The new Alpine A310 Vision concept previews a potential limited-run retro-futuristic two-seater inspired by the company’s 1970s sports car.
Unveiled at the Paris motor show, the new coupé is officially a one-off. However, it has been designed to sit on the new Alpine Performance Platform (APP), which will underpin the next-generation electric A110 sports car, and Alpine design boss Antony Villain has hinted it could reach production as the firm’s next limited-edition special project.
The A310 Vision takes inspiration from Alpine’s 1971 four-seater, which featured bold, angular bodywork in sharp contrast to the rest of Alpine’s line-up at that time. The new concept arrives 50 years after the A310 gained a high-performance V6 powertrain.
“We took inspiration from both versions of the A310,” said Villain. “The original was very pure and recognisable, and the V6 has more impact and a wider body and track. We mixed elements of both for this car.”
The original A310’s geometric bodywork and silhouette are clearly reflected in the new concept. Villain added that the original “was very edgy, but we wanted to bring a softness to it”. But while the original is a four-seater, the new A310 Vision is a two-seat sports car, measuring 4550mm long, 1180mm tall and 2030mm wide, with a wheelbase of 2450mm.
Those dimensions are intended in part to highlight the flexibility of the APP, which was created for the new A110 and also underpins the Renault 5 Turbo 3E. The architecture is designed to be highly versatile, with the capacity to split the battery into two sections and adopt different powertrain layouts, so that it can suit a wide variety of vehicles.
Alpine has already confirmed it will develop a 2+2 model that will sit alongside the A110 in its sports car line-up and it had previously considered reviving the A310 for that. However, Villain ruled out the possibility of the 2+2 taking the A310’s styling and said: “The APP is flexible enough to allow for different width, wheelbases, and engine and battery position. It opens the door for special projects, from the top of the range.
“We’ll start with the A110, but there’s room for more extreme cars, with more personalisation. This shows the path of what could be a future special project.”
Villain insisted a production version of the concept “was not planned” but he said: “There is room and I’m sure the feedback on the car will be good.” Notably, the development code for the project was PS1, standing for 'project special', a clear hint of where it would fall in Alpine's production range.
