Alpine and Lotus Put the Brakes on Jointly Developed Electric Sports Car

Alpine has made a surprising decision to halt the joint development of an electric sports car, which was announced more than a year ago in collaboration with Lotus. In a statement obtained by Autocar, Alpine stated that they have mutually agreed not to proceed with the joint project, while remaining open to discussing other future opportunities.

The exact reasons behind Alpine's withdrawal from the partnership remain undisclosed. However, the model was initially introduced as part of the brand's strategy to reinvent itself and cater to a new generation of enthusiastic early adopters. Marketed as a "100% EV replacement of the A110," the electric sports car was set to be a crucial addition to Alpine's product lineup. Alongside it, Alpine had plans for an electric B-segment hot hatch based on the CMF-B EV platform and a C-segment crossover based on the CMF-EV platform.

While the joint project between Groupe Renault and Lotus Group was described as a memorandum of understanding to explore collaboration possibilities, nothing was set in stone from the beginning. The feasibility study would have assessed the potential of joint engineering, design, and development of the EV sports car, leveraging the expertise and facilities of both entities in France and the UK.

The decision to abandon the joint project has implications for Alpine's electric ambitions, as the model was expected to serve as an electric flagship, aligning with Groupe Renault's vision of being a leader in innovation, technology, and customer experience. Alpine's future plans for an A110 successor remain uncertain, but their commitment to pursuing innovative opportunities is likely to persist.

Source: Autocar