics fit for a front-wheel drive hot hatch while the A110S values its improved dynamics more than its improved power output from its turbocharged 1.8L engine because the way it handles is just how the A110 rolls.

Having been satisfied with both of these French stars, I took them both to the streets of Monaco for a little stretching and then a quick lap around the venue of the Monaco Grand Prix to see who shines brighter.

Two French stars, one battleground. Which of these two is the quickest round the Monaco track? Let's roll the tape.

After a quick power play around the streets of Monaco, here are the results;

Megane -  2:01.031

A110S - 1:54.550

It's quite surprising because the gap between these two French stars at the rate of around six and a half seconds shows that the A110S, thanks to its lightweight bodywork, better dynamics, and the improved 1.8L turbocharged engine, managed to get away from the Megane by a long shot. Impressive.

In the end, the Renaultsport Megane and the Alpine A110 fully demonstrated their French brilliance in a middle of a track day around the south of France and regardless of that matter, they've done their purpose very well.

Looks like French cars of today need to be more fun and engaging like these two and they can learn a lot from them if they had the chance.

Forza Horizon 4: La nouvelle A110

Alpine was known to be the best of the French sports car makers in history thanks to its rally-conquering masterpiece, the A110. It's proof that when all French sports car makers fail, Alpine succeeds and you should really thank them for such a legend.



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.

GT SPORT: A110 reborn

The story starts with a French legend known as the Alpine A110, a rear-engined, rear-wheel drive coupe that became a sensation in the world of rallying.




First produced in 1961, the A110 is one of the most successful cars ever made, although it has some bits and bobs from the Renault 8 while featuring a steel backbone chassis with a fiberglass body. Prior to Renault's takeover of Alpine, the A110 involved in the world of rallying and where it scored eight wins out of 13 events since 1973. When the A110's production ended in 1977, a total of 7,160 cars are built. The A110 remains one of the most important sports car in history and it's so important, Renault decided to revive it for the 21st century.



And here it is, the 21st century Alpine A110, arrived exclusively at GT SPORT for the first time and when they said exclusive, THEY MEAN IT.



Unveiled to the world at the 2017 Geneva Motor Show, the 21st century Alpine A110 brings back the spirit of the legendary machine while promising a new kind of driving experience in the real world. Of course, for a car like this, it wasn't really meant to be fast on the straights. It was design to go fast in the real world, making it a serious car for serious drivers only. As a lightweight car, the new A110 not only uses a lightweight and rigid aluminum chassis but the stuff on the inside is pretty much lighter than everyday cars and as a result, it weighs about 2,432lbs. Powering the new A110 is the turbocharged 1.8L inline-4 engine producing 248HP of power and 320Nm of torque while mated to a 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox, resulting to a 0-100kph time of four and a half seconds and a top speed of over 250kph. The suspension setup uses double wishbones at all fours.

Anyway, no time for dribble about that car because it's time to find out just what is like to drive one...



Despite being a light car, the A110 is surprisingly scary to drive if it oversteers. This is like getting wrestled by a gerbil bothering your home all day and all night and because it's mid-engine, there's no weight to the front, resulting to a questionable dynamics that puts themselves between a rock and a hard place. I know, I tried.



Scary the new A110 can be, I managed to get a hold of it and when I'm starting to familiarize with the questionable dynamics of the new A110, I'm starting to be with it. Yes, it can be somewhat unforgiving to drive if you're new to this but by getting the most out of it, the new A110 can be a potent track weapon that is made for serious drivers only, not made for people fancying themselves as cowboys. Anyway, to see how serious the new A110 can be, I'm looking for a very serious track to put this car to test its own theory and I found one.



The Nurburgring Grand Prix circuit is the ideal proving ground to see how serious the new A110 can be and by thorough investigation, having myself in the new A110 is a bewildering experience but in the interest of science, I'm stuck with it and to my amazement, the new A110 never fails to impress drivers with its racing pedigree honed by its legendary ancestor, even if its on a race track instead of the ancestor's favorite homefront. As I spent several moments toying around with the A110, I had a brainwave because since this is a lightweight mid-engined sportscar, how about comparing this to the other mid-engined sportscar worth noting?



Here's one, it's the Alfa Romeo 4C. It's lightweight and mid-engined just like the Alpine I'm driving. As I checked these two cars, the Alpine is slightly more powerful than the Alfa but the Alfa's got more torque and more lighter than the Alpine, making this a one-sided match. So, let's translate numbers into action with some timed laps to see which one is better. Let's cue the tape.



