It’s another special edition A110, but this time Alpine says that the R Ultime is not only the last petrol-powered variant, but also the fastest, and you guessed it, most expensive!
For those that don’t know much about the Alpine A110, that asking price in the title seems astronomical. After all, the new A110 R Ultime is still powered by the same 1.8-litre turbocharged four-pot you found in the Renault Megane RS. In fact, I can’t sit here and convince you that the asking price is fair either, but that’s not my job, and I’m sure that all 110 examples (rather fitting) will find homes almost immediately. So what is the Alpine A110 R Ultime? Is it any different to a regular Alpine A110 or the other A110 iterations? Let’s find out.
What is the Alpine A110 R Ultime all about?
Put simply, this here is the last petrol-powered Alpine A110. After this, Alpine will switch the powertrain to electric; boo! The A110 in standard form is one of the best sports cars on sale today. At its more regular price of around £60k, it’s a proper sports car that goes about its business in the best way possible, letting the drive do the talking. On paper its hardly a showstopper, but read about its near-perfect weight distribution, its front-end grip levels and its energetic nature and you can start to piece together why so many love it. In fact, I drove one four or so years ago now and was blown away with how well it performed as a road car, you can read my A110 review here. Admittedly, I’ve not driven the other iterations since then, but with the building blocks so strong, I can only imagine each version gets better and better.
So what’s so different about the Ultime? For starters, it’s got more power than ever. This was made possible thanks to a new turbocharger, the use of high-octane fuel and an Akrapvoic exhaust as standard. Power now sits at 350bhp and 310lb ft of torque, which is some 50hp (and 59lb ft) more than any other A110. In previous models, this increase torque level wasn’t possible due to the limitations of the dual-clutch transmission used. In the Ultime, however, Alpine uses a new DW6 gearbox, which is capable of withstanding more torque.
There’s more than just a power hike though, surely?
The biggest changes come in the chassis department. The A110 comes equipped with adjustable dampers from one of the best suspension brands out there, Ohlins. Michelin Cup 2 tyres surround forged wheels as opposed to the carbon items found on the A110 R Le Mans. Behind those are AP racing brake discs with more track-focused pads and unique ducting. On the exterior you’ll note the racier look, with aerodynamic rear ducts and canards. That, combined with the wing and other components equate to an extra 160kg of downforce compared to other R editions.
Personalisation is the order of the day, with Alpine suggesting there are upwards of 50 different paint and interior combinations possible depending on the trim level you opt for! That sounds expensive.
Alpine A110 R Ultime Price
Now comes the kicker. All this starts at £222,000. And no matter which way you look at it, that’s a whole lot of cash. And remember, given the number of options available, that number could jump drastically. The images you see here are of the 1 of 15 Le Bleu edition, which costs around £275,000. But as I mentioned at the beginning, whether or not I think the price is justified is irrelevant. For those that can afford to pay that much, this may seem like an ideal investment opportunity, or they’re simply appreciating what will no doubt be a fantastic driver’s car.
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