Birth of the Signatech Alpine (Signature & Alpine), the team that will represent the Dieppe brand in the European Le Mans Series (ELMS) championship
Episode 5:
The rebirth of Alpine
Jean Rédélé has always trusted Renault
At the end of the 1960s, Jean Rédélé was entrusted with officially representing Renault in motorsport. The Alpines now bore the Renault lozenge on their bonnets and the economic links were closer than ever. Finally, in 1973, they were materialized by Renault taking a 70% stake in Alpine’s share capital.While the end of production of the A610 in 1995 seems to be a halt for Alpine, the adventure is not yet over. The Dieppe plant assembles the Renault Sport range, allowing the activity to take a new direction. Aware that they have a “gem” in their portfolio, the directors of Renault sought to reassert the value of Alpine. To do this, they were confronted with two obstacles.
Make Alpine a unique reference
The first was to obtain the right to use the brand throughout the world. This wasn’t possible as the name was used by another constructor in one part of the world. This point was quickly settled.
Financing the rebirth of an iconic brand
The second obstacle was to do with economics. Creating a new car for a new brand or a brand that is being reborn is not easy, but it is possible. Producing, homologating and distributing it is another challenge. Making it sustainable over time by offering it its own identity is even harder, and yet this is the wonderful challenge that has been taken on.
Four concept cars to announce the return of the berlinette
A110 -50
The success seen by the Alpine A110-50 concept car, created in 2012 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the berlinette, proved to the Renault Group that there were high expectations around Alpine. The enthusiasm of spectators during the 2013 Monte Carlo Historic Rally, in which five A110s ran, and the press coverage of the announcement of Alpine’s relaunch, boosted this sentiment.
Alpine Vision Gran Turismo
Resulting from the imagination of the designers and engineers entrusted with developing the Alpine of the 21st century, the
Alpine Vision Gran Turismo was first created for a video game! Drivable by players all over the world, controller in hand, in Gran Turismo 6, the famous racing simulation franchise, it still boasted a “life-size” physical controller, to the greatest pleasure of visitors to the 2015 International Automobile Festival.
Alpine Celebration
Also revealed in 2015, the Alpine Celebration is worthy of its name as it celebrates 60 years of the Alpine. This show car was prepared specially for the 24 Hours of Le Mans, where it did a lap of the circuit in front of no less than 250,000 spectators and television viewers across the globe. A compact sports car, the Alpine Celebration has the features of a two-seater coupé with smooth and refined lines, underscored by the intense blue of its bodywork, illuminated with bold orange touches.
Alpine Vision
In 2016, the announced rebirth of the berlinette was made increasingly precise with the presentation of the Alpine Vision show car. Combining a sensuous design with exceptional agility, it is setting itself up as the heir to the iconic A110, heralding 80% of its 21st century descendant. The Alpine Vision show car boasts a four-cylinder turbo engine, prepared by the experts at Renault Sport. Its lightness allows it to reach 100 kph in under 4.5 seconds.
The steps to a new lease of life
Motorsport: the champion Alpine reborn from its ashes
2013
2013
2016
2016
- 4 victories for No. 36, of which one at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and 3 podium places
- WEC Rally world champion
2017
2017
- Victory in the 6 Hours of the Americas and four podium places
- Creation of a championship entitled the Alpine Elf Europa Cup
2018/2019
2018/2019
- Success for the first edition of the Alpine Elf Europa Cup
- Signatech Alpine wins the 24 Hours of Le Mans for two years running, and wins the world LMP2 title again with the Alpine A470
2020
2020
- 5th FIA WEC championship with the Alpine A470
- French 2020 Rally champion with the Alpine A110 Rally
2021
2021
- Arrival of the brand in the Formula 1 world championship under the name Alpine F1 Team, with one victory and one podium place as a bonus (5th place in the constructors’ championship)
- The team returns to the reigning category (LMP1) in the FIA WEC (World Endurance Championship) under the name Alpine Elf Matmut Endurance Team, with 6 podium places in 6 races and a 3rd place at the 24 Hours of Le Mans
The future of Alpine
The activities of Alpine cars, Renault Sport Cars and Renault Sport Racing have now been brought together in a single entity under the Alpine banner. Together, they form the basis of a “new generation” car brand intended for demanding and enthusiastic clients. Based on its heritage but resolutely facing the future, the Alpine brand is placing itself at the forefront of innovation, and of competition with Formula 1 and road racing, with the development of a future “dream garage” comprising three light, exclusive and innovative models, all 100% electric.
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A 100%-electric sporty compact (B-segment) based on the Alliance CMF-B EV platform
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A 100%-electric GT X-Over (C-segment), based on the Alliance CMF-EV platform
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A 100%-electric replacement for the A110, developed with Lotus
