Alpine’s A110R doesn’t attempt to outgun the large names; it sidesteps them. The place many rivals chase numbers and Nürburgring bravado, this can be a automotive constructed on really feel. It’s lighter, less complicated and extra single-minded than the usual A110, and all the higher for it.
You sense the distinction inside the first few metres. The A110R reacts at once, flowing along with your inputs slightly than processing them. Steering is gentle but communicative, throttle response is crisp, and there’s no torque-vectoring theatre or synthesised sound to flatter the motive force. It simply will get on with the job, cleanly and truthfully, and rewards smoothness greater than swagger.
Alpine achieved that readability the old school means: by eradicating mass. The R doubles down on the A110’s ethos with carbon-fibre wheels, carbon seats, a carbon bonnet and even a carbon rear window. Kerb weight lands a contact over 1,000kg, practically 300kg lower than a Porsche 718 GT4 RS. Energy stays at 300bhp from the 1.8-litre turbo 4, however the weight reduction transforms the expertise. It’s alive at any pace, not merely while you’re deep into three figures.
The result’s a automotive that speaks in excessive definition. Entrance-end chunk is keen, the rear is alert however predictable, and the entire chassis feels keyed into the highway floor. You don’t want a circuit to get pleasure from it; a run to the bakery can really feel like a mini particular stage. It’s that uncommon fashionable sports activities automotive the place much less actually does really feel like extra. It isn’t flawless, and that’s a part of its appeal. The driving place is idiosyncratic, visibility can is difficult, and the infotainment is a era behind, however nonetheless host Apple CarPlay. The cabin is awash with uncovered carbon, which underscores the main target however received’t go well with each style. None of it issues when you’re rolling, as a result of the A110R’s dialogue drowns out the distractions.
Crucially, Alpine hasn’t tried to show the A110R right into a Porsche rival. It’s not taking part in the horsepower recreation or chasing headline lap instances. It’s about weight, stability and ease – values which have been quietly squeezed in an period of configurable dampers and ever-bigger tyres. Should you arrive anticipating GT-department polish, you’ll miss the purpose; lean in and also you’ll discover one thing rarer: individuality.
There’s additionally a way of event right here that goes past pace. The A110R makes on a regular basis miles really feel particular with out resorting to synthetic drama. It’s fast, in fact, however its magic lies in the way it connects you to the floor, the way it rewards tidy inputs, and the way it turns modest tempo into actual engagement.
That issues as a result of vehicles like this have gotten scarce. Alpine heads in the direction of an electrical future, and centered, featherweight specials are unlikely to be a part of it. The A110R seems like a swansong to an strategy constructed on restraint and suggestions. It could not dominate a spec sheet, however it nails the transient that counts: making the motive force really feel a part of the machine.
Verdict? The A110R is probably the most compelling expression of the Alpine thought. It trades extra for magnificence, polish for poise, and proves that lightness nonetheless wins hearts. In a market obsessive about metrics and statistics, that is the automotive that reminds you why you fell in love with driving within the first place.
