THE Alpine A110 SportsX , exhibited at the Automobile International Festival in Paris, is nothing more than a prototype. It's not for sale, nor is it expected to give rise to a new version of the production A110 — but it definitely captures our imagination of what a “rallying” A110 could be.
The A110, the original (not its contemporary reinterpretation), it should not be forgotten, was the first official world rally champion, in 1973. The new A110, however, has also seen competition versions, but is destined for closed circuits on the most perfect of asphalts.
Could this Alpine A110 SportsX represent a return to origins? Despite the “winter sports” tone given by the skis mounted on the roof of the compact coupé, according to Alpine, the A110 SportX was a collaborative effort between its design and engineering teams, with both drawing inspiration from the achievements of the original A110 decades ago in rallies.
The bodywork has been widened by 80mm to accommodate visibly larger wheels, and the ground clearance is now 60mm higher, equivalent to many crossovers or SUVs. Taking an A110 Pure as a starting point, it seems to keep the rear-wheel drive and engine unchanged.
According to the French brand, the Alpine A110 SportsX “explores a new facet of sportiness” — is there a market for such daring?
Alpine off-road?
Exploring paths other than asphalt were very early in the plans of the resurrected brand. Rumors pointed to an SUV in the brand's future, apparently the only way for an automobile manufacturer to generate the necessary revenue to finance its other projects today — see the case of Porsche, or more recently, Lamborghini.
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However, according to recent rumors, the design of an Alpine SUV (100% electric, only and only) is “frozen” — also an A110 roadster seems to have fallen by the wayside. Could the Alpine A110 SportX be an “audience test” for new and alternative paths for the brand?
