Alpine to Launch 1000HP Hybrid Supercar in 2028 with Le Mans-Derived V6
Alpine, a historic French sportscar maker best known in the Americas as a Formula One and World Endurance entrant, is to launch a supercar in 2028.
It will have around 1000 horsepower, says CEO Phillippe Krief. Most of that comes from a mid-mounted V6 driving the rear wheels. It's augmented by two torque-vectoring electric motors, one for each front wheel.
The V6, Krief says, will be developed by the same engineers who do the Le Mans powertrain. The car will use aluminum and carbon-fiber in its construction.
Alpine showed a hypercar concept called the Alpenglow three years ago, and afterward it ran, using a hydrogen-combusting V6 to explore this as a race fuel. It looked wonderful, but Krief dismisses the suggestion that the new supercar will bear a resemblance. He points out that the Alpenglow was built with the dimensions of a Le Mans car. "This will be a road car, very different."
Krief was technical director at Ferrari before taking the Alpine job, so we might take him seriously when he mentions the SF90 in context of this Alpine supercar.
Alpine is a member of the Renault Group, and recently launched two sporty EVs, a subcompact hot hatchback called the A290, and a fastback compact, the A390. The A390 distinguishes itself with a three-motor layout providing torque vectoring for claimed high agility. Total output is 470 hp.
If you struggle to see the connection between two small EV five-doors and a hypercar, note that Alpine is launching cars to bridge the gap.
For seven years, it has been building a sublime little ICE mid-engined two-seater called the A110. In 2026, a new A110 will launch. Although fully electric, it will be a true sports car. The battery pack will be split in two, some behind the two seats and some in front, to ensure the seating position is low to the road. It will use an in-wheel motor for each rear tire. Krief says vehicle mass will be about the same as a comparable piston-engine car, the Porsche Boxster.
Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
20 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Nathan Cleary at centre of fresh bombshell after warning about move for Mary Fowler
Wallabies legend Tim Horan claims he's heard growing rumours that Nathan Cleary is "quite keen" on a switch to rugby union. It comes after concerns from Matty Johns earlier this year about losing Cleary to rugby, amid speculation his relationship with Mary Fowler could see the four-time premiership winner quit the NRL and move overseas to be closer to the Matildas star. Fowler plays for English football giants Manchester City and spends the majority of her time in the UK and Europe. And Cleary has admitted previously that moving overseas and playing in the English Super League is something that could interest him in the future. Johns pointed out that a move abroad would put Cleary firmly in the shop window of powerful European rugby clubs and feared it would inevitably lead to a poaching raid from the rival code. "My only fear with Nathan is him going to England puts him pretty much in the spotlight or basically he's right in the backyard of these big French rugby clubs and European rugby clubs," Johns said. "And there would be a temptation there (to poach him). Some of them (rugby clubs) would probably look to make a bid sooner rather than later, that's the only thing that would concern me." But Wallabies legend Horan suggested the NRL should be more concerned about the threat from Australian rugby after suggesting the 27-year-old could be eyeing a code switch. "There's been some rumours the last two months that he's quite keen," Horan said on Stan Sports' Rugby Heaven program this week. "I've heard it totally separate, he's quite keen to come to rugby." Horan's revelation came during discussions around which State of Origin stars could be targeted by Rugby Australia, after Cleary starred in the Blues' Game 1 win over the Maroons. RELATED: Blow for Billy Slater with Queensland player banned from Origin Trainer at centre of Origin incident unmasked as NRL great's brother Cleary has done just about everything in his league career, with four NRL premierships and a World Cup title amongst his extensive list of achievements. The one constant criticism of Cleary is that he hasn't dominated an Origin series, but if the Blues star can help mastermind back-to-back series wins over the Maroons this year, a switch to rugby could be a step closer. The Panthers are last on the NRL ladder and look more like a club in transition after a series of high-profile departures off the back of their four-straight premiership successes. And Cleary might view it as the perfect time to consider a switch, ahead of Australia's home Rugby World Cup in 2027. In order to be eligible to play for the Wallabies though, Cleary would be required by Rugby Australia to play domestically for one of the country's Super Rugby franchises. However, that would put an end to the notion of Cleary moving overseas to be closer to Fowler. Cleary is arguably the best rugby league player in the world and a potential switch to rugby could be even more significant for Rugby Australia than former NRL star Joseph Suaalii's big-money move. Horan concedes Rugby Australia would be silly not to explore the possibility if Cleary was interested, but said the focus should still be on developing players within the 15-a-side code. "I don't think it's the right thing for Australian rugby to do, we've got a lot of talent coming through," the two-time Rugby World Cup winner said. "But I tell you what, if Nathan Cleary says 'I'm interested in playing the game', you've got to have a coffee."
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Rising rents put the squeeze on small businesses in Singapore: Should the Govt do more?
