Alpine’s CEO confirms the stunning A310 will go into production, but there is bad news.
Philippe Krief, CEO of Alpine, has confirmed that the A310 Vision will go into production. It will be a limited edition model, following in the footsteps of the A110 Ultime, the first car from the brand’s new special projects division. “The Ultime was an experimental project. It wasn’t designed to make money. Cars like this aren’t built to be profitable—except for Ferrari, no one makes a profit from them.”
"The Ultime was meant to promote the brand; it was an A110 with endless customization options. With that car, we managed to achieve an average price of 300,000 euros, so we found customers. Therefore, there is room for improvement, and the A310 will have the potential to move in that direction in terms of exclusivity and customization."
The new A310 is confirmed to be built on the APP platform, the same architecture that will underpin the upcoming A110. This means it is likely to be a 100% electric model, though this has not yet been officially confirmed. In theory, the APP platform could also support internal combustion engines, although this option was initially intended only for the U.S. market.
Originally, Alpine planned to use the A310 name for a four-seater coupe positioned above the A110; however, since the A110 already features a retro design, the new electric grand tourer was given a modern and contemporary aesthetic, leaving the A310 as a limited-edition tribute to the original 1971 model.
Alpine is developing a four-seater electric sports car positioned above the A110.
"If the A110 is recognized worldwide as a timeless beauty, the A310 is appreciated by French people and enthusiasts, but its appeal is more specific. That’s why we’re creating a 2+2 model with an exceptional yet more modern design." It is still unknown what commercial name the new Alpine four-seater sports car will bear, although some sources suggest it might revert to the A610 name, used in the brand’s last model before its closure in 1995.
In any case, Alpine’s short-term priority is the launch of the A110, scheduled for next year. The third generation of this legendary two-seater sports car will feature two battery packs (one in the front compartment and another in the rear), with a combined capacity of around 70 kWh. Its powertrain will consist of two engines (both located on the rear axle).
Its target weight will be around 1,450 kg, lower than that of its competitors; it will also come in a convertible Spyder version. Alpine aims to enable the electric A110 to complete three laps around the Nürburgring Nordschleife circuit in 20 minutes without any loss of power. Everything suggests that, thanks to its 800-volt architecture, it will be able to charge from 15% to 80% in approximately 15 minutes.
Source | Autocar