When the diet goes wrong: the Alpine A110 R loses weight at 800 euros per kilo to be more radical than ever

One of the great strengths of the Alpine A110  against its competition, that is to say against the  Porsche 718 Cayman , is its lightness. All versions of the French two-seater are characterized by their low weight and this translates into good performance and better driving sensations.

But everything can be improved and this is what Alpine has done with the new  Alpine A110 R , a more radical variant of the  French berlinetta  which has become the fastest and most exclusive version of the range, but also the lightest thanks to his 1,082 kg.

The recipe that convinces purists

Finding a lightweight current car is virtually impossible and sports cars are no exception. We live in the age of  overweight cars , although that does not mean they are slow cars, as demonstrated by the  BMW M3 Competition  (1,805 kg) or the new  Mercedes-AMG C 63 S E-Performance  ( 2,111 kg). The problem comes when we talk about sensations.

Normally, lighter cars don't need as much power to  deliver thrills  that heavier cars can't even dream of, no matter how powerful their muscles.

The Lotuses are the best example of this,  at least until now  , but we can also talk about the old  GTI compacts  which offered a   spectacular power-to-weight ratio .

Over time the cars gained weight and lost that magic they imparted to the wheel, despite trying to compensate with heart attack performance. But  the physics do not change,  and the sensations transmitted by a lightweight sports car remain unmatched and often exceed pure performance.

That's why the Alpine A110  has earned a place among  the purists . Its design inspired by the Alpine A110 helps, but what catches this car are the sensations it provides behind the wheel.

The basic model (Alpine A110) has only 252 hp and  the most powerful  (Alpine A110 S) 300 hp, but, in both cases, the 1.8 TCe turbocharged four-cylinder engine is more than enough because both versions stop the balance just  over 1100 kg .

That's why it doesn't need more power, it doesn't matter that its interior does not offer the same level of quality as a Porsche 718 and that it is equipped with technologies used by generation Renaults. previous, such as air conditioning. It is a car designed for  driving pleasure  and fulfills its purpose wonderfully.

Alpine decided to improve on this recipe with the  Alpine A110  R.  Contrary to what many manufacturers would do, it did not choose to increase the power of the four-cylinder block, but instead opted for the reduction of the weight of all.

Thanks to the regime to which it has been subjected, the Alpine A110 R is 34 kg lighter than the A110 S,  so it weighs only 1,082 kg  and its weight/power ratio increases to 3.6 kg/HP. Its direct rival, the  Porsche 718 Cayman T , equipped with a 2.0 turbo four-cylinder boxer engine and identical power (300 hp), weighs 1,425 hp.

To realize the weight savings, Alpine  used more carbon fiber than  normal, both outside and inside. The soft top is entirely made of this material, as are the wheels, the rear window and the structure of the seats, which are of the bucket type and are signed Sabelt.

In addition to being lighter, the Alpine A110 R has a specific adjustment geared towards track use. The suspension is 10mm lower than the stock A110 S, but  adjustable shocks  allow it to be lowered a further 10mm. It also features stiffer stabilizer bars (10% more front and 25% rear) and firmer springs.

And Alpine hasn't forgotten the brakes either. The French firm turned to specialist  Brembo  to fit the A110 R with 320mm diameter discs on both axles, while Alpine's design team fashioned a system that better channels air and optimizes brake cooling.

Another thing that changes is the exhaust to  improve the sound  . Additionally, the A110 R removes some of the sound deadening material and replaces the glass partition that separates the engine compartment with an aluminum partition that lets more noise into the interior.

All these improvements are accompanied by an  aerodynamic kit  for the exterior which includes a new diffuser, a specific spoiler, carbon side skirts and the wheels, which also contribute to improving aerodynamics. Inside, it features a more radical look thanks to carbon fiber, R anagrams, fabric door handles and exclusive upholstery colors.

If we talk about numbers, the modifications made to the Alpine A110 R allow it to accelerate from  0 to 100 km/h in 3.9 seconds  and reach a maximum speed of 285 km/h. The 300 hp Alpine A110 S reaches 100 km/h from a standstill in 4.2 seconds and climbs to 260 km/h.

In terms of feel and performance, the gain should be more noticeable. But what is the price of having an even more purist Alpine A110? Well, this version is now available from  103,000 euros .

The basic Alpine A110 is on sale from 63,200 euros and the Alpine A110 S starts at 75,800 euros. That means the Alpine A110 R costs €39,800 more than the 252hp A110 and €27,200 more than the 300hp A110 S. The weight saving of 34 kg compared to the version of the same power costs 8.00  euros per kilo.

If we compare it with the  Porsche 718 Cayman , the 300 hp T version starts at 79,373 euros and the 718 Cayman GTS is available from 99,804 euros with a 400 hp naturally aspirated six-cylinder engine.

Next up is the  718 Cayman GT4 , which could  be drastically compared  to the Alpine A110 R, but is more powerful and has a starting price of 119,537 euros.