Automotive

The general knowledge people have about cars and sportscars in particular always makes me wonder if those people really want to see the real truth.

When i say the words Porsche and Ferrari most people fall in awe and their eyes start twinkling.

When i say the word McLaren most people tell me they have driven one when they were eight years old .... or something equally stupid.

When i say the words Pagani, Noble or Koenigsegg most people look at me and think i was the 4th man on the moon ... or at least that's what i think they are thinking when i see the expression on their faces.

When i say the word Renaultsport i see people thinking that i'm an idiot .

When i say the word Alpina most people respond by saying they'd rather pay less money for a regular BMW.

When i say the word Alpine most people respond by saying they'd rather pay less money for a regular BMW ... héhé .... .

So when i try to explain that my little white Clio is in fact a true Alpine because it was build in the Alpine factory in Dieppe, it gives me the best ever driving experience money can buy, it is solid as a rock and never breaks down, i humiliate sale men in their 2 and 3 liter BMW and Audi's (diesels) , it makes me smile from ear to ear (left to right or vice versa) .... they take a look at that strange looking car and then think ... actually i don't even want to know what they think .

So trying to explain what this Alpine A110 really stands for is near impossible because one really has to experience it for a couple of days.

A friend of mine (true car/bike freak and a gifted rider/driver) had a quick 500 meter go in a A110 .... and said it had many many flaws ... while 99% of the automotive press praises it into the skies. So i guess a lot of people are just biased and already have their judgements ready even before they tried it.

So here comes my version of the facts .... .

Looks:

I am definitely a huge fan, taste is personal so i can imagine there are people who don't like the looks of it.

Plane and simple explanation not ?

To be really honest i (think) i like the curves of a 718 Cayman more than the ones on this A110, but the A110 is a lot smaller and since i really like small cars i'd go for the A110 anyway.

The interior of this A110 often gets criticized for being cheap .... strangely i find it a bit better build than the plastic interior of a cayman ... maybe i must go and take the A110 to the Porsche dealership to compare it face to face.

Driving position is perfect and at first you do feel like you are seated too high, but after a few miles you notice it is simply 100 % spot on. Note that in this 'PURE' version the seat can only be adjusted in height with the right set of tools, so no handle to immediately set the height.

Chassis, structure and body are aluminum, the Sabelt seat (aluminum frame) only weigh 13 kilos each and are out of this world .. that is until you take a seat in the MacLaren LT600 with the optional Senna seats.

All is light and build with a purpose (unlike the zillions of carbon inlays you find on a Porsche or Ferrari at bonkers prices) so the A110 comes in at a TRUE 1080 kilos of weight, can't remember if it's kerb weight but compared to a standard Cayman it is around 300 kilos lighter ... which makes this A110 a completely different car than the Cayman.

Unfortunately the A110's engine only produces 252 hp, i shares the same 1,8 liter in my Megane RS where it delivers 280 hp (and even 300 in the Trophy version). This probably makes the A110 a ridiculously slow car, especially compared to ... again .. the 300 hp Cayman or even the 350 hp Cayman S.

Strangely though the A110 is quite a lot faster during acceleration and with the upcoming A110 S with 292 hp it will even be faster than a Cayman S or GT4 ... . I wonder if the lower weight has something to do with it ? 

Not only the acceleration off course is important (in that case just buy a Tesla) but along with a 30% lower weight comes for instance 30 to 70% lower wear/maintenance/fuel consumption etc etc.

Alpine reckons it can accelerate from 0 to 100 kph in just 4,5 seconds, i tried the onboard computer (same as in the Megane) and because i'm such a perfect guy i managed the sprint in exactly 4,50 seconds LOLOLOL .

Anyway, this car is seriously quick, not bike quick or Noble M600 quick, but combined with the light feel and nimbleness this is all you need. Off course i do understand why people want 500, 750 or even 1500 hp in their car .. why wouldn't you if it is possible ?



The smile on the drivers face says it all, it is pure fun !

This car is a true sportswear, it can be cherished like you cherish your Porsche, McLaren or Ferrari, it is special, it is cool, it is fun but above all, IT IS ALIVE.

It is a mix of fun, adrenaline, comfort, luxury and all at a very reasonable price and very low maintenance cost. Remember, a light car being driven to the bone wears out a lot less than a heavy elephant being driven at 50%.




Alpine has been talking about developing an SUV as well, in this picture i see no need far that because compared to the Megane RS, the Megane looks and feels like one. Immediately after driving the A110 i took the wheel of the Megane and it felt heavy, but after a few minutes it suddenly struck me that this RS is one hell of a beast as well, an amazing tool and also bonker crazy fast for a family car.




Look how much lower the A110 is, combined with 385 kilos less weight the difference in driving feel is big. Also the A110 is mid engined and rear wheel drive (though i'm not really a fan anymore after crashing my Beemer), the Megane is both front engined and fWD.

Later during the day i took the 200 hp, 1240 kilo Clio out, manual gearbox (both A110 and Megane are auto double clutch) and FWD.

Comfort here is quite an issue when you just got out of the 2 above cars ... since the Clio is fitted with a KW coil over suspension and a very loud cold air intake you can't really say it's a comfy car. I also fitted a QUAIFE limited slip differential so this little Clio feels more like a race car, especially since you can rev the balls out of it's naturally aspirated 2 liter engine. This one is a keeper and absolutely darn cheap to maintain.

Would i buy the A110 then ?

Not in my current situation, paying 60K Euros would be a tough one but absolutely not impossible, but where i live it's nearly impossible to have fun with it without risking my life, other lives, my license, my limbs, my wallet (after paying the fines) etc etc ... .

Is there a car i could prefer above the A110 if money (and lives) where no subject? Absolutely yes i think, a McLaren LT600 or an F1 or even a Ferrari F40 or Noble M600 would suit me fine. But in the world of sub 100K cars there is nothing that even comes close, a Lotus will be far more bonkers but way too uncomfortable, a Porsche to dull and heavy even if they look fabulous and are seriously fine sportscars as well ... nope, the Bim is a simple man of simple principles .... .

Du pain, du vin, un croissant , une deux cent cinq et une A cent-dix !

Note:

There is soo much more to say about this A110 but i'm too lazy ;-)

Bim

More posts: AudiBMWCaymanF40FerrariGT4KoenigseggLotusMcLarenPaganiPorscheTesla

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