With the laps completed, let's find out the results...

A110 - 2:32.651
4C - 2:33.284

By amazement, the new A110 is over half a second quicker than the 4C, making it a shock result no one saw it coming but I'm impressed with what Alpine did to it.



That said, the new Alpine A110 is somewhat scary to drive for me but this is one of the most interesting sportscars ever driven in the game and between you and me, this could be your next favorite car. Although not as fast in the straights, the new A110 cares about its dynamics more than its performance and as a serious car made for serious drivers, it's all about getting the job done with no questions asked and I admire such tenacity this car possess.

Speaking of which, I had a little present for the new Alpine...



This is the new A110 I wanted it to be, which is a shame for everyone now that the new Alpine A110 is a certified Gran Turismo-exclusive. So, what can I say? Should I bash this new Alpine A110 for being a Gran Turismo-only car? Nah. Just burn it. Oh wait, someone already burned it so there's no need to do it. He he he...

McLaren 570S Spider and New Alpine A110

Time to move on to the McLaren 570S because back when McLaren unveiled their baby McLaren, they wanted to make a decent rival to the Porsche 911 Turbo, the Audi R8, and the Lamborghini Huracan, and despite being the younger brother in the range, the 570S feels like every other McLaren I knew and you can keep driving this car as long as you want until you figure out its inner strength hidden beneath its carbon fiber body. Now, let's open the top on this newest addition.

2018 McLaren 570S Spider

This is the new 570S Spider and while it features all of the best bits and bobs from its hardtop equivalent, it even comes with a folding roof that allows drivers to close or open even in a middle of cruising speeds. Those who are familiar with its hardtop equivalents as well as its other variants such as the lesser 540C and the comfort-focused 570GT are quick to realize that while most of the baby McLarens under the Sport Series banner may not match the grunt of its bigger brothers, they all work perfectly well like what every exotic should be but what about the new open-top version?

First and foremost, it still comes with the same 3.8L V8 Twin Turbo engine from its hardtop equivalent that produces 570PS of power output but a word of warning however is that because this is the open-top version, you might expect this to be somewhat heavier than its hardtop version due to added rigidity and it is, only 46kg added on it so the performance will be slightly affected by it and as a result, 315km/h (196mph) of top speed, which is slightly slower than its hardtop equivalent.

Despite the added weight, the 570S Spider still behaves pretty much like its hardtop equivalent because its carbon fibre MonoCell II chassis won't give in to the added rigidity provided by its weather-resistant roof and other parts of it and as a result, it still handles like a dream and you can really go nuts with everytime while having the roof open to enjoy the better sound quality of its V8 engine, which is as silent as Hacksaw Ridge. It's surprisingly high-tech indeed, which is fine by McLaren standards but in the case of the less-knowledgeable driver, it can get a bit twitchy until he switches the default settings, wondering what might have been.

The 570S Spider is a wonderful open-top supercar to drive but what upsets you is the pricing as this car starts at £164,750 (Php 11.124M) but when you read through the list of optional extras, it's going to be as expensive as a Rolls Royce Phantom and it will be a total waste if you crash it by accident.

So, the pricing can really upset a man from buying this open-top McLaren but it can upset him more because of the added extras, really then the 570S Spider is a whack so if you're not in a mood for a supercar like this and prefer something a bit more casual, perhaps you'd be interested with this...

2018 Alpine A110

Yes, this is the legend reborn, this is the all-new Alpine A110 and like you and me, we are getting jealous to drive the revival of the legendary machine that made headlines in the world of rallying. With the styling that draws inspiration from the legend itself, the A110 is all about blending tradition with innovation and it comes with a wide array of features that will bring pleasure to the drivers.

Unlike the 570S, the A110 wasn't an intimidating car to drive especially what's under the hood is a newly-made 1.8-litre 4-cylinder turbocharged engine that produces a maximum power output of 252hp and maximum torque of 320Nm. Because it weights about as similar as a Ford Fiesta, you'd get a power-to-weight ratio of 233hp:tonne, meaning this can do 0-100kph in 4.5 seconds, courtesy of its 7-speed DCT.

Because of being light, the A110 feels just right to drive in the corners and with its incredible aerodynamics, you can refer to the way it handles as trying to finish the Mijuku Dreamer song in EXPERT setting with a full combo. Also, you can take it to the city streets and it feels very civilized indeed. It's perfect for track days, it's perfect for grand touring, it's everything what a revived legend it should be.

