Alpine has celebrated the launch of the A110 production at the Dieppe factory in France, in front of Renault Chairman Carlos Ghosn and France’s Minister of Finance Bruno Le Maire.

Following a 35 million euro investment and two years of work, the Dieppe plant is now capable of assembling the Alpine A110’s aluminum body and chassis and features a paint shop with new sanding and cleaning robots for a quality premium paint finish.

Alpine’s historic facility is now the workplace for 392 employees who have been given four weeks’ of specific training for the production of the A110.

“The revival of Alpine production in Dieppe, where the original Berlinette was made almost 50 years ago, presented us with a challenge, but we rose to it together, with backing from the state, the region, the local urban district, Groupe Renault and the Alliance,” said Carlos Ghosn, Renault Chairman and CEO. “The excellence and French-style elegance that the brand stands for are more than just claims; today, in Dieppe they are an industrial reality.”

Powered by a turbocharged 1.8-liter petrol engine, the new Alpine A110 offers 248hp and 236lb-ft of torque. A seven-speed dual-clutch automatic is the only transmission option. Combined with the low weight of 1,080kg (2,380lbs), 0-62mph comes in 4.5 seconds while top speed is 155mph (250km/h).

The first 1,955 examples of the new Alpine A110 are special Premiere Editions priced at 58,500 euros each. These first examples are expected to reach customers in the first half of 2018.

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