Alpine to split future EV range into lifestyle and sporting lines
Alpine will offer a distinct line of performance models in addition to a range of more lifestyle-focused cars as it fleshes out its future electric line-up.
The car maker is currently preparing a three-model ‘dream garage’ line-up for its transition to becoming the Renault Group’s premium electric brand, and those cars will be used to establish two clear-cut product lines.
The inbound electric hot hatch – based on the Renault 5 – and the GT X-Over crossover will form part of the lifestyle branch, while the next-generation, electric A110 will spearhead the firm’s future sporting line-up. Speaking exclusively to Autocar, Alpine CEO Laurent Rossi outlined his vision, citing that even for a sporting manufacturer, models in alternative segments would need to be offered to fortify the brand’s future.
Rossi said: “It is not sustainable for even a sporty brand to only revolve around sports cars, and that’s why we will expand the line-up in the lifestyle area. The C-segment crossover is the best way for us to stay relevant to a larger audience because not everyone can afford an A110 or its potential successors.” The Alpine boss sought to reassure enthusiasts that the French firm will stay true to its sporting roots and hinted that it could look to expand its performance range with larger cars to join the A110.
Both the lifestyle and sporting branches of Alpine will be heavily influenced by its involvement in top-tier motorsport, said Rossi, most notably Formula 1 and the World Endurance Championship.
F1 looks set to play a significant role in Alpine’s electrification plans, as the sport is set to introduce new engine regulations that could place greater focus on the electrical elements of the power unit.
“Racing is in our DNA. We want to keep that and perpetuate this legacy, and we plan to do that in all of our cars,” said Rossi. “The hot hatch and the sports crossover SUV, even though they are in the lifestyle brand, will have that racing DNA.”
Rossi said that having taken over from Renault Sport within the group, a performance variant of the Renault 5 was a sensible addition to Alpine’s EV lifestyle arm.
“It’s the easiest one for us to do because the hot hatch is the closest thing to the Renault Sport era,” said Rossi, referring to Renault’s previous sporting brand and its hot Clios and Méganes.
GT X-Over and hot hatch will be ‘lifestyle’ cars