Renault confirms Alpine A110 for Australia

RENAULT has announced that the long-awaited reborn Alpine A110 performance coupe will finally launch in Australia under its own standalone marque in the second half of 2018.

While pricing has yet to be confirmed, Renault Australia estimates it will arrive with a pricetag between $90,000 and $110,000 plus on-road costs, placing it against stiff competition from the likes of the BMW M2, Lotus Elise and Alfa Romeo 4C.

Revealed in production guise at the Geneva motor show in March this year, the A110 will initially be launched here in a single level of specification based on the Premiere Edition in Europe, with more variants to follow.

It will feature 18-inch Otto Fuchs forged aluminium wheels, Sabelt sports seats, Brembo brakes, active sports exhaust, Focal audio system, matte carbon-fibre interior accents and brushed aluminium pedals.

Powering the A110 is a mid-mounted 185kW/320Nm 1.8-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine, driving the rear wheels via a seven-speed Getrag dual-clutch automatic transmission.

With its all-aluminium platform and body construction helping keep kerb weight down to just 1080kg, the A110 can complete the 0-100km/h sprint in 4.5 seconds and power on to an electronically limited top speed of 250km/h.

Aiding handling is a double-wishbone suspension set-up front and rear, 44:56 per cent front/rear weight distribution, and three available driving modes: Normal, Sport and Track.

According to the manufacturer, the A110’s interior will feature a minimalist design with elements of leather, structural aluminium and carbon-fibre, with all examples being built at Alpine’s factory in Dieppe, France.

Measuring just 4178mm long, 1798mm wide and 1252mm tall, the diminutive A110 has a focus on lightweight agility, while its styling allows for a drag coefficient of 0.32Cd.

Styling cues include four full-LED daytime running lights, X-shaped LED tail-lights and a sloping rear profile.

When the A110 arrives locally, Alpine will be established as a standalone commercial entity separate to the Renault brand, and due to its low volume will be sold out of select Renault dealerships in Melbourne and Sydney, possibly followed by other markets depending on sales success.

Australia is only the second market outside Europe to be confirmed for launch of the Alpine A110, and is only the third right-hand-drive market for the vehicle, joining the UK and Japan.

Newly appointed Renault Australia managing director Andrew Moore said the A110 retained the design philosophy of the Alpine models of yesteryear.

“It combines the timeless Alpine principles of compact size, light weight and dynamic agility and keeps true to the spirit of its predecessors, in particular the A110 Berlinette,” he said.

“We are delighted that it won’t be long until its loyal fans, as well as those new to the brand, can get behind the wheel,” he said.

Exact Australian pricing and specification will be confirmed closer to the model’s release date.