SINGAPORE – The clock is ticking for Nicher, a bakery serving French pastries and coffee at The Brooks, a mixed-use development near Sembawang Road. The bakery's owner, Mr Melvin Koh, 39, has decided to sell the business when his lease expires at the end of June. The former pastry chef with Marina Bay Sands says his lease will go up 15 per cent from his current rental of $5,000 if he chooses to renew it, which will make running the business unsustainable. 'Rent takes up at least 50 per cent of my total operating expenses,' said Mr Koh. 'Costs of ingredients and labour are also rising.' Mr Koh, who was charged a monthly rental of $4,500 when he started his business in 2022, is just one of a number of business owners across the island who are struggling with rising rents. The rental squeeze has driven some businesses to write publicly about their woes on social media, drawing public attention to the issue. One such business is Flor Patisserie, a cake shop in Siglap Drive. Chef-owner Heidi Tan said the landlord is raising the rent by 57 per cent, from $5,400 to $8,500, and that she intends to move out by early July. In an Instagram post on May 7, she had said rent was 'one thing that kills', calling on the Government to do more to support small businesses. View this post on Instagram A post shared by FLOR Patisserie (@flor_patisserie) On May 22, The Straits Times reported that at least five shophouse businesses in Siglap Drive have closed or are about to close because of rental hikes since 2024. Ms Grace Huang, co-founder of Neue Fit gym at Kallang Wave Mall, took to Instagram on April 30 to share her struggles with rent hikes. The 42-year-old said the lease for her 372 sq m unit will expire in December and she fears that the rental will go up. Other sports tenants around her have faced rental increases of about 20 per cent. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Grace Huang (@thehuangergames) Since she started the gym in 2018, her rent has gone up by about 57 per cent, including through the Covid-19 pandemic. She pays more than $20,000 monthly now. 'Rent makes up about 30 per cent of our total monthly overheads, which is a huge burden for any small business,' she said. 'It's money we could be using to grow our programmes, support our team, or improve our members' experience.' She employs 10 full-timers, including national athletes who have themselves trained other current and past Team Singapore representatives. 'We are a sports business in a sports mall, in what's meant to be Singapore's sporting district – and yet, we're struggling to feel supported,' she said, calling it disheartening. Business owners say rising rents are choking out small businesses here which often do not have pockets as deep as chain stores and global brands, and are less able to cope with sudden hikes. Experts ST spoke to also painted a picture of a retail environment where landlords hold most of the cards. Ms Huang said landlords should consider tenants' business performance, or how they contribute to the space, when deciding on their leases, and not apply the same rental models across the board. The Government could also consider targeted rental relief or grants for certain businesses, such as those in health, sports and wellness in the sports districts, she said. When contacted, a Kallang Wave Mall spokesperson said the current lease with Neue Fit began in 2017 and was subsequently renewed in 2022 based on 'negotiated and mutually agreed rental terms and tenure'. 'For a unit above 4,000 sq ft in size, the rental rate is well within market range,' the spokesperson said, adding that formal discussions regarding future rental rates for the current unit have not started yet. Ms Sulian Tan-Wijaya, executive director for retail and lifestyle at Savills Singapore, said many malls are owned by real estate investment trusts (Reits) where there is little room to reduce rents or incentivise desirable brands with lower rents. Prime city or suburban malls still enjoy high occupancies. For every space vacated by a weak operator, there will be more than one newcomer vying for that space, she said. Shop units owned by private strata owners were probably acquired at high prices with mortgages to service. Owners facing higher interest rates will be less likely to lower their rents, she added. She pointed out that one reason international brands can afford higher rents is that they benefit from strong supply chain networks, which bring down their costs. According to Knight Frank Research, as at the first quarter of 2025, prime retail rents in a basket of malls within the prime central region have increased by 11.8 per cent in the post-pandemic period, while prime suburban retail rents rose by 5.8 per cent. These gains follow a sharp drop in the pandemic years of 2020 and 2021, when prime retail rents fell by more than 20.2 per cent in the central region and by 8.7 per cent in the suburban region. The retail sector is expected to remain challenging in 2025, with rents likely to ease and stabilise within a modest growth range of 1 per cent to 3 per cent over the course of the year, said Knight Frank head of retail Ethan Hsu. While there have been calls for the Government to intervene to stabilise rents, Mr Hsu cautioned that intervening in market forces could lead to unintended consequences such as reduced investment in commercial property, or a decline in the quality of retail spaces due to decreased spending on maintenance. At the moment, the Code of Conduct for Leasing of Retail Premises – which landlords must voluntarily adopt – sets out leasing principles when drawing up contracts and a framework for resolving lease disputes. But Mr Hsu acknowledged that there could be scope for the Government to do more. 