Can the French build a true super car?
By John LeBlanc for MSN Autos Canada
We’ll be getting more, official details later on today, but earlier this week, images of a new super car from France’s Renault were splashed all over the Interweb. Called the Alpine A110-50, seen above, the mid-engine super car is a 50th-anniversary hommage to the original A110 that first appeared in 1961.
You may not know about the cult-ish Alpine, seen left. Dubbed the Berlinette, it was made by the small French outfit until 1977, using a plethora of Renault-sourced mills and parts. The A110 gained glory on the rally circuit, with its biggest moment winning the 1971 Monte Carlo rally.
Like many super cars, the new A110-50 is a bit of a hodge-podge of ideas and parts. Despite the extra spoilers and air ducts, keen observers will notice the new Alpine’s design is based off the Renault Dezir, seen right, a concept car from the 2010 Paris auto show. And while the Dezir was powered by electricity alone, the A110-50 is motivated by a 400 hp gas vee-six.
We have no idea at this point if Renault plans on selling the A110-50 to the public. But if it did, I’d have to say it’s a bit of a risk. While a super car from Italy’s Ferrari, Maserati, or Lamborghini is easier to swallow, super car buyers may have to choke down the idea of a Gaulic sportster. The French, well, let’s just say, haven’t exactly had much success with in the segment.
Sure. There was France’s Venturi. Between 1984 and 2000 it tried to flog its Atlantique mid-engine super car, but with little success. And, er, that’s about it. (Please, don’t include Bugatti here. The Volkswagen Group-owned brand is about as French as bratwurst and lederhosen.)
The other problem with any French super car is the lack of an appropriately "super" powerplant. The French automakers don’t do big sedans that house the eight- and twelve-cylinder engines required for true super car status.
But what do you think? Can the new Alpine A110-50 finally break the French super car inferiority complex? Or will it remain a French-only curiosity?
Source: Motorsport-magazine.fr
Justin Couture
Mark Atkinson
John LeBlanc
Posted by: wikimaster | 2012-05-25 10:40:55 AM
Wikipedia is a fantastic website, full of useful information.
So are the other car blogs that re-hashed this "news" two days ago.
A quick glance at the history books or, well, any book would fill your mind with French supercars, be it the Maserati-engined Ligier JS2 that swept the Tour de France for a few years, the Hommell Berlinette, any old Gordini, later Renault-Alpine turbos, Matra sports racers…even Panhard snuck a few fast cars in back in the day.
The real reasons France hasn't built a "super car" as you define it are the snakey roads and tax brackets. That's why they've built some of the most successful rally racers, factory specials (Renault Clio V6 and RenaultSport Spyder), and hot hatchbacks.
I define "super car" by race wins, something the French are quite good at getting. Even before they beat Audi at Le Mans, French manufacturers have had a long and successful history at going very, very fast.
So what if most fast French cars haven't had massive engines? Massive engines aren't everything, something Gabriel Voisin taught the world way back in 1923 with the Laboratoire. And I doubt you'd want to bet against a six-cylinder Nissan GT-R in a race against the current crop of today's supercars.
Speaking of which, you'd better tell McLaren the MP4-12C only has six cylinders…they've been advertising eight.
Over and out!
PS, there's a really cool website called "YouTube" (you can 'Bing' it) where you should search using the keywords "Matra V12"
PPS, it must be difficult to compile information not found in a press release. That's what makes an expert.
Posted by: BOBERT JONES | 2012-05-26 10:40:39 AM
Uggh.. Bugatti Veyron ring a bell?
Posted by: JD | 2012-06-02 5:36:58 PM
Did you happen to notice where he dismissed the Bugatti as being as French as lederhosen and bratwurst? Yeah, sorry, John LeBlanc, but if it's built in France, not sold by Volkswagen group, from a French (albeit revamped) company, named after a famous French race car driver, the company with a multi decade history, it's French.