At the wheel of the Alpine A110S: more power and intensity

• New.Alpine A110S: more power for the reborn French coupe
• Test: At the wheel of the Renault Alpine A110: it honors its predecessor
• So it was in 2016.Vision: the rebirth of Alpine
• Photo gallery: Alpine A110S, in detail

The Alpine A110 is, today, one of the sports coupes that offers the purest driving . But now, the new sports version A110 S adds even more glued to the French two-seater rear-propulsion.

The A110 S differs from the A110 Premiere Edition, Pure and Legende , the versions available so far in the range, for its aesthetics and also for its dynamics. It is the most radical model in both sections, in line with the spirit of the original Alpine that achieved so many successes in competition.

However, it is not an 'excessive' car, far from it. Its chassis is more rigid and the suspension is hard, but nothing that can prevent us from using it daily. In fact, in our test in the vicinity of Lisbon we rolled on broken roads and, although it is not its ideal scenario, the journey did not make us uncomfortable.

Own personality

A glance is enough to detect the personality of the A110S. A specific matte storm gray color, orange details (tonality that replaces the classic blue of the French brand in this car), the carbon roof (optional and that reduces the weight by almost two kilos) or GT Race tires ( in option you can order some forged Fuchs, lighter) put us before a special Alpine.

Inside the cabin we also see new details. Continuing with the chromatic game of the outside, the seams of the steering wheel or the seats and even the details of the carbon moldings are the color orange. The Dinamica fabric (a fabric in appearance and feel similar to the Alcantara) appears for the upholstery of the ultralight Sabelt sports seats (barely weighing 13 kilos), the roof and the door panels, creating a racing environment inside.

More powerful and more direct

Although aesthetics is one of its assets, the key to the Alpine A110 S is its mechanics. The 1.8 turbo engine is now offered with 292 horses, 40 more than the A110 , obtained thanks to higher boost pressure. The torque figure does not change (320 Nm) but it is delivered for a longer time (up to 6,400 rpm instead of 5,000 of the A110) so that it is a fuller and more intense engine . The maximum power also extends to 6,400 rpm, 400 more than the A110.

On the move, the Alpine A110S is not extremely faster than the A110, but it shows that greater solvency at high revolutions , especially in sports and circuit driving. The engine clearly stretches more and feels fuller , generating a pleasant feeling of power when it should start to faint. In fact, you have to be very attentive to the change in circuit because from 5,000 rpm still pushing hard until the cut. All with an evocative engine sound that roars behind our heads.

With this new figure, together with a lower weight than that of the Legende (1,114 kg) , the weight / power ratio of the Alpine improves even further: from 4.3 kg / hp we now go to 3.8 . The benefits, of course, also improve: the A110 S makes the 0-100 km / h in 4.4 seconds (one tenth faster) and its maximum speed is 260 km / h (+10 km / h).

In addition, the chassis has been reconfigured to achieve greater overall effectiveness , without losing the fun character of its driving. The suspensions receive recalibrated springs and stabilizers (the first 50% stiffer and the second 100% firmer), just like the stability control, which now has a more aggressive Track mode.

The Alpine A110S has three driving programs . In the Normal the two-seater behaves with sweetness in the gas and in the change. Pressing the Sport button on the steering wheel activates the sports mode and the car becomes more reactive (in addition to changing the design of the watch box). If we keep that button pressed for a few seconds, we go to the Track program, which partially disconnects the stability control and switches it to manual mode.

Track Cash

The six laps that we could give to Estoril's technical coach we faced them with this circuit program. Although the electronic aids were only latent, the Alpine A110S behaved with great nobility . It is not a car that will intimidate you with exaggerated reactions. Even with a certain ability, it allows lengthening the braking until the beginning of the curve to force the sliding of the rear and, just then, to give gas to leave at a more than remarkable speed.

To their good stability they contribute a height of the bodywork reduced in 4 mm or the Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tires wider than in the A110 (215 front and 245 behind compared to the 205 and 235 mm of the access versions) and with a compound specific for this version. For the brake team, Alpine has turned to Brembo and we have to say that it has passed with good note the always demanding track test.

The gearbox is still a seven-speed double clutch Getrag and the propulsion, of course, to the rear wheels. It is fast enough in manual mode and quite effective in automatic mode and the specific developments of some gears are better suited to its new sports personality.

The Alpine A110S will cost 69,718 euros in Spain , a high price (11,000 euros more than the basic A110 Pure) that is in line with its main competitor: the Toyota GR Supra (69,900). These 40 extra horses allow you to get closer to the Japanese car in terms of performance but also to other rivals of greater substance, such as the Porsche Cayman T of 300 hp, compared to which is 2,000 euros cheaper.

According to the criteria of The Trust Project

• Engine

Ecology The Brussels regional government will ban diesel cars in 2030 and gasoline and LPG cars in 2035

AWARDS Reyes Maroto presented the Renault Foundation awards for the practice of sustainable mobility

Tesla Model 3 already accounts for 82% of Tesla's worldwide sales, but it is not enough