Despite being less powerful than the Ford Escorts of the era by around 100 HP, the original Alpine A110 managed to win the Monte Carlo rally in 1973 thanks to its nimble chassis and light construction.
Forty-five years later, the Alpine brand is back with a new product that bears the same moniker.
The new A110 is powered by a 1.8-liter four-pot that sits in the middle and produces 252 PS (248 hp / 185 kW) and 320 Nm (236 lb-ft) of torque. It is mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission that sends the output to the rear wheels, and with only 1,100 kg (2,425 lbs) to move, it sprints to 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) in 4.5 seconds and reaches a top speed of 250 km/h (155 mph).
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Since its recipe is more or less the same as its predecessor, it was taken to the place that pretty much forged the Alpine reputation: the Monte Carlo rally stages.
In the hands of Top Gear Magazine’s Ollie Marriage, the new sports car proved that it’s worthy of its legacy. It was found to be a very joyful car to drive, with a brilliant chassis that can go around corners pretty much like a champ, even though the steering should be a bit sharper.
However, since the suspension does a great job at absorbing bumps, making the steering sportier would have probably ruined the driving dynamics. But we’d better let the reviewer talk us through its strong and weak points.