Alpine wants to compete with Ferrari, and the new PS1 will be key to achieving that.
Alpine has announced the unveiling of the PS1 prototype at the Paris Motor Show. Not much is known about this model for now, as only an image of its very thin front headlights has been shown, featuring the French flag in their illuminated design. A notable detail is that these are retractable headlights, a feature reminiscent of the 1990s A610. Its debut will take place on October 12 at 9:20 AM.
The acronym PS1 (Projet Spécial 1) indicates that it is a special project, one of the pillars of the brand’s new product strategy. Along with these special projects, the other two pillars are volume models (A290, A390...) and icons (A110). Therefore, the PS1 is likely to be a limited-edition vehicle intended for collectors.
Since the next A110 will be electric, it’s possible the PS1 could be as well; however, nothing has been confirmed yet. As the APP platform (Alpine Performance Platform) can accommodate internal combustion engines, there’s a chance it could be the rumored hybrid supercar the brand might launch in two years as its flagship model.
The chances it corresponds to the new generation of the A310 are much lower, as that model will fall under the ‘icon’ category rather than the ‘special project’ category. The new A310 will share a platform with the A110, but it will be a four-seater grand tourer, serving as a more practical alternative to the berlinette.
The electric Alpine A110 won’t arrive until 2027
Alpine will also bring to the show a sculpture of the upcoming A110, along with an APP platform and a development vehicle featuring a heavily modified body from the previous model. The third generation of this famous sports car will have to wait until next year, though some of its technical specifications have already been revealed.
Firstly, it is known to feature an 800-volt electric architecture compatible with ultra-fast charging: everything suggests it will be able to charge from 15% to 80% in approximately 15 minutes. Its battery, with a capacity slightly over 70 kWh, will be divided into two separate packs—one in the front compartment and another in the rear—to improve weight distribution.
Its range is expected to exceed 500 km WLTP. The vehicle is designed to run for 20 minutes at full throttle on the Nürburgring circuit without any loss of power. Its propulsion system will consist of two engines, both located in the rear axle, making it a rear-wheel-drive model. Of course, it will feature a torque vectoring system as well. Finally, Alpine has set a target weight of 1,450 kg, which is lower than that of its competitors with internal combustion engines (the Porsche Cayman GT4 weighs 1,490 kg).
Source | Alpine
