- The concept has a powerful 2.0-liter hydrogen-fuelled four-cylinder.
- The firm is already working on an improved concept with a potent V6.
- Alpine’s CEO acknowledges that hydrogen advancements need to take place before the car is launched.
Alpine has big plans to become a serious performance car player, and soon after launching its all-electric A290 hot hatch, it has started to look well into the future to decide what’s next. One strong possibility is a production version of the crazy Aplenglow Hy4 which could premiere by 2028.
This wild concept recently took to the track at the 24 Hours of Le Mans for a demonstration run and could serve as the perfect flagship for the brand. Last month, Alpine’s design chief expressed hope the Hy4 would spawn a road-legal version but at the time, we suspected that could have just been the opinion of an enthusiast designer. As it turns out, Alpine chief executive Philippe Krief is onboard and wants to see it built.
Read: 217 HP Alpine A290 GT Hot Hatch Kicks Off Brand’s Electric Transformation
“We always do things to make it happen,” he told Piston Heads during a recent interview. “Alpenglow is important for styling research, it’s important for technology, but it’s important for the brand. It’s really important. By doing Alpenglow, we will show that we are able to play in the ground of the big guys. I think if everything is fine [with hydrogen advancements], I think that by 2028 you will be able to buy one.”
The caveat about hydrogen technologies is an important one. The Hy4 concept runs a 2.0-liter four-cylinder fueled by hydrogen and producing 335 hp. Alpine is already working on a more powerful hydrogen V6 for the concept but Krief acknowledges the tank needed to store the hydrogen may prove to be a problem.
“For cars, the tank could be an issue, but there are some technologies arriving that are talking about tanks polymorph forms,” where a thermoplastic tank is strengthened when cooled.
Before the Hy4 reaches reality, Alpine will launch an all-electric successor to the A110. This new model will be built in standard coupe form and also offered as a 2+2 and a spider.
