Currently reading: Latest 2017 Alpine A120 preview reveals body construction

Renault's revived Alpine sports car will use aluminium for its body panels and chassis; it'll rival the Porsche Cayman on launch

The Alpine A120 sports car will be made largely from aluminium, parent company Renault has confirmed. 

Latest images from the Dieppe plant in which the car will be built show various unfinished parts of the upcoming mid-engined coupé. Alpine boss Michael Van Der Sande has confirmed that aluminium would be used to save weight and, the manufacturer claims, produce a high-quality finish.

The Alpine A110 has been revealed at the Geneva motor show

Read the rest of the cars heading to the Geneva motor show here

The A120 will first be seen at the Geneva motor show in March, but we've already seen much of the car through spy shots, a video leak and the initial concept, to which the production car appears to remain true. 

Initially, 1955 examples of a Premier Edition-badged A120 will be made in order to celebrate the car's launch. They will be available in 12 countries before right-hand-drive markets are offered the car some months later. A £1700 deposit secures one of these early cars, which can be specified via a bespoke Alpine app. Three colours are available; black, white and blue.

Powering the coupé will be a mid-mounted 1.8-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine, derived from the 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol unit of the Renault Clio RS. An output of 250-300bhp is expected, equating to a confirmed 0-62mph time of 4.5sec. 

The site says the car will be priced between €55,000 and €60,000 (between £46,750 and £51,000), making the A120 a direct rival to the Porsche 718 Cayman. A Porsche Porsche Macan-rivalling SUV is also coming from Alpine, but not before a convertible variant of the A120 appears.

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MrsChippy 17 January 2017

A promising start

There are two sides to quality; perceived and genuine and Renault have taken the right path to addressing both by choosing aluminium construction. I wondered why the projected price seemed so high but now it becomes clearer. Alas, if only Lotus and the renascent TVR had the financial resources to pursue the same course.
Ravon 17 January 2017

Possibly ?

It's a debate I'd love to view, is a very tall rear axle engined arrangement better or worse than a low mounted rear engine ? If Motorsport prowess is anything to go by the rear engine is streets ahead !
Ravon 17 January 2017

Another rear axle engined car ?

Judging by the proportions shown in the body shell photograph the Alpine is going to be another 'rear axle engined car', which for some reason journalists unquestioningly ( and comically ) refer to as mid engined . This is just a cheap solution to the problem, moving a mass market front wheel drive power train to the rear axle . So still only Boxter/Cayman are proper mid engined cars in this sector of the market .
Little Min 17 January 2017

Still, better than a 911,

Still, better than a 911, with a "hanging out the back" layout, eh?