ALPINE CARS: 70 YEARS OF FRENCH FLAIR AND A LIMITED EDITION A110 R 70 TO CELEBRATE
Alpine might often get lumped in with Renault, but make no mistake - this brand stands on its own. Founded in 1955 by Jean Rédélé, Alpine took its name from the legendary Alps, where its lightweight, nimble sports cars made their mark. The confusion comes from Alpine’s long-standing relationship with Renault, using its engines and selling cars through Renault dealerships. But Alpine is more than just a Renault side project; it's a brand with deep motorsport roots and a history of building proper driver’s cars. At the heart of that legacy is the Alpine A110. The name first hit the streets in 1962, and by 1963, the compact, rally-bred coupe was setting the standard for lightweight performance. Built to be chucked into corners with reckless abandon, the original A110 ran until 1977 and remains a legend, still tearing up classic car circuits today. In 2017, Alpine made a roaring comeback with a modern A110 that stayed true to its roots - the same lightweight philosophy, modern materials, and a design that paid homage to the original. Now, as Alpine hits the big 7-0, it’s marking the milestone with a special edition: the A110 R 70. Alpine CEO Philippe Krief puts it best: "Alpine turns 70! 70 years of passion, excellence, and innovation that we intend to build on for the next 70 years." And to celebrate, Alpine has rolled out a serious driver’s special - limited to just 770 units worldwide.
The A110 R 70 is a masterclass in lightweight performance, draped in carbon fibre from front to rear - the bonnet, roof, rear window, spoiler, and even the 18-inch wheels are all crafted from ultra-lightweight material. Michelin PS Cup 2 tyres provide the grip, while an Akrapovič exhaust ensures it sounds as good as it looks. Under the hood, the 1.8-litre turbocharged four-cylinder remains unchanged, still kicking out 220 kW and 340 Nm of torque - plenty for a car tipping the scales at just over a tonne. The Brembo brakes can be spec’d in seven different colours, and there are ten body colours to choose from, making each one as unique as it is exclusive. Of course, it wouldn’t be an Alpine anniversary model without a nod to its heritage. Enter the Tricolour Edition A110 R 70, which pays tribute to the first-ever Alpine production car, the 1955 A106. Limited to just 210 units, this special version comes in three historic colours: Bleu Caddy, Glacier Blanc, and Rouge Sismique - a direct reference to the famous image of Jean Rédélé presenting the A106 in the same tricolour scheme. To drive the tribute home, the 70th-anniversary logo is worked into the carbon-fibre roof, and the interior follows the body colour, with matching Sabelt racing seats and coordinated carbon-fibre wheels. With Alpine’s all-electric future just around the corner, the A110 R 70 might be one of the last gas-powered special editions we see. But as birthday presents go, this one’s a properly special send-off. Excluding specific options, the 770 units of the A 110 R 70 start at the unique price of €122,500 or around R2,371,000. We’d love to see one of these appear in SA.
Take a look at the YouTube video that shows off the stunning lines of one of the Alpine A110 models - this is a monochromatic piece of art. It's not on the limited edition A70 R, but they're quite similar and you can't see colour in this video anyway: ART IN MOTION | Apline
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