Alpine A110 Revisited

Every year the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders holds a drive day event at Millbrook Proving Ground in Bedfordshire. It is one of the highlights of the year. Not only is it a chance to catch up with industry friends and colleagues, but there is also the opportunity to sample a selection of each manufacturer’s cars.

Most of the driving takes place on the Alpine Route, a 4-mile section of road designed to put cars through their paces. Tight twists and turns and ever steeper gradients are the order of the day. It can be a tad intimidating for the uninitiated.

As usual I made a list of cars that I wanted to drive and what better way to start than the aptly named Alpine A110. This was no ordinary model, being the Enstone Edition, limited to just 300 cars.

Powered by the A110 S’s 300bhp engine, the Enstone Edition accelerates from 0-62mph in just 4.2 seconds and has a top speed of 155mph. There’s a choice between Thunder Grey or Mercury Silver matt paint, with the option to add a Union Jack design to the contrast matt black roof.

The Enstone Edition features carbon fibre trim crafted on the same Enstone line as Alpine’s Formula One carbon components. Inside, the carbon is complemented by stitched black microfibre material. Each car also comes with a unique numbered plate and certificate of authenticity signed by the BWT Alpine F1 Team.

The four-cylinder turbocharged powerplant endows the Alpine with scintillating performance. The 0-62mph sprint time gives a fair indication of what is available at a twitch of the right foot. The power is channelled through a seven-speed DCT self-shifting gearbox, with steering mounted paddles for ultimate control. There is sadly no manual option.

My all to brief time behind the wheel reminded me what an exciting car the Alpine is. A combination of compact dimensions, power, light weight and a superb chassis all add up to handling nirvana. The A110 corners flat and with precise steering, it can be placed with millimetre precision on the road.

The ride is firm, as to be expected, but never harsh, at least from behind the wheel. I was later to discover, it feels somewhat harsher from the passenger seat. But who cares as this is a car to take out for a weekend blast to forget all your cares and worries.

The A110 Enstone Edition will set you back £74,230 before options. It is well equipped but lacks a certain polish in some directions. Premium pricing means premium opposition and the most obvious rivals are the Porsche Cayman and Audi TT RS. Both offer a level of solidity and build quality the A110 cannot match and for many the argument will end there.

However, the Alpine feels lighter on its feet than both and offers an air of exclusivity that the German rivals cannot hope to match. I’d argue the French car is more fun too, but feel free to disagree.

Fast Facts
Alpine A110 Enstone Edition
Price £74,230
300bhp 1.8-litre turbocharged engine
0-62mph in 4.2 seconds
Top speed 155mph (limited)
Combined economy 40.3 - 41.5mpg
Kerb weight 1,086kg