IGNITION
Alpine’s A110S brings more
power and more focus. An
evofavourite justgot even
more tempting...
Frenchfancier
‘A
NEW METAL
byANTONYINGRAMVERY FOCUSED SPORTS CAR... BUT STILL
comfortable.’ Those are the seemingly
disparate goals Alpineis aimingfor with
its new A110S. The firm has long hinted that a more
serious modelwould follow the basic A110, and the
A110Sis it. Revisionsto the engineand suspension
boost performance and corneringability in equal
measure, whilevisualchanges ensure the S cuts its
own form above the existing Pure and Légende.
A more aggressive chassis set-up is the key
difference. Front springs are stiffer by 50 per cent,
with dampers retuned to match, whilethe bump
stops have been redesigned and the front and rear
anti-roll bars are twice as firm as before. The car
sits 4mmlower over new wheels (still 18-inchers)
and tyres (215mmin section at the front, 245mm
behind),the MichelinPilot Sport4 rubberhaving a
compoundspecific to the A110S.
A reconfigured stability control system –
particularlyin Track mode– will allow drivers even
more access to the chassis changes, and stopping
shouldn’tbe a problemeither, with standard
fitmentof the excellent 320mmBrembobraking
set-up optionallyavailableon otherAlpines.Alpine
quotes a kerb weight of 1114kg, whichon paper is
16kg more than the Pure, but 9kg lighter than the
Légende.A carbonfibre roof panel, saving a further
1.9kg, is optional.
The goal, according to chief engineer Jean-
Pascal Dauce, is for greater focus than the more
playful A110 modelswe’ve seen so far. Both
high-speed stability and handlingprecision have
apparentlyimproved,
thoughDauce does stress
the A110Swill still be a
comfortable car, and that
it shouldstill be enjoyable
regardless of driving
experience – two key qualities of the standard car.
Underthe rear deck is a more potent version of
Renault’s 1.8-litre four-cylinder. The turbocharged
unit now produces 288bhpat 6400rpmthanks
to 0.4bar of additionalboost. This gives it more
punchthan the 276bhpMégane RS, thoughless
than the RS Trophy (296bhp), but it’s 39bhp
stronger than the regular A110. Torque is rated the
same at 236lbft,from 2000to 6400rpm.
Transmission is still by a seven-speed Getrag
dual-clutch unit to the rear wheels, with a brake-
based e-diffto enhance traction. On paper the
changes are good for a 0-62mphtime of 4.4sec,
only a tenth better, but Alpinepromises a more
thrillingpower delivery, particularlyin the 5000-
7000rpmtop-endrange.
Visual changes are subtle,amountingto a
ground-sniffingstance, a new paint option– matt-
finishGris Tonnerre – and carbon and orange flag
motifs.The orange themeis continued insidefor
the stitchingon the wheel and the 13kg Sabelt
seats. Whilemore expensive, with a provisional
starting price of €66,500 (£59,200),we won’t
have to wait long to discover whether it’s worth it:
the A110Sis already availableto order, and the first
deliveries will begin before the year’s end.
Above:A110S sits
4mm lower for a more
road-huggingstance.
Bottom:320mm
Brembobrakesare
fitted asstandard