Alpine Revives the A310 as a Four-Seat Electric Sports Car
Alpine, the renowned French sporting brand, is making a comeback with the revival of the A310. This sleek and rakish four-seat electric sports car will be part of Alpine’s ambitious plan to launch seven new electric cars by 2030. The A310 will be based on the same Alpine Performance Platform (APP) as the upcoming electric A110 coupé, which is set to be released in 2027. With its focus on lightness and agility, the A310 aims to rival the iconic Porsche 911 and become an “icon of future sports cars.”
The Alpine Performance Platform (APP) has been designed to be highly configurable, allowing for a compact four-seater that promises engaging driving dynamics. Alpine’s marketing director, Bruce Pillard, emphasizes that even though the future models will be electric, they will still embody the DNA of agility and lightness that defines Alpine. The goal is to ensure that despite having a battery inside, the A310 will feel lightweight and nimble.
Design director Antony Villain reveals that Alpine plans to create a 2+2 sports car, drawing inspiration from the original A310. The final design of the A310 will be completed within the next year and a half. This decision to make the A310 a four-seater aligns with Alpine’s strategic shift from being a niche manufacturer to becoming a key player in the global automotive market.
Alpine’s ambitious lineup includes the Renault 5-based A290 hot hatchback, the A110 in both coupé and roadster forms, the A310, the GT X-Over crossover, and luxury range-toppers in the D- and E-segments. Pillard explains that the A310 is crucial for Alpine’s mass appeal strategy since the addition of two more seats will make a significant difference in terms of volume.
While all these new models will be electric, Alpine’s focus is on giving each car a distinctive character and appeal for customers. The brand’s vast expertise, including its Formula 1 race team and the recently appointed CEO Philippe Krief, formerly of Ferrari and Alfa Romeo, will play a crucial role in achieving this goal. Villain expresses his desire to take the next A110 to the next level for the electric era, aiming for it to be a reference point for the next 50 years.
In addition to their mass-market battery-electric sports cars, Alpine is also working on developing a running prototype of their Alpenglow hypercar concept. This outlandish concept showcases the feasibility of hydrogen-combustion technology in the performance car sector. The Alpenglow hypercar is set to be revealed soon and will serve as a testament to Alpine’s commitment to innovation and pushing boundaries.
Alpine’s reinvention program is an exciting development for enthusiasts of electric sports cars. With the revival of the A310 and the introduction of other models, Alpine aims to establish itself as a leading player in the electric sports car market. By staying true to their principles of lightness and agility, Alpine is set to create a new generation of iconic sports cars that will captivate drivers around the world.
In conclusion, Alpine’s decision to revive the A310 as a four-seat electric sports car demonstrates their commitment to innovation and their vision for the future of sports cars. With a lineup of seven new electric models by 2030, Alpine aims to redefine what it means to be a high-performance electric vehicle. The A310, based on the Alpine Performance Platform, promises engaging driving dynamics and a distinctive character that will make it an icon of future sports cars. As Alpine continues to push boundaries with their electric lineup, enthusiasts can look forward to a thrilling new era of electric sports cars.