Latest news with #PhilippeKrief
Perth Now
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Perth Now
Alpine Australia puts its hand up for 1000hp V6 hybrid Ferrari rival
Alpine's stunning 2022 Alpenglow concept appears to be the inspiration for an all-new supercar that could find its way into Australian showrooms. The French performance brand owned by Renault yesterday announced its return to Australian showrooms, which will be led by the Porsche Macan Electric-rivalling Alpine A390 battery-electric fastback that's now officially due on sale here in 2026 or 2027. When asked about the chances of the as-yet-unnamed supercar arriving in local showrooms, Alpine Australia general manager Glen Sealey told CarExpert: 'We are very excited about the return of the Alpine brand in Australia, and we have our hand up for every vehicle that would be available to this market.' Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. 2022 Alpine Alpenglow concept Credit: CarExpert Whether the supercar will be produced in right-hand drive, making it available to Australia and key Alpine markets including the United Kingdom (UK), is yet to be confirmed. But the A390 crossover is expected to be joined here by at least the next-generation Alpine A110 coupe, which was also teased under a sheet this week and will switch from petrol to battery-electric electric power when it's launched in 2026. The previous A110, and by extension the Alpine brand itself, was axed in Australia in 2021 due to side impact regulations. 2026 Alpine 110 EV teaser Credit: CarExpert Alpine CEO Philippe Krief – who previously worked at Ferrari – revealed the French automaker intends to introduce the flagship model in 2028, powered by a V6 petrol engine and a pair of electric motors. In sharing the news, the Alpine chief emphasised the brand will not be going all-electric anytime soon, despite offering only electric powertrains in its A290 and A390 as well as the next-generation A110 due next year. 'We are not selling electric cars. We are selling sporty cars, passion cars, exclusive cars,' Mr Krief said at the launch of the A390. 2025 Alpine A390 Credit: CarExpert The supercar's petrol V6 will send drive to the rear wheels, with both electric motors mounted to the front axle, making the yet-to-be-named supercar all-wheel drive. The powertrain will be developed by the automaker's Hypertech division, based at the legendary Formula 1 engine-building facility in Viry-Châtillon, France. The Alpine F1 team – which recently dropped Australian Jack Doohan after only a handful of races in 2025 – will switch from its own engine to Mercedes-Benz sourced powertrains from the 2026 season. Alpine CEO Philippe Krief Credit: CarExpert Alpine is targeting 1000hp (746kW) from the V6 hybrid combination – more than the output of the standard Ferrari SF90 Stradale plug-in hybrid supercar, which was developed while Mr Krief was working at the Italian brand. The standard SF90 – no longer in production – used three electric motors and a turbocharged V8 to make its total of 736kW, and offered power-to-weight of 469kW/tonne. The target weight of the Alpine supercar is 1600kg, which is close to the SF90's 1570kg figure, and should enable it to produce performance competitive with the Ferrari. Alpine A390, A290 and A110 Credit: CarExpert The SF90 Stradale claims a 0-100km/h acceleration time of just 2.5 seconds, and is said to reach 200km/h in only 6.7 seconds on its way to a 340km/h top speed. Alpine is set to take advantage of its F1 racing team in the development of new models for its road car division as it looks to build the brand globally. 'We are going to create a lot more links than traditionally,' said Mr Krief. Supplied Credit: CarExpert First announced in mid-2023, Alpine's 'revolution' plan includes a goal to become a truly global brand. Renault's performance brand is targeting break-even financials by 2026, before its global expansion from 2027. MORE: Everything Alpine
Auto Car
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Auto Car
French sports car brand reveals its Porsche Macan challenger, with THREE motors
New SUV will arrive in the UK next year with focus on drive engagement Open gallery Close Alpine is going up against the Porsche Macan Electric and Hyundai Ioniq 5 N with its first SUV, the A390. The French performance brand's third model line – joining the A110 coupé and A290 hot hatch – is a sleek, striking crossover-coupé that remains largely true to the A390 Beta concept revealed at the Paris motor show last year. Due to start from around £60,000 when UK orders open in November, the A390 will play a significant role in broadening the market reach of Alpine's product portfolio. Its dimensions place it right at the heart of Europe's most popular car class and it has a more overt focus on daily usability than the brand's dedicated sports cars. It measures 4.6m long by 1.5m tall and has a 532-litre boot, which makes it a close match for the likes of the Cupra Tavascan and Tesla Model Y. But with up to 464bhp and a drivetrain that has been engineered with a rigid focus on driver engagement, the A390 is pitched more directly at the dedicated performance SUV segment. The A390 shares its basic Ampr Medium architecture with the Renault Scenic and Nissan Ariya. However, it uses a bespoke tri-motor powertrain – two at the rear and one at the front – to give rear-biased all-wheel drive and torque vectoring to boost agility and responsiveness. Alpine CEO Philippe Krief recently told Autocar that this arrangement will play a key role in instilling the A390 with a 'perceived lightness' that helps to mitigate the inherent weight penalty associated with an electric SUV. 