Photo: Alpine
Back in late 2022, Alpine created Alpenglow as a symbolistic design project - now it has been turned into reality and will become even cooler soon because the team will swap the four cylinders with a V6 by the end of the year.
French car manufacturer Alpine is not the biggest among little brands – but its parent Renault has faith in it. So, back in late 2022, they showcased the spectacular Alpenglow concept at the Paris Motor Show alongside the A110 R and battery-electric A110 E-ternite. With it, they revealed their ambitions to one day build automobiles that people would actually want in their "dream garage" alongside Pagani, Bugatti, or Ferrari models.
Now, interestingly, they're back with a new development. It's the first rolling version – dubbed Alpine Alpenglow Hy4 – and it's as real as you and me. However, it's not just placed in a protected area on the show floor of a big automotive event like the Paris Motor Show – it will be presented out in the open on May 10 at the Spa-Francorchamps Circuit before "it takes to the track for the first time" during the TotalEnergies 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps endurance race.
After that, additional demonstration runs will be held at the 92nd edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans on June 14 and 15. In case you were wondering, the moniker "combines the notion of hydrogen 'Hy' and 'four' for 4 cylinders" because it has a hydrogen-powered internal combustion engine in a bid to prove on the track that "performance and sustainable development are compatible with the added thrill of the sound of an internal combustion engine."
Basically, Alpine and Renault have high hopes that hydrogen combustion engine technology will have a future in the race toward environmental sustainability – and they also want to combine it with innovation and performance. Currently, the Alpenglow Hy4 development prototype has a 2.0-liter four-cylinder good for 340 ps or 335 hp – it might not sound like much, but the car is fitted with a lightweight carbon fiber monocoque and LMP3-style chassis. Additionally, it's slightly different from the original design study – there's a redesigned crash box, a larger interior with two seats, and additional height, but the hydrogen tanks are still located in the side pods and behind the cockpit.
The 2.0-liter inline-four turbo is fueled by H2 dihydrogen, has direct injection at 40 bar, and also water injection to lower NOx emissions – but can also rev to 7,000 rpm and when coupled with the car's sequential racing gearbox with a centrifugal clutch, it will enable the prototype to achieve a maximum speed of up to 270 kph (168 mph). Hydrogen is stored in gas form in three tanks (2.1 kg each) at a very high pressure of 700 bars – which is lowered to 200 through a regulator and then further down to 40 bars for direct injection into the combustion chamber.
Now, interestingly, they're back with a new development. It's the first rolling version – dubbed Alpine Alpenglow Hy4 – and it's as real as you and me. However, it's not just placed in a protected area on the show floor of a big automotive event like the Paris Motor Show – it will be presented out in the open on May 10 at the Spa-Francorchamps Circuit before "it takes to the track for the first time" during the TotalEnergies 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps endurance race.
After that, additional demonstration runs will be held at the 92nd edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans on June 14 and 15. In case you were wondering, the moniker "combines the notion of hydrogen 'Hy' and 'four' for 4 cylinders" because it has a hydrogen-powered internal combustion engine in a bid to prove on the track that "performance and sustainable development are compatible with the added thrill of the sound of an internal combustion engine."
Basically, Alpine and Renault have high hopes that hydrogen combustion engine technology will have a future in the race toward environmental sustainability – and they also want to combine it with innovation and performance. Currently, the Alpenglow Hy4 development prototype has a 2.0-liter four-cylinder good for 340 ps or 335 hp – it might not sound like much, but the car is fitted with a lightweight carbon fiber monocoque and LMP3-style chassis. Additionally, it's slightly different from the original design study – there's a redesigned crash box, a larger interior with two seats, and additional height, but the hydrogen tanks are still located in the side pods and behind the cockpit.
The 2.0-liter inline-four turbo is fueled by H2 dihydrogen, has direct injection at 40 bar, and also water injection to lower NOx emissions – but can also rev to 7,000 rpm and when coupled with the car's sequential racing gearbox with a centrifugal clutch, it will enable the prototype to achieve a maximum speed of up to 270 kph (168 mph). Hydrogen is stored in gas form in three tanks (2.1 kg each) at a very high pressure of 700 bars – which is lowered to 200 through a regulator and then further down to 40 bars for direct injection into the combustion chamber.
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