Alpine (1955 to Present)

Founded in 1955 by Jean Rédélé, Alpine (Société des Automobiles Alpine SAS) established itself as a pioneer of lightweight, rear-engine French sports cars, utilizing a signature central tubular backbone chassis and Renault-sourced mechanicals. Throughout its historic run, the brand produced legendary models such as the rally-winning A110 "Berlinette," the wedge-styled A310, and the turbocharged GTA and A610 grand tourers, before Renault—which acquired the company in 1973—discontinued the nameplate in 1995. The brand’s 2017 revival centered on the new A110, a mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive masterpiece powered by a 1.8L turbocharged inline-four producing up to 221kW (300hp) in "S" trim, paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. In Australia, the Alpine brand occupies a highly specialized niche; while the new A110 was briefly withdrawn from local sale in 2021 due to side-impact regulation changes, it remains a "cult classic" with a buyer pool of dedicated driving purists who value its sub-1100kg kerb weight over raw power. Market desirability is currently at an all-time high for both the vintage 1960s units and the modern A110, with modern 2018–2021 Australian-delivered models commanding between $95,000 and $125,000 AUD on the secondary market. As of 2026, Alpine has transitioned into an all-electric performance brand, with the A290 hot hatch and the upcoming electric A310 successor set to lead its global expansion.

Founded in 1955 by Jean Rédélé, Alpine (Société des Automobiles Alpine SAS) established itself as a pioneer of lightweight, rear-engine French sports cars, utilizing a signature central tubular backbone chassis and Renault-sourced mechanicals. Throughout its historic run, the brand produced legendary models such as the rally-winning A110 "Berlinette," the wedge-styled A310, and the turbocharged GTA and A610 grand tourers, before Renault—which acquired the company in 1973—discontinued the namepla… Read more