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Alpine brand revived!
Posted on Monday 8 October 2007
[url]http://www.motorauthority.com/cars/renault/renault-planning-‘radical-sports-car’/[/url]
Updated: Despite the millions spent by Renault on its Formula One team and its recent success in the competition, translating these efforts to its production cars is a moot point because Renault’s lineup is lacking in the sports car department. Management is hoping to change all that and is keen to start building sports cars again, as it has in the past, with the revival of the legendary Alpine label.
Renault’s marketing boss Patrick Blain has revealed that there are plans for several sports cars in Renault’s future lineup but stressed that the first model won’t arrive until after 2010. Blain confirmed that Renault is unlikely to pick a new name for its future sports car and will probably go with Alpine to brand it.
When talking about the first of the new Alpine models, Blain described it as being a “radical sports car” and not just a sports version of a regular model. Other cars Renault is considering include new premium models such as new versions of the Vel Satis and Avantime lines.
Before then we will see a new flagship coupe previewed by the recent Laguna Coupe Concept. Speaking with Automotive News Europe, Blain explained that Renault is busy focusing on launching 26 new models by the end of 2009.
Pictured above is the Renault Alpine A110, which led the team to victory in the 1973 World Rally Championship in modified form.
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Renault to revive Alpine name for "radical" new sports car
http://www.autoblog.com/2007/10/08/renault-to-revive-alpine-name-for-radical-new-sports-car/
Renault is working on not one, but a whole line of new sportscars to add to its current line-up of hatchbacks and minivans. Our European brethren aren't likely to see anything within the next three years – despite earlier rumors that a small roadster would be coming in 2009 – as Renault has a couple dozen new models making their debut before the end of the decade. But when they do come, the French automaker promises the line will include a "radical sports car" – their words, not ours.
The presence of sportier models in the Renault line-up would give the French automaker a better opportunity to capitalize on its Formula One prowess, having won two back-to-back world championships with Fernando Alonso and trying desperately to get back to the winner's circle again. While other front-running F1 teams like Ferrari and McLaren put their F1 tech into supercars like the 430 Scuderia and SLR respectively, Renault's titles get translated to the road through considerably more modest hatchbacks.
Rather than coming up with a new name for its "radical sports car", Renault will reportedly jump on the retro-nameplate bandwagon and revive the classic Alpine brand for its new sportier models.
[Source: Motor Authority]
Earlier rumor link
http://www.autoblog.com/2007/08/03/frankfurt-preview-renault-roadster-takes-aim-at-mx-5/
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Renault's Reviving Alpine Brand
http://jalopnik.com/cars/industry-news/renaults-reviving-alpine-brand-308388.php
If you're a fan of teeny, tiny, rear-engined rally madness, it's time to break out your French champagne! Renault is bringing back Alpine (or, en Francais, "al-peen" ). Details are sadly lacking, but starting in 2010 the first of "several" sports cars to be sold under the legendary marque will be a "radical sports car." We think that's fantastic. However, if the lesser models turn out to just be lazy, Lincoln-looking 350Z rebrands like the Laguna Coupe, we say why bother? [motorauthority.com]
