- The new Alpine Alpenglow HY6 is a follow-up to the HY4 rolling prototype.
- The biggest upgrade is the hydrogen-fueled twin-turbo V6 with 730 hp.
- Alpine wants hydrogen-powered racecars to compete at the 24 Hours of Le Mans
Alpine continues the development of its hydrogen-powered concept with the Alpenglow HY6 that debuted in Paris. The latest evolution of the hypercar features a new hydrogen V6 powertrain that produces double the power of its HY4 four-cylinder predecessor, alongside a slightly refined exterior.
The concept eyes future participation in endurance racing, but a series production version is also deemed a possibility.
Starting with the all-new powertrain, the twin-turbo 3.5-liter V6 was developed by Alpine, delivering an impressive 730 hp (544 kW / 740 PS) and 770 Nm (568 lb-ft) of torque. The engine has four chain-driven overhead camshafts, 4 valves per cylinder, and runs exclusively on hydrogen. Fuel is stored in gaseous form in a trio of 2.1 kg (4.6 pounds) high-pressure hydrogen tanks. Power is transmitted to the rear axle via a six-speed sequential Xtrac gearbox.
Read: Alpine A110 R Ultime Gets A 345 HP Power Bump, Can Cost Up To $360k
Besides the new hydrogen heart, the Alpenglow HY6 features a few styling updates, contributing to a more refined exterior. Notable changes include the additional intakes on the hood, and the redesigned rear deck with a transparent engine cover and a more conventional rear wing.
The bodywork is made entirely of carbon fiber, and measures 5.20 m (204.7 inches) long, contributing to the exotic proportions. The French hypercar retains the wraparound greenhouse, the futuristic lightning units and the transparent blades of its predecessor, making it look like a Le Mans racer from the future.
The motorsport references are not by accident, as Alpine pushes FIA to authorise the participation of hydrogen-powered racecars at the 24 Hours of Le Mans from 2028 onwards. Furthermore, while the concept is presented as a “rolling laboratory” with eyes on racing, Alpine also hinted at a possible production version.
More specifically, the company admitted that the “development philosophy initially favours a version designed for racing, but could be transposed to series production”. In a similar context, Alpine’s chief designer recently stated that the brand has always had a production version in mind when designing the Alpenglow.
The company didn’t get into specifics about the underpinnings of the Alpenglow HY6, other than saying it has “various modifications and technical enhancements”. Chances are that the concept rides on a version of the Ligier LMP3 chassis from the rolling prototype of the Alpenglow HY4 that premiered in May 2024. Note that the original Alpenglow concept that debuted exactly two years ago at the Paris Auto Show 2022, was a static display vehicle.