'For instance, the Government could consider managing the supply of F&B spaces within specific geographic areas to prevent market saturation and cannibalisation within a designated zone,' he said, adding that this will help food and beverage businesses survive better amid limited demand in the small local market. Another measure that could be considered is a tax similar to the additional buyer's stamp duty on chain F&B brands that expand too rapidly within a short period, he said. This could help moderate F&B growth to a more sustainable pace. The Singapore Tenants United For Fairness (SGTUFF), a group of more than 600 front-line business owners across the food and beverage, retail and services sectors, said targeted regulatory mechanisms could protect the viability of small businesses while balancing the interests of investors. Unregulated rent increases contribute to inflationary pressures, pushing up business costs and consumer prices, said SGTUFF in a social media post on May 2. The group argued for some form of rental regulation, including a tiered rent cap system based on attributes such as property size and location, and incentives for landlords who offer long-term and stable leases. Brand strategist Debbie Yong proposed piloting rent stabilisation in selected districts earmarked for cultural and entrepreneurial preservation. Another way is to strengthen the Code of Conduct for Leasing of Retail Premises by turning it into enforceable legislation, she said, adding that it would be a practical first step towards rebalancing the power dynamics between landlords and tenants, without compromising long-term growth. Ms Yong added that the rise in commercial rents is having a chilling effect on creativity and innovation in the F&B and retail sectors. 'As consumers, we ultimately suffer from lack of diversity and vibrancy in our dining and retail landscape,' she said. 'That, in turn, further dampens domestic demand, creating a downward spiral that undermines the very ecosystem we're trying to grow.' Source: The Straits Times © SPH Media Limited. Permission required for reproduction Discover how to enjoy other premium articles here
Miami Herald
2 hours ago
- Miami Herald
Alpine's New A390 Is a Performance EV Crossover With French Flair
In recent years, legendary French performance and sports car brand Alpine has been reimagining itself as a performance-oriented electric car brand. Last year, the Renault-owned marque launched its first electric car, the A290, a compact hatchback designed to be a faster and more agile version of one of its parent company's smallest offerings. But if sales figures are any indication, many electric vehicle customers are opting for the kind of space and usability found in crossovers like Tesla's Model Y and BYD's Seal U. However, Alpine's lineup of electric vehicles is expanding, and its latest offering is its take on other cars from the popular segment. Alpine has recently unveiled the A390, a five-door electric crossover that it insists you call a "sport fastback." Based almost entirely on the A390_β (beta) concept, the new Alpine takes some crucial styling cues from its A110 sports car and remixes them into a package that looks a little more futuristically aggressive and edgy than most crossovers on the road. From the outside, the A390 slightly resembles the A110, as subtle and sporty features like hidden and flush door handles and a sloped roof give the top half of the crossover the same distinct shape. At the same time, Alpine has also given the A390 some aggressive looks to separate itself from its 'egg-shaped' competition, including triangular-shaped LED cutouts, pencil-thin headlights, and oversized air intakes on the front bumper. The A390 may blend modern and futuristic styling, but it is Alpine's biggest car ever. Its raw numbers show that it has a 106.6-inch wheelbase and measures 181.7 inches in length, 74.2 inches in width, and 60.3 inches in height. Underneath the stylish skin, Alpine proves that it means business with its performance. The new A390 rides on Renault's AmpR Medium platform, which is also used in the Renault Megane E-Tech, Scenic E-Tech, and the Nissan Ariya. However, it features some tweaks for a better driving experience, including an all-wheel drive system with an Active Torque Vectoring system to enhance its handling in the corners. The A390 comes in two different trims: the GT and GTS. Both feature a tri-motor setup with one motor in the front and two in the back. The base GT model delivers 396 horsepower and 480 pound-feet of torque, capable of 0-60 mph in 4.8 seconds and a top speed of 124 mph. Conversely, the GTS makes 463 hp and a massive 596 lb-ft of torque, cutting the 0-60 time to just 3.9 seconds and bumping the top speed to 137 mph. Both versions use an 89 kWh lithium-ion battery that provides 323 to 345 miles of WLTP range and can be charged at charging stations offering up to 190 kW DC fast charging. The A390 also features a steering wheel-mounted "overtake" function that provides a boost of power for approximately 10 seconds, although it takes 30 seconds to cool down before it can be used again. In addition, Alpine's two distinct "Drive Sound" profiles, called "Daily" and "Sport," feature different synthetic engine sounds that can be adjusted according to your mood or throttle position. The Alpine A390 shares much of its interior with other Alpine and Renault models, including familiar bits like the steering wheel, drive selector, and dashboard electronics. A 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster and a 12-inch "portrait mode" infotainment screen with some physical switches are pointed toward the driver. However, some Alpine-specific features suggest this is a more premium offering than other models. Top-of-the-line A390 GTSs get Nappa leather Sabelt bucket seats with massage functionality and a 13-speaker, 850-watt Devialet audio system. Pricing has not been announced yet, but it's pegged to be competitive against electric rivals like the $75,300 Porsche Macan Electric and the $109,000 Maserati Grecale Folgore. Alpine is currently offering the A390 solely in Europe, as it is putting its plans to expand to the U.S. on hold due to the tariff situation. Initially, the brand was due to launch in the States during the 2027 model year. Politics aside, French cars are an anomaly in the United States. Though established car enthusiasts may stray away, I can picture a new generation of well-to-do people searching for the avant-garde, adopting the Alpine as their vehicle of choice. Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
