Alpine: A unique expertise for the challenges of tomorrow

Renault Sport Technologies officially became AlpineCars on May 1, 2021, but the engineers working out of the engineering centredid not wait until that watershed date to switch their mindsets to Alpinematters...

"We're talking about the same teamthat revived the A110 by bestowing today's car with the agile handling andlevel of driving enjoyment that forged the original's reputation back in theday. They succeeded in applying the same qualities to a modern car that can bedriven in any circumstances."

Robert Bonetto, VP Alpine Engineering

Three stand-out fields of expertise

Following the launch of Renault's iconic Spider in1995, Renault Sport's engineers effectively turned their skills tohigh-performance road cars. For evidence of their achievements, there's no needto look any further than the lap records for front-wheel drive cars theyestablished at Germany's exacting Nürburgring, or the pleasure they have givento owners of R.S.-badged models. "For me, there are three key areaswhere this know-how has been especially effective," says RobertBonetto. "Aerodynamics, weight-saving and handling."

When it comes to aerodynamics, Alpinebenefits from a particularly stimulating context. "We are fortunate tobe part of the Alpine bubble in a very broad sense, and that includes ourproximity to the Formula 1 team. Our meetings with our F1 colleaguesconsistently produce new ideas and they are always keen to contribute to thedevelopment of our road cars. The two worlds are very different, but thefundamentals remain pretty much the same, so it's a highly interestingchallenge for them. And you can see the fruit of this collaboration in the formof the A110 R's meticulously honed aerodynamics."

Atthe same time, it is no coincidence that the A110 R's wing is made fromcomposite materials. "Light weight is crucial to performance"notes Robert Bonetto. "The A110's all-aluminium, rivet-bonded chassisand bodywork incorporates exclusive technologies that assert our know-how inthis field. And while the A110 R makes extensive use of carbon fibre, our A110E-ternité prototype employs materials that are even more innovative, includingflax fibre that is produced in Normandy."

Electrification, a new aspect of everyday motoring

There is another area of expertise at theAlpine’s engineering centre that doesn't immediately strike the eye but whichbecomes apparent the instant you take to the road in one its cars and which,Robert Bonetto believes, has played a significant part in forging thefacility's reputation - handling.

In the days of Renault Sport, the weeks ofdevelopment groundwork spent at such a demanding and varied proving ground asthe Nürburgring contributed to the depth of the team's savoir-faire, not tomention the sensitivity of its test drivers. "They are capable ofperceiving a difference of two millimetres in the width of a carbon wheelflange" says Robert Bonetto proudly. "This work also enabledthe cars' set-up to be fine-tuned in a way that truly shaped the sports DNAthat made us stand out."

Today,in addition to benefiting the Alpine A110, this collective expertise is beingapplied extensively already to the conception of the range's upcoming electricmodels. "The team has been working on the fundamentals, like weightdistribution, with one notable outcome being an innovative two-part battery,with one positioned at the front of the car and the other at the rear. Theyhave also developed a specific gearbox for our electric cars with no torqueinterrupt that allows us to propose a powerful but lightweight solution."

Thefruit of all this work will be revealed in a few months' time. Until then, thebrain cells of the engineers will continue to focus on maximising the pleasureit is possible to derive behind the wheel of an electric sports car!