Here you have the test of the Alpine A110 R, the most TOP version of the entire range of the French brand. It is the lightest, the most extreme and the fastest of the Alpine A110, a car that allies itself with engineering to multiply the sensations behind the wheel. It is appreciated to be able to drive a car like this in the midst of so much offensive with the electric car.
If we talk about weight, those responsible for Alpine have managed to set the figure at 1,082 kilos, that is, 34 kilos less than an Alpine A110 S. And this, above all, has been possible thanks to the massive use of carbon fiber .
This material is in the hood (2.9 kilos less), the wheels (also in carbon, 12.5 kilos less), the carbon rear window (saves another four kilos), the Sabelt Track monocoque seats (another five), the harnesses, the exhaust…
Thanks to this reduction in weight, the Alpine A110 R achieves a step from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.9 seconds, with a top speed of 285 km/h.
If we talk about the engine, this does not change and remains the same 300 hp four-cylinder turbo that we find in the A110S or the A110 GT. What they have increased is the sound heard through the exhausts: they are double-walled and 3D printed. Not only is it heard more on the outside, but also on the inside (it has a tube that comes out of the intake directly into the passenger compartment).
At the chassis level, there are more changes: the Alpine A110 R in this test is 10 millimeters lower than the A110 S. It also has adjustable shock absorbers, ideal to get 110% of the capabilities of this two-seater.
The new running gear is supported by specific stabilizer bars, 10% more rigid on the front axle and 25% on the rear, while the suspension springs offer more than 10% extra rigidity compared to those of the A110 S.
The rivals of the Alpine A110
This new configuration is noticeable from the minute you get going, since the Alpine A110 R is capable of connecting with the asphalt in a brutal way and copying every centimeter. To hold on to it, at Alpine they have not hesitated to introduce Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires, semi-slick rubbers that, with cold or rain, force you to be very careful because they do not work well until they warm up.
To leave everything in its place and calm your impulses, the Brembo brakes with 320-millimeter diameter discs front and rear seem to me the best option, since they never seem to falter. The engineers have also attached some new parts to channel the air and cool them optimally.
Are we talking about aerodynamics? The A110 R has modified several elements such as the specific rear wing (with gooseneck type supports), the diffuser (with larger and lower fins), the flat bottom, the tires and the front splitter or the skirts help to provide more stability in curves and at high speed. Behind achieves a downforce of 110 kilos at top speed and in front of 30 extra kilos.
Alpine A110 R: a racing interior
Lined in microfiber and with red fabric handles, the most impressive thing about the interior of the Alpine A110 R are undoubtedly the monocoque Sabelt Track seats inspired by the competition. They are made of carbon fiber with microfiber pads and come equipped with homologated six-point competition harnesses.
Perhaps I would have also modified the paddles on the steering wheel, which seem small to me and in some driving circumstances, with the steering wheel turned you cannot find them or you have to withdraw your hand too much. Then there is something innate to all Alpines, which is the almost total absence of storage compartments to leave everyday things, such as a wallet, phone, etc…
I get going to feel how the new travel companions of this Alpine A110 R work. I have to say that not long ago I was able to test what was at the time the sportiest variant, the A110 S and I have to say that I It left a great taste in my mouth.
The sensation of lightness is the strongest point of this two-seater and that makes its 300 CV push with great momentum and give a lot of itself. You don’t need 500 CV to have a great time, it’s a matter of removing weight.
What is incredible is that, in the first corners that I attack decisively, the feedback is from a car that is super well established on the road and with brutal poise. The tuning of the chassis and the suspension make the most radical Alpine fit into the turn with unusual ease.
Even under heavy braking, the rear does not move. The steering is fast and precise and gains in communication, with a sensation of having good grip in front, something that has improved the sensation of buoyancy of the A110 GT.
Despite being a propulsion, the traction capacity is very high and it is easy to open the throttle even with part of the steering turned (it tends to go more to the nose than to the rear).
The car is very well planted, it is not extremely noisy and it is not uncomfortable despite its firm suspension, even more rigid than that of an A110 S. It is not particularly uncomfortable when driving over bumps, as it does not touch or scrape when passing them at normal speeds.
Things to improve? At a dynamic level, few or none. However, neither the multimedia system, nor the screen or the reversing camera (which helps you maneuver, because there is no interior rearview mirror), are up to a car that starts at 107,000 euros.
But ultimately, there is no doubt that the Alpine A110 R that we have tested is a beast of a sports car: light, powerful and great fun to enjoy on the track or on a mountain pass.