Alpine, the mythical French car manufacturer integrated into the Renault group, is launching fully into the electric car. The manufacturer has presented its detailed plan, which provides for the marketing of seven electric cars in the coming years. On the program, in particular, the A110, A290 and A310. But that’s not all.
For a few weeks, the rumor had been circulating: Alpine seemed about to enter into a partnership with the Chinese giant Geely (Volvo, Polestar, Lotus, Smart, Zeekr, etc.) to produce its legendary A110 sports car in a 100% electric version. This rumor followed the end of the joint project with Lotus, announced a few weeks ago by Alpine. But it seems that the French manufacturer, a subsidiary of the Renault group, wants to stand apart.
Seven 100% electric cars
Renault boss Luca de Meo and Alpine boss Laurent Rossi unveiled their new battle plan through a press release. We can then read that Alpine will develop its 100% electric platform planned, in part, for the A110. It will take the name of APP (Alpine Performance Platform) and will target sports cars. It is she who will be the basis of future A110 (sports coupe but also convertible) and A310 (4-seater coupe).
This new platform will use the software base of the Renault CMF-B platform for the future electric R5 and Alpine A290. Indeed, the partnership with Google and Qualcomm is still relevant, in particular to facilitate software updates.
The APP platform can be adapted in length and width, with for example 410 mm of additional length to go from the A110 to the A310. Alpine has also implied the possibility of adapting this platform to even larger cars (from another segment). And indeed, the French company plans to launch a C-segment GT crossover plus two D- and E-segment SUVsmuch larger.
From 2024 on our roads
So here is Alpine’s plan to switch to 100% electric cars. But in terms of timing, we won’t have to be in too much of a hurry. The current thermal Alpine A110 will remain in the catalog until the end of 2026, before the electric version, in coupe and convertible, came to replace it. The journalists of theArgus, present during this day of announcements, little believe in it, relying instead on 2027.
But fortunately, the Alpine A290 will arrive much earlier, next year, alongside its cousin, the electric R5. It will be closely followed by the C-segment crossover (C-XO GT) from 2024/2025, then the D- and E-segment SUVs (E-XO GT and D-XO GT) in 2027. The electric car that Bringing up the rear will be the A310, which should be available from 2028.
All Alpine electric cars should board a battery made in France by Verkor. But concerning the production of the cars, in themselves, we still have doubts, since Alpine has not been precise on the subject. In China or the United States? It is not impossible, since Alpine intends to sell its cars there from 2027.
Finally, Alpine does not close the way to hydrogen, but rather for circuit cars, like its future hypercar which should see the light of day in 2024. It would be a hydrogen internal combustion engine , which would therefore not use a battery or an electric motor.
For more information, you can consult the 53-page document posted by Alpine and review the video presentation.
Want to join a community of enthusiasts? Our Discord welcomes you, it’s a place of mutual aid and passion around tech.