However, there's a major problem ot the new A110; the cost. This car starts at 55,000 Euros (Php 3.3M) and you can't have one because it's already sold out. Don't worry though because by next year, more new A110 variants are coming at you so it's going to be a long wait before you get your hands on the new A110 you've always dreaming for. Sad face indeed.

So, what now? Well, since you can't get your hands on a new A110 until next year, it's best to make do with the 570S without the optional extras that will upset your briefcases full of money because between you and me, these cars are a challenge for the bravest because these cars are like songs in EXPERT or TECHNICAL setting with some random stuf to tap on because you will never know what kind of tricks these machines possess so watch out when you're behind the wheel of these beauties.

Photo: McLaren, Alpine Cars

Forza Horizon 2: Barn Find #01

As you continue your Horizon journey in the French village of Sisteron, you pick up a Barn Find Rumor about an abandoned Renault Alpine A110 located somewhere in the vicinity of Sisteron. It took me numerous travels to decipher that barn find rumor and that the barn find in question is located 2.2 miles from the Sisteron Horizon Hub.



If you found the barn find, wait for a couple of moments until you'll get a notification saying that the barn find you found has been restored. If you received that notification, head to the nearest Horizon hub and claim your legendary machine for use to drive in the game. There are 10 total barn finds scattered throughout Southern Europe. Can you find them all?



Anyway, let's talk about the Renault Alpine A110, the first barn find in Horizon 2 and a legendary rally classic most Forza fans can't wait to get their hands on.

The roots of the A110 began in the 50s when a Renault dealer named Jean Redele pursued his dreams as a rally driver and his tweaked 4CV, despite its size, was capable enough to win an Alpine rally against numerous opposition which had eight cylinders and four or five-litre engines. He won 15 races including the Liege-Rome-Liege rally and the Italian Mile Miglia, quite an achievement he had done.

Moments later, Redele developed his first prototype Alpine with some of the components lifted from his 4CV, called the A106. Over 200 A106 models were made, in a coupe and open-top convertible. Soon afterward, the A108 was launched as the successor of the A106. The A108 uses components from the Renault Dauphine and it was available first as a cabriolet and only later as a hardtop coupe.

With the introduction of the much more sportier Renault 8 in 1962, Alpine decided to build the A110 because it was the synthesis of the past two machines; the A106 and A108, and even by modern standards, this old machine still has the magic touch. Yes, it still has the touch. The A110 uses components from the Renault 8 and it featured a steel backbone chassis with a fiberglass body. The engine. Early models come with the R8-sourced engines, namely a 1.1L, a 1.2L, and a 1.3L 4-cylinder engines. They were fitted with two 40 DCOE Weber carburetors, a Type 80 exhaust manifold, and a hemispheric cylinder head with spark plugs, created by Amedee Gordini.

Two cars a week were being produced in 1964 and sales of the A110 are at record high because of its involvement in motorsports so that's why in 1968, Jean Redele built a new factory that produces six to eight Alpines a day.

In the year 1966, Alpine entered five specially-built prototypes of the A110 to take on the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Having spent 24 hours of struggle on the track, those Alpines are fighting like rapiers and they're doing this to wave the flag of Renault in Le Mans. It was an excellent year for Renault because after racing for 24 hours, it was a 1-2-3 punch for Alpine having consumed the least amount of fuel. Again, a remarkable feat for a small company.

With Renault completing the buyout for Alpine, the A110 faced its greatest moment yet and that is taking on the World Rally Championship where it scored eight wins out of 13 events since 1973. It was great at first until the global energy crisis plunged the fate of this tiny car. Sales of sports cars are in an all-time low when the oil crisis looms and speed limits are first introduced.

With Renault took control of Alpine, tough decisions were made about the future of Alpine and that's why they created the less-successful A310 which placed the end of the A110's story.

Guess we'll leave it here but it's time for me to give Dieppe's pride some more love in present-day Southern Europe and I used this car in the Classic Rally championship, the one where Fulvias and Stratoses are king. To do that, some improvements to be made to make the A110 competitive.



I decided to give it some originality when it comes to creating liveries specifically for the Horizon Festival but it doesn't matter because it's already as competitive as it was five decades ago. Trust me on this, the A110 is a legend worth driving for and you'll fall in love with its lightweight bodywork and its nimble mobility that will slice the opposition like butter. It may be old enough to be in the museum but you're free to throw a boatload of cash into customizing it.