Alpine has now released the A110 Rally. The name tells you almost
everything you need to know about the new model: it’s a rear-wheel-drive rally
car for privateer teams and drivers that targets FIA R-GT homologation.
The A110 Rally becomes the third competition version
based on Alpine’s resurrected sports car after the A110 Cup and A110 GT4 track
racers. Debuting officially during the Rallye Mont-Blanc Morzine (September 5-7
September), the A110 Rally has been developed by Alpine’s racing partner
Signatech using the lightweight aluminum chassis of the Alpine A110 GT4 and Cup
race cars.
The car has received additional
modifications to make it suitable for rallying including a three-way hydraulic
suspension, new Brembo brakes, as well as safety elements specific to the sport
such as an FIA homologated roll cage, Sabelt bucket seats, and six-point
harness system.
The 1.8-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine from
the A110 road car has also been adapted for use in rallying and now features a
modified torque curve and an increased output to more than 300 horsepower. As
with the A110 Cup, the engine is linked to a sequential six-speed gearbox (plus
reverse gear) and a limited slip differential.
The A110 Rally also features a racing steering wheel
with paddle shifters and integrated display, adjustable traction control
system, and Bosch Motorsports ABS. The only options available are a data
acquisition system and Alpine blue paint.
The Alpine A110 Rally has embarked on an intense
development program with multiple two-wheel drive French Rally Champion
Emmanuel Guigou and 2015 French Junior Champion Laurent Pellier putting it
through its paces. The two drivers will do the majority of the developmental
work to test reliability and basic settings. However, other drivers will add
their contributions as well to make the Alpine A110 Rally as versatile as
possible, easy to drive and affordable.
Not everyone will find it affordable as
the base price will be € 150,000 (US$ 165,600), before taxes. The
Alpine A110 Rally will be available for purchase at the end of the year,
subject to FIA R-GT homologation. The first cars will reach customers in early
2020.