by Alpine Tests New Generation A110 to US Safety Standards
American car enthusiasts have for years been envious of Europeans who can buy the lightweight Alpine A110 sports coupe, known for its precise handling. Now there is a small hint that this forbidden fruit may finally become available across the ocean.
Alpine’s CEO announced this week that the next generation A110 is undergoing crash tests to US standards. This is a rather unusual step for a car not technically planned for sale in America. Manufacturers usually conduct such tests only when they are at least considering the possibility of supplying the car to the US market. Otherwise, it’s just an expensive way to smash perfectly good prototypes into walls and poles.
Potential of the American Market
For Alpine, the potential benefit could be enormous. Despite a shrinking demand for sports cars, CEO Philippe Krief stated that the global market for models like the A110 is about 350,000 units per year, and roughly half of those sales occur in the United States. Thus, ignoring America means ignoring the largest sports car market in the world.
We are currently focused on Europe because the business is built for Europe, but naturally, growth could be in the US. I would not want to miss this opportunity in the US.
He also noted that selling and distributing cars in America would require some planning even after overcoming regulatory hurdles.
New Plans and Architecture
Initially, Alpine planned to enter the US market with a pair of electric crossovers around 2028. However, these plans are currently frozen due to cooling demand for electric vehicles and complications in global trade from tariffs. Instead, the company may consider starting with the car enthusiasts actually want—the A110.
This concerns the next generation A110, which is expected to hit the roads in 2027. The future model will be built on the new Alpine Performance Platform (APP), the first details and images of which were released this week. It was initially developed exclusively for electric propulsion, but, observing the decline in the electric sports car market, Alpine subsequently found a way to also install internal combustion engines on it.
Krief did not confirm the sale of a gasoline version, but the platform’s flexibility makes such a scenario increasingly likely. The company understands that while electric sports cars sound