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Despite rumours of delay and cancellation, Renault’s plan to launch its first bespoke sports car since the RenaultSport Spider - and to revive the Alpine brand - remains intact.
Company insiders have told Autocar that the new Alpine model will arrive in 2011. Renault product development boss Patrick Pelata said that, contrary to previous information, the car will be affordable, lightweight and rear-wheel driven.
“Since the company’s conception in the 1950s, Alpine cars have been defined by...Read the full article

Sounds cool- so long as they don't mess up the styling (they are a bit hit and miss at the moment!)

Looks great from the sketch, and with hot Renaults at the moment getting better and better this should be a cracker. A sticker price close to £20k surely would mean an order book as long as your arm.

Rear driven but not rear engined.

 For many years Alpine specialised in light weight rear engined cars that out handled the comtemporary Porsche 911s and used tuned all aluminium Renault engines. They forced Porsche to develop a series of specials and bigger engines after winning the World Rally Chamionship a number of times at the begining of the 1970s.

 And they provided the mechanical basis for many Lotus models as well.

 Today such an uncompromising approach may not be possible but can they not find a bit more of that flair again?