Three years after the brand’s renaissance, Alpine unveils the SportX. True French success that symbolizes competition and escape
I’m not afraid to say it this way: Alpine is one of the discreet successes of the modern automotive industry
After many years of dormancy, it was in 2017 that Renault revived the brand with the Alpine A110, a light two-seater sports car which received enormous success from the start for its elegant design, its mechanical simplicity and its nice balance.
Alpine was launched by Jean Rédélé in 1955 in Dieppe, the Alpine appellation comes from Jean’s numerous victories in the Alps. When Renault departed separately, it was in 1965 that Alpine joined forces with Renault, and in 1966, the cars were distributed by the network of the management. However, the increased demands of customers and security constraints are weighing more and more on the business, which remains artisanal. In 1971, she won her first title of European rally constructor champion. In 1973, she was crowned the first world rally champion. For many, the original Alpine is a great competition car, notably by winning victories in Monte-Carlo. But for others the car is also a symbol of freedom. This SportX model is the perfect representation. The “X” means that the car can temporarily leave the bitumen, thanks to its ground clearance raised by a few centimeters and its rims fitted with snow tires.
The head of the brand’s design office Antony Villain and his team worked alongside Alpine engineers to create a fully functional crossover, with jack suspension, new bumpers, wider wheel arches and interior roll bars and two pairs of Black Crows skis attached to the roof.
The head of the brand’s design office Antony Villain and his team worked alongside Alpine engineers to create a fully functional crossover, with jack suspension, new bumpers, wider wheel arches and interior roll bars and two pairs of Black Crows skis attached to the roof.
Renamed Alpine SportX, the custom work was put away, repainted in a white and matt black color scheme, and accessorized with graphics and a set of skis. SportX made its public debut in January of this year, making this nod to Alpine rally heritage more explicit while attracting the brand to the attention of new customers. “It’s a generational thing,” says Villain, noting that customers have shown interest and that other manufacturers are also stepping into this esoteric niche of automotive design. Two specialized Porsche tuners, RUF and Gemballa, have recently shown the Rodeo Concept and the Avalanche 4×4 respectively, tailor-made 911 versions.
alpinecars.com
