With a production version of the Alpine Vision Concept tipped to come this year, Renault is looking over at Mercedes-AMG to provide performance engines to the resurrected brand’s future models.
French officials have left the solution hanging midair at the time, but Renault’s executive VP for product and planning, Bruno Ancelin, suggested that Alpine could turn over to the three-pointed star for engines, giving Aston Martin’s example with their new DB11, as AutoExpress reports.
“We have two solutions. Either we take on that is available in the Alliance and we fine tune it for more power. Or we can buy one from the market. I heard in the presentation of the new DB11 from Aston Martin they are buying their V8s from AMG. That is possible, too. We have some cooperation with Daimler. We can buy engines on the market – there is no problem to share that“, said Ancelin.
While Renault’s boss didn’t say what engine the Alpine brand might choose, the British publication reports that the six-cylinder, used by Mercedes-AMG in their new “43” vehicles, might be “a good fit” for “bigger cars” in the range, which are believed to follow the production version of the Vision Concept.
Besides the two-seater sports car, Alpine is also examining a few other models: “We could have a coupe, cabriolet, we could have a hatchback; we could have everything that is usable in a sporty brand“, said Ancelin.
Under the guidance of former Aston Martin and Tesla executive, Michael van der Sande, the Alpine brand is expected to launch the Vision-based sports car within the next year The Vision is expected to be powered by a new turbocharged 1.8-liter engine, developed from the 1.6-liter turbo mill used on the Renault Clio RS.
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