Renault Group is working on a way to bring the Alpine brand to the United States. The automaker is negotiating with AutoNation, the largest auto dealer group in the US, to sell the sporty French vehicles at its network of showrooms.
Source: Automotive News
Quote: "It’s not easy because we are not present in the U.S. and we have to start from scratch,” said Luca de Meo, Chief Executive Officer of Renault S.A.
Details: De Meo did not give a timeline for when these models might be available for sale in the U.S. However, he did indicate that there are alternative plans to bring Alpine to the U.S. if negotiations with AutoNation do not result in a deal.
2022 Alpine A110 for left-hand drive countries
Additional Info: The Alpine brand was relaunched with the 2017 debut of the A110 sports coupe. At launch, power came from a mid-mounted 1.8-liter turbocharged four-cylinder making 252 horsepower (188 kilowatts) and 236 pound-feet (320 Newton-meters) of torque. It came with a seven-speed, dual-clutch gearbox.
For the 2022 model, the hotter A110 S received a power upgrade to make 300 hp (224 kW) and 251 lb-ft (340 Nm). This allowed it to reach 62 miles per hour (100 kilometers per hour) in 4.2 seconds and a top speed of 171 mph (275 kph)
In October 2022, Alpine announced the A110 R as the hardcore range-topper of the lineup. Extensive use of carbon fiber, including for the hood and engine cover, keeps the weight down to 2,385 pounds (1,082 kilograms). The model can hit 62 mph in 3.9 seconds and has a top speed of 177 mph. A revised suspension lowers the car by 0.4 inches (10 millimeters), and there are adjustable dampers.
Alpine plans to keep the current A110 in its lineup until the end of 2026 when an electric model would replace it. In 2027 and 2028, the broad plans to broaden the range by introducing electric SUVs. The automaker would roughly position them against the Porsche Macan and Cayenne. De Meo previously said he thought this pair of vehicles would sell well in the US.
