The 10th race of this Formula 1 season is nearly upon us. In preparation for the British GP weekend, French manufacturer Alpine rolled out a limited series of the A110 midship thriller that costs the proverbial arm and leg. Dubbed A110 S Enstone Edition after the civil parish where the BWT Alpine F1 Team is based, the mid-engine sports car is yours for a very cool €85,000.
That's an eye-watering $92,605 at current exchange rates, the kind of money that one could spend on a well-equipped Cayman or Stingray. For reference, the 718 Cayman S can be had from €77,035 ($83,900) in the Old Continent, whereas the Corvette Stingray Coupe 3LT with the Z51 package flaunts a net price of $84,190 (€77,300) in the US of A.
Other than its connection to Alpine's F1 team, what makes the A110 S Enstone Edition a special machine? First and foremost, it's much lighter than the aforementioned 'Vette and 718. A bone-stock A110 S weighs 1,184 kilograms, which means 2,610 pounds.
That’s light even by MX-5 and BRZ standards, yet the French berlinette is that little bit more potent and quicker on the upshifts due to a dual-clutch transmission as opposed to a manual or a torque-converter automatic. Out back, you'll find a 1.8-liter Renault RS four-cylinder turbo with 300 ps and 340 Nm on deck, figures that convert to 296 hp at 6,300 revolutions per minute and 251 lb-ft from 2,400 to 6,000 revolutions per minute.
The Enstone Edition is a rare breed as well. Alpine capped this fellow to 300 examples for all markets where the A110 is available. Unfortunately, Alpine – and Renault, for that matter – are not present stateside.
Gris Tonnerre and Argent Mercure are two shades of matte gray, which give the Enstone Edition a very specific look in combination with the matte-black roof. The roof is adorned with the Union Jack in either gloss or matte black. Said flag is completely standard for customers in the UK and optional outside of the UK.
Pictured on 18-inch GT Race matte-black wheels complemented by silver-painted brake calipers from Brembo, the A110 S Enstone Edition brings the point home with specific embroidery for the Sabelt racing seats. A numbered plaque, a certificate of authenticity signed by the Formula 1 team, carbon elements and black microfiber, the BWT Alpine F1 Team's signature on the center console, and the A arrow decorating the visors add to the specialness of the French sports car.
The berlinette can be furthered with rear quarter panel carbon flags, as well as an aero kit. Said kit enables a top speed of 275 kilometers per hour (171 miles per hour). As for naught to 100 kilometers per hour (62 miles per hour), 4.2 seconds isn't exactly bad for something powered by the Renault Megane RS' mill.
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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