Photo: Renault
Renault has just offered the Alpine A110 Berlinette a birthday present for its 50th anniversay, in the form of the Alpine A110-50 concept, which is set to make its public debut at the Monaco Grand Prix this weekend.
Fans have been waiting for Renault to bring back the Alpine name for a very long while, but we can’t rejoice yet. You see, this is not actually a new development. It is actually a Megane Trophy racer with a reworked body coming from the 2010 Paris Auto Show Renault Dezir Concept.
Thus, the tubular chassis of the Megane Trophy has had its track widened to accommodate the modified DeZir body, as well as a new set of wheels, which use a centerlock system and come in a 21-inch size, being wrapped in road-legal Michelin rubber. While this setup is excellent from the weight point of view, with the vehicle tipping the scales at 880 kg (1,940 lbs) and offering it a weight distribution close to the ideal one (47.8 percent on the front), this also means that the development is far from entering production, since it has nothing to do with the road-going Megane.
Moving on now, we’ll tell you that the power comes from a Nissan VQ 3.5-liter V6 powerplant that produces 400 hp at 7,200 rpm and 422 Nm (311 lb-ft) at 6,200 rpm. This works with a six-speed sequential gearbox and a limited slip differential to send the power to the rear wheels.
Climbing aboard (via a set of scissor doors), we find a motorsport-like cabin, with Sabelt racing seats, a rol lcage, as well as a racing steering wheel that comes with a display borrowed from the Formula Renault 3.5 single seater.
Our say: Renault put together various bits and pieces from its various stables and created a superb track animal, but we want a road car!
Thus, the tubular chassis of the Megane Trophy has had its track widened to accommodate the modified DeZir body, as well as a new set of wheels, which use a centerlock system and come in a 21-inch size, being wrapped in road-legal Michelin rubber. While this setup is excellent from the weight point of view, with the vehicle tipping the scales at 880 kg (1,940 lbs) and offering it a weight distribution close to the ideal one (47.8 percent on the front), this also means that the development is far from entering production, since it has nothing to do with the road-going Megane.
Moving on now, we’ll tell you that the power comes from a Nissan VQ 3.5-liter V6 powerplant that produces 400 hp at 7,200 rpm and 422 Nm (311 lb-ft) at 6,200 rpm. This works with a six-speed sequential gearbox and a limited slip differential to send the power to the rear wheels.
Climbing aboard (via a set of scissor doors), we find a motorsport-like cabin, with Sabelt racing seats, a rol lcage, as well as a racing steering wheel that comes with a display borrowed from the Formula Renault 3.5 single seater.
Our say: Renault put together various bits and pieces from its various stables and created a superb track animal, but we want a road car!
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