Alpine Plans to Challenge Porsche and Ferrari With New Sports Cars

Hot(ter) Alpines in the Pipeline

Alpine might not be available in the U.S., but it’s a brand that’s doing decently well over in Europe. Admittedly, its lineup is relatively limited, but for a niche brand, it has good cache. Currently, it builds the Cayman-fighting A110, the A290 hot (electric) hatch based on the Renault 5 e-Tech, and the A390 performance EV crossover.

But Alpine CEO Philippe Krief wants to take the brand to the next level. The executive would like to make more extreme models down the line, from hotter versions of its current models, all the way to a halo supercar. Ambitious, yes, but it’s not totally a flight of fancy.

Making EVs Dance

Alpine is currently in the process of turning itself into a pure EV performance marque. The first step in making that happen is with the APP architecture. It’s short for Alpine Performance Platform, and it’s set to be a vital part of the A110’s electric successor. Parts of its DNA have also been applied to the A290 hatchback and A390 crossover.

What Krief would like is to “use the APP platforms to do extreme things,” saying those exact words to Auto Express. These so-called extreme Alpines will be limited-run models with extensive re-engineering and a price tag to match. Existing models could benefit from that first, before moving on to the next generation of Alpine vehicles. An all-wheel drive subcompact hatchback with about as much punch as a Porsche 911 Turbo? Yes, please.

Mind you, the company has already dipped its toes into that idea. It was with the ultra-exclusive A110 R Ultime, with only 110 units built. It featured a redesigned turbo, a totally new transmission made specifically for it, an Akrapovic titanium exhaust system, Ohlins adjustable dampers, AP Racing brakes with a totally recalibrated system, and loads of aero add-ons. It retailed for a whopping €265,000 (about $360,000), and yes, it actually sold out. By the looks of it, Alpine would like to replicate that kind of success, reception, and profitability for its future EV sports cars.

The Dream Project

One thing you should know about Alpine’s current CEO is that he came from Ferrari. Krief was director of engineering at Maranello before heading to Alpine, and he led the development of the SF90 Stradale. With that, he would like the French automaker to come up with something that can go toe-to-toe with the Prancing Horse.

Perhaps not a direct rival for something like a 296 GTB, though. Krief previously said that his vision for the ideal Alpine supercar would still reflect that brand’s ethos. “My dream is rather a modern Alpine interpretation of the Dino. A light, not-so-powerful car. Why? Because it’s exactly the DNA of Alpine,” said the executive.

With that in mind, the car will likely draw inspiration from the Alpenglow concept shown during the 2022 Geneva Motor Show. Krief mentioned that it will be used as a rolling laboratory of sorts before it fully commits to such a project. That said, he is aware that there will be challenges and hurdles before it even gets started on that endeavour. “We [Alpine] really need to grow as a brand… to ensure that we can deliver the kind of customer experience that supercar buyers are used to.”