Alpine A110 Légende

MakeAlpine
ModelA110 Légende
YearDec2021
Color Black Tulip
InteriorDark brown leather
EngineRenault 1.8 Turbo
TimingTwo overhead camshafts
Fuel systemElectronic fuel injection
Transmission 7-speed dual-clutch mechanical gearbox
Horsepower252hp
Weight1080kg
Other information There's been a lot of good talk about the new A110, and the first ones sold out very quickly on the Internet. As an Alpine enthusiast, I decided to let the madness of the early days pass, and see for myself.
Two things held me back: I particularly like white cars, and I find that white doesn't suit it at all, and I hate having a car like everyone else, a grey Porsche, a red Ferrari, a green Morgan and a blue Alpine. My friend and rally team-mate Thierry was more reactive than me on this one, and had already received his own, an S in a matte color that looks very modern and that he really likes.
The customization program had just come out, and by dint of persistence on the Internet, I was able to concoct my very own A 110 with bright gold rims as I remembered them from when I was a kid! Why not go a little further and customize interior trim and a choice of paints ... but it's clear that Alpine doesn't know what customer culture is. We're still at Renault, if not Dacia. William, the salesman in Marseille, may have tried hard and done his utmost, the manufacturer doesn't care.
All you have to do is look at the brand's website... sorry, but it shouldn't cost Renault a fortune to make a classy website... and above all one that puts the car and the customer in the spotlight. Have they ever taken a look at the competition's websites?
The car was at least delivered on time, and although I had to be careful not to overpay, the delivery was smooth-sailing, thanks to William.

I must say that I was, and still am, pleasantly surprised by the build quality of this car, with very little interior noises or gremlins and, above all, formidably well thought-out ergonomics.
I keep going from moments of great excitement as I sit behind the wheel and nostalgia for my A 310 or my other classics, which give me sensations on an entirely different level, albeit at a much slower pace.

Because the new A110's numerous qualities are also its biggest flaw: it's so perfect that you have to drive at insane speeds to begin to feel anything. So much so that I chose to drive with all driver-aids disconnected in case it wants to phone me and tell me what's happening underneath... I've resolved to wait for the end of the warranty, because at Alpine I have a good feeling that they'd only wait for that to happen, to take it to a specialist and tune it to my idea, i.e. less efficient but more playful.
Another small niggle: in a violent mistral wind blowing from the front while on the motorway at nearly 200 km/h, I suddenly found myself in the next lane... Time to let off the throttle!