The Alpine A110 has always held a special place in the hearts of automotive enthusiasts. Having spent considerable time with this car, from driving early prototypes to testing various iterations for numerous publications, and even owning one personally, I approached the latest update with keen interest. My history with the A110, including close relationships with key figures like former chief engineer David Twohig, meant this wasn’t just another car review; it was a personal check-in with an old friend.
Arriving at Whiteways Technical Centre in Oxfordshire, the home of the Alpine Formula 1 team, the sight of a lineup of gleaming new A110s immediately made my own car feel somewhat dated. The question arose: in this refined range, is my beloved original still the one to have?
Alpine A110 GT on display
Alpine has streamlined its A110 offerings into three distinct models: the standard A110, the more powerful and stiffly sprung A110 S, and the new A110 GT. The GT variant cleverly merges the comfortable chassis of the base model with the more potent engine previously exclusive to the S, echoing the concept of the earlier Legende GT limited edition. This revised lineup presents a more straightforward and easily understandable structure for potential buyers.
Visual differentiation between models is now clearer with distinct badging. Inside, the most significant update across the range is the inclusion of CarPlay and Android Auto as standard, a welcome replacement for the previously frustrating phone mirroring system. Subtle enhancements extend to a redesigned infotainment screen menu, now more intuitive, and refined graphics for the digital instrument display.
On paper, the Alpine A110 GT appears to be the most compelling choice. It combines the praised chassis setup, celebrated for its UK road adaptability, with an upgraded engine producing 296bhp (a slight increase from 288bhp) and an additional 15lb ft of torque over the base engine. My test drive began with the GT, the logical contender to potentially outshine my own A110 and establish itself as the new benchmark within the range.
Positioned as the grand tourer of the Alpine family, the GT features six-way adjustable comfort seats, a departure from the fixed-back Sabelt bucket seats found in the S model. While the Sabelts offer a more snug, sporty feel, the GT’s seats prioritize broader appeal and practicality, accommodating a wider range of body types. Personally, I still lean towards the more supportive embrace of the Sabelts.
Alpine A110 GT interior showcasing comfort seats
Driving the GT, the familiar Alpine character is immediately apparent. It retains that signature fluidity and compliance on the road, confidently leaning into corners and exhibiting the characteristic body movements over varying road surfaces. While the standard 249bhp engine in the base A110 can feel somewhat limited at higher revs, the GT’s more powerful iteration maintains strong pull all the way to the redline. However, the increase in power, though noticeable on paper, doesn’t translate to a dramatically different experience compared to my own car in real-world driving. Only a direct back-to-back comparison truly reveals the 47bhp advantage.
A subtle yet noticeable change in the GT is a newfound tension in the ride quality during normal driving. On a straight section of road, a slight bouncing and fidgeting through the steering wheel becomes apparent, a constant patter absent in previous models. While the GT retains the agile and fleet-footed Alpine spirit when driven with enthusiasm, this added firmness in everyday driving is a deviation from the expected plushness. Despite its merits, the GT didn’t convince me to trade in my current A110.
Next, I sampled the Alpine A110 S, finished in a striking Fire Orange and equipped with a carbon fiber front splitter, prominent rear wing, and track-focused Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires. In this guise, the A110 projects a more aggressive and muscular image than ever before.
However, the A110 S is not about brute force. It embodies a different kind of performance, akin to a sprinter rather than a weightlifter. It darts between corners with incredible agility, devouring winding B-roads with astonishing pace. Sharing the same 296bhp engine as the GT, the S distinguishes itself with a significantly firmer suspension setup – featuring anti-roll bars twice as stiff, springs 50 percent firmer, and a slightly lowered ride height. This results in sharper responses and an enhanced sense of immediacy.
Alpine A110 S in Fire Orange showcasing its sporty exterior
The A110 S is incredibly nimble, reacting to inputs with lightning quickness. The phenomenal grip provided by the Cup 2 tires is a major contributor to this agility. They bite tenaciously into warm, dry tarmac, and the double wishbone suspension at all four corners ensures optimal tire contact, maximizing grip. The inherent lightness and compact dimensions of the A110 further amplify this feeling of agility, making narrow roads feel expansive.