'You can generate a quite immediate response time. It's like the behaviour of a light car,' said Krief of the tri-motor powertrain, which is capable of overspeeding the outside wheels in a bend, rather than simply braking the inside wheels. Alpine says this gives a 'much smoother, delicate feeling of control', while also allowing for easily controllable powerslides. Producing 395bhp in standard GT guise and 464bhp in the top-rung, circa-£70k GTS – and with a peak torque output of 596lb ft – this powertrain can send the A390 from 0-62mph in as little as 3.9sec. That matches the stripped-out A110 R, which weighs around a tonne less. A cheaper variant with a more conventional dual-motor arrangement is understood to be on the cards, but it has not yet been officially given the green light. The A390 is powered by an 89kWh battery that enables a maximum WLTP range of 342 miles and can be rapid-charged at speeds of up to 190kW. Inside, the A390 is more closely related to its Renault Group siblings, with a portrait-oriented touchscreen angled towards the driver and a host of physical controls on the steering wheel and centre console. It follows the A290 in gaining a race-inspired adjustment dial on the steering wheel for the brake regen and an overtake lever that liberates the full-power reserves for short periods. Unlike the Ioniq 5 N, the A390 does not feature a simulated gearbox, but it does offer the option of a synthetic 'Alpine drive sound', which is said to be inspired by the A110's four-cylinder petrol engine. The A390 is the second of seven electric cars that Alpine plans to launch in the coming years. Due next is an electric successor to the A110, which will be offered as a coupé and a cabriolet. After that, the brand will reveal the A310, a four-door fastback to rival the Polestar 4. Two larger E-segment models – including a Porsche Cayenne competitor – were set to arrive after the A310 as part of the brand's push into the US market. However, president Donald Trump's new car import tariffs have prompted Alpine to put its Stateside ambitions on ice and it remains to be seen whether those cars will see the light of day. Today's A110, launched in 2017 as the first Alpine model in more than three decades, will be withdrawn from sale next year. Join our WhatsApp community and be the first to read about the latest news and reviews wowing the car world. Our community is the best, easiest and most direct place to tap into the minds of Autocar, and if you join you'll also be treated to unique WhatsApp content. You can leave at any time after joining - check our full privacy policy here. Next Prev In partnership with
Auto Express
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Auto Express
Alpine Alpenglow hypercar to make production with V6 hybrid power
French sports car maker Alpine will jump to hyperspace with a production version of its Alpenglow hypercar concept, running an all-wheel drive V6 hybrid. The just-unveiled A390 electric 'fastback' SUV, generating 464bhp from its three electric motors, is the punchiest Alpine in history. But it will be eclipsed in 2026 by the all-electric replacement for the A110 two-seat coupe, before the hypercar arrives a couple of years later. '[The halo car] won't be a pure EV,' Alpine boss Philippe Krief told Auto Express at the A390's unveiling in Dieppe, Alpine's French hometown. 'It will be a hybrid with a V6 engine. It will not be a plug-in, but it will be hybrid because we need more power.' Advertisement - Article continues below The French engineer led development on Alfa Romeo's performance comeback with the 503bhp twin-turbo V6 Giulia and Stelvio Quadrifoglio, before he headed back to Ferrari to mastermind its plug-in monsters, mixing electric thrust with the V8 SF90 and V6 296 GTB. The hypercar will provide an emotional link between Alpine's on-track exploits in Formula 1 and World Endurance Racing and the road cars. Renault Group no longer has its own V6 so Hypertech Alpine, the brand's R&D centre of excellence based in Viry-Chatillon, will undertake development work. No word yet on the engine's displacement or whether it requires forced induction. The engine will power the rear wheels and may be fitted with an electric motor between engine and transmission. Ferrari (plus Lamborghini and McLaren) all use a compact and lightweight axial flux motor from pioneering British engineers Yasa, although Krief ruled out the supplier due to its acquisition by Mercedes. Renault has taken a 21 per cent stake in axial flux maker Whylot. Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below One thing's for sure: twin electric motors will spin the front axle, making the hypercar all-wheel drive. Alpine will have two electric axle configurations by the end of next year, with twin central drive units spinning the A390's rear axle, while the next A110 coupe will adopt in-wheel motors to save weight. The mix of petrol and electric power will provide a mighty output, in excess of 1,000 horsepower. 'And we are trying to keep weight below 1,600kg,' said Krief. That would provide a minimum power to weight ratio of 625bhp per tonne – pretty similar to the Ferrari SF90 Stradale. Renault Group head of design Laurens van den Acker told Auto Express that the hypercar's mission was to create a 'technology showcase'. 'Can we offer something nobody else has?,' he said. 'That should be the ambition of a supercar, because [hypercar] customers want something really special that nobody else has, because they generally already have multiple cars. We're very much on this, but it will take a little bit of time.' Alpine has shown two iterations of its Alpenglow supercar concept, with the latter running a 3.5-litre V6 that burned hydrogen from three tanks. Click here for our list of the best hypercars ... Find a car with the experts It's only a matter of time before Jaguar Land Rover builds a factory in the USA It's only a matter of time before Jaguar Land Rover builds a factory in the USA Mike Rutherford thinks Jaguar's 'Reimagine' strategy will result in the company exploring further opportunities in the USA Car Deal of the Day: Seal the deal on this BYD electric saloon for just £289 a month Car Deal of the Day: Seal the deal on this BYD electric saloon for just £289 a month The BYD Seal is a seriously tempting Tesla Model 3 rival, especially at this price. It's our Deal of the Day for 26 May Car Deal of the Day: Nissan's X-Trail is a do-it-all seven-seat hybrid SUV for only £235 a month Car Deal of the Day: Nissan's X-Trail is a do-it-all seven-seat hybrid SUV for only £235 a month If the Qashqai is too small for you, then the larger X-Trail is a fine alternative. It's our Deal of the Day for 25 May
Yahoo
26-02-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Alpine's Delightful Mid-Engined A110 Will Be Dead in 12 Months
It's a sad day for fans of Gallic speed machines, as Alpine has just announced the beginning of the end for its beloved A110 mid-engine sports car. In coordination with the launch of a new special edition, the Renault performance division says customers officially have 12 months left to order a new A110 if they want one. The new model is the A110 R 70, a special A110 R that's limited to 770 units and was created to celebrate Alpine's 70th anniversary in 2025. 'To mark the occasion, our iconic A110 is available as an exceptional limited edition, the A110 R 70,' Alpine CEO Philippe Krief said. 'It is part of the new A110 range, which will be available for the next 12 months before passing the baton to the future electric A110.' So there's the answer to your next question; the A110 will indeed transition to being fully electric for its next generation, so get your ICE fix now. The A110 R 70 is a great way to do just that, as it's one of the most extreme versions of the car that Alpine has offered, packing more power, a stiffer suspension, Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires and an Akropovic exhaust among other enhancements to improve performance above the S. Appearance changes for the '70' take shape in 70th anniversary logos on the wheel arches, door sills, headrests, an interior plaque and a monogram of the French flag on the pillar. 210 cars of the total will take things even further. Designated the 'Tricolour Edition' and pictured at the top of this post, there will be 70 each in Bleu Caddy, Glacier Blanc and Rouge Sismique. These 210 cars will have the unique touch of bearing the 70th anniversary logo on the roof. They'll also be given a color-matching Sabelt-upholstered interior (below) and color-matched rim around the 18-inch wheels. The final year of production sees a slight change in the normal models for sale, too, as Alpine merges the GT and S trims into a single 'GTS' trim. It's meant to combine the sportier chassis of the S with the GT's more roadgoing equipment. You can spec the GTS aero kit, too, which nets a bunch of aero from the A110 R. Even the Cup 2 tires can be had, bringing the GTS closer to R levels of performance. We'll be sad to see the A110 go, even though it was never sold in America. Alpine has promised the A110's electric successor will be sold here, but there will be a wait, with the latest forecast calling for Alpine's entrance to the U.S. market coming in 2027 at the earliest. You Might Also Like You Need a Torque Wrench in Your Toolbox Tested: Best Car Interior Cleaners The Man Who Signs Every Car
