Renault Confirms Alpine A110 Coupe For Australia

Renault has confirmed that its recently-revived Alpine sports car will be available in Australia, marking a return for the brand that was last seen locally in the late 1980s.

Arriving in the second half of 2018, the new Alpine A110 coupe will line up against mid-engined rivals including the Alfa Romeo 4C and Porsche Cayman.

While Renault’s own Renault Sport-branded hot hatches enjoy a high level of sales success in Australia, a small niche following for the Alpine badge meant the coupe wasn’t always assured locally.

“We are delighted that it won’t be long until its loyal fans, as well as those new to the brand, can get behind the wheel,” Renault Australia managing director Andrew Moore said.

Full prices and specifications for the model will be confirmed closer to its local arrival. The Alpine A110 will be powered by a 1.8-litre four-cylinder engine that sends 185kW and 320Nm to the rear wheels through a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.

The first Alpine model to arrive in Australia will be a special launch variant based on the European “Premiere Edition”, featuring forged aluminium 18-inch wheels, Sabelt seats, Brembo brakes, a sports exhaust and carbon fibre interior trim.

Priced from €58,500 (A$88,800) in Europe, the Premiere Edition sits just above the €55,040 Porsche requires for a 718 Cayman coupe in France.

The brand says "a range of other variants will be available" after the launch version arrives. Those may include a more affordable variant, as well as a more focused track-ready version.

Andrew Moore, managing director of Renault Australia and a recent replacement for former chief Justin Hocevar, said he took "great pleasure" in confirming Alpine is on the way.

“Alpine, the sports premium brand of Groupe Renault, defines a modern sports car designed for driving pleasure," he said.

"It combines the timeless Alpine principles of compact size, light weight and dynamic agility and keeps true to the spirit of its predecessors, in particular the A110 Berlinette."

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