The Alpine A110, let’s call it a Renault product with its own unique character, can safely be called retro because of its clear design references to its predecessor from the 1960s and 1970s. That was an extra-light sports coupe of the same name, dramatically underpowered by today’s standards, but hugely successful in rally racing, winning the inaugural World Rally Championship in 1973. The competition back then consisted of a whole line-up of cars with character: Citröen DS 21, Fiat Abarth 124 Rally, Saab 96 V4, Porsche 911, Datsun 240Z or Ford Escort RS, just to name a few. All of them would have deserved an ideal successor. Only three of them got one: the Porsche 911, the Fiat Abarth and, of course, the Alpine A110.
Like the original A110 Berlinette, the reinterpretation also has an extremely elegant look, with a striking four-headlight layout, flat and somehow modest in its radiant blue beauty, derived from an almost austere ugliness that makes it look all the more sophisticated. The sports seats are supportive, the seating position deeply relaxed – and if we ignore the radio controls and reception, and all the other unfortunate electronic gadgets, the €75,000 sticker price gets us a coupe that exudes pure joie de vivre. It is impractical, with little storage space in the front and even less in the back, uncomfortable to get into and difficult to get out of – and therefore nothing less than pure, glorious unreason.
The really surprising thing is revealed the moment you set off. This car is so . . . nice. It has an amazingly comfortable suspension and in the city handles like a pleasant subcompact. Does anyone remember the Renault Dauphine? That’s roughly what it feels like: completely non-aggressive, quiet, smoothly shifting through the automatic gears. What’s more, the Alpine is as much fun as a young puppy. You think to yourself: “What great adventures we’ll have together!”
