Alpine A110 vs. McLaren 570S: Not Rivals, But Kindred Spirits

Autocar believes so, and they put together this video. The 570S may be a sort of entry-level model from McLaren, but it still costs about three times more than the A110 and has the performance to match some supercars. We're talking Audi R8 or Porsche 911 Turbo here.

The A110 has its engine mid-mounted, but it's only a 1.8-liter turbo which you'll find in many of Renault's mainstream models, including the Espace. For this application, it produces 252 HP, which by the way is only 27 more than the MPV.

But thanks to its dedication to lightness, the French car makes good use of the available power, reaching 100 km/h in 4.5 seconds. The reviewers say that's all you need to enjoy yourself in the real world.

The McLaren's small but powerful V8 delivers 318 HP and 280 Nm (207 lb-ft) more than its rival for the day. Let that sink in for a moment while we tell you that the A110 can be enjoyed on the limit of its grip.

It's a fantastic little thing, and not many things focus on lightness so well. Miata, Lotus and this. Fortunately, there's a fresh batch of sports cars for similar money coming up, including the fancy version of the BMW M2, the Z4 M40i and the Supra. However, we're completely sold on the beauty of the A110.

Jumping into the 570S, the two drivers notice a similar philosophy. It's comfortable on the road and not as hard to live with as some supercars can be. It's not perfect though, and we'll let you discover why by watching the video.