Alpine, and parent company Renault, are proudly French brands, and the A110 is built in Dieppe. But Alpine’s F1 operation, like most F1 outfits, is located in the UK’s motorsport valley, close to the Silverstone circuit.
Now Alpine has acknowledged that Britain and Europe are better together – as if the Brexit disaster hadn’t already proved as much – by creating a special edition commemorating the brand’s dual HQs, and has unveiled it ahead of this weekend’s British Grand Prix at Silverstone.
Called the Enstone Edition after Alpine’s UK F1 factory, but sounding more like a secret spy program from a Matt Damon movie, the new motorsport-inspired A110 is limited to 300 units and based on the A110 S. But it features some special pieces of interior trim made out of carbon trim and cured in the very same autoclaves used to bake the F1 car’s composite components. The gauge cluster shroud, or visor, and center console both feature carbon trim, while a numbered plaque and script on the Sabelt seats makes clear that the visual upgrades are part of a genuine factory program.
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F1 cars feature livery designed to make them as eye-catching as possible, but the Enstone Edition goes the other way, opting for two matte gunmetal grey paint options that just about contrast with a black roof. Matte black 18-in wheels and silver Brembo brake calipers continue the muted theme, and complete the look for French cars, though UK versions come standard with a Union Jack roof graphic that’s optional across The Channel. Don’t worry, it’s less horrific than it sounds. Optional in both countries is an aero kit that’s available to all S buyers, and one you’d think would be standard here, given the F1 connection.
Being based on the A110 S, the Enstone comes with the 296 hp (300 PS) version of the 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine also found in the softer, more luxury-focused GT and hardcore R, rather than the 249 hp (252 PS) variant used in the base A110. As with all current Alpines it drives the rear wheels through a seven-speed twin-clutch transmission, and although the company mentions no specific performance figures, they must be identical to those of the S: zero to 62 mph (100 km/h) in 4.2 seconds and a 162 mph (260 km/h) top speed.
The A110 S Enstone Edition goes on sale on July 6 priced at €85,000 ($92,389) in France and £73,990 ($93,970) in the UK – or £79,990 ($101,590) with the aero optional aero kit. That’s a considerable premium over the €74,500 ($80,974) Alpine wants for a stock S, but it’s also much less expensive than the €110,000 ($119,559) R, and can claim to be even more exclusive, even if the lighter, harder R – whose carbon bits are there to cut weight, not just look cool – would smoke it around an F1 track.