Despite the seemingly modest power output, the A110 S delivers cross-country pace comparable to much more powerful machinery on public roads. While the engine specifications and sports exhaust are shared with the GT, the S model exhibits a distinctly more vocal character. Lifting off the throttle unleashes a barrage of crackles and pops from the exhaust, a clear indication of a different sonic personality.
Is the A110 S too stiff for everyday road use? Not excessively, but the ride is undeniably firm, especially at lower speeds. On imperfect road surfaces, occupants experience noticeable jiggling, which can become tiring during daily driving. However, the suspension firmness is well-judged, preventing the car from being unsettled or deflected by road imperfections. Ultimately, this firmer setup deviates from my personal preference for Alpine’s characteristic ride comfort.
While the A110 S excels as a track-focused machine, it wouldn’t be my choice over a standard A110 for road use. For track days, however, the A110 S would be an exceptional tool. Its exhaust note is unlikely to breach track noise limits, unlike some Porsche GT models, and it promises to be significantly more economical on fuel, tires, and brakes compared to heavier track specials from Stuttgart or Maranello. On track, the A110 S would shine with its precision, stability, balance, and seemingly limitless cornering grip, offering immense driving enjoyment.
The Alpine A110 has garnered a reputation for its refined and fluid driving dynamics, a characteristic primarily associated with the standard chassis models. While all A110s share fundamental similarities with single-seater and prototype racing cars – lightweight construction, inherent balance, double wishbone suspension, and a paddleshift gearbox – the S model represents a deliberate step towards enhanced track performance.
This inherent potential within the A110 chassis has also attracted independent tuners, who have begun to explore its performance limits. The A110 S, particularly when equipped with track-focused options, represents Alpine’s own exploration of this latent capability. Even though the S doesn’t align with my personal preference for an Alpine, its existence hints at the even more serious performance machine that could be unlocked from this platform.
Finally, I drove the base Alpine A110, anticipating a return to familiar territory. This test car mirrored my own, even omitting the optional sports exhaust. Yet, despite the apparent similarities on paper, this base model felt demonstrably superior to my own car. The ride quality was remarkably supple, as if the tires were filled with sponge, and the dampers operated with enhanced fluidity. It effortlessly glided over road imperfections, maintaining composure and serenity even on the roughest surfaces.
Alpine A110 base model showcasing its classic design
This test drive showcased the renowned Alpine fluency in its most vivid form. The car traversed uneven terrain with an almost ethereal smoothness, absorbing bumps and imperfections with remarkable ease. While not necessarily softer than my own car, the ride was both smoother and quieter, dismissing road disturbances as minor inconveniences. It’s evident that the A110 has continued to evolve, benefiting from ongoing chassis refinement and feeling better than ever.
The subtle differences in ride between the base A110 and the supposedly similarly chassis-equipped GT are intriguing. While spring and anti-roll bar rates are likely shared, damper tuning appears to be model-specific. Similarly, the more vocal exhaust note of the A110 S compared to the GT, despite sharing engine calibration, suggests nuanced tuning variations to impart distinct character to each model. While the range is presented with two engine options and two chassis configurations, the reality is that each variant delivers a unique driving experience.
This revised range structure, in retrospect, feels like the intended configuration from the outset. The A110 GT, positioned as a middle ground, ironically feels somewhat less defined in its identity. If the goal is grand touring, is an Alpine the natural choice? The A110 S serves a specific purpose, but its heightened focus on performance can feel somewhat demanding for everyday road driving. For me, an Alpine should excel at providing rewarding driving experiences even at moderate speeds. Therefore, the base A110 emerges as the clear winner, offering the most captivating and enjoyable driving experience within the updated range.
The entry-level A110 is not only spellbinding to drive – better than ever, in fact – but also remains unique within the sports car segment. Its £10,000 price advantage over the other models further reinforces the notion that, in the world of Alpine, less truly is more. And yes, it is demonstrably better than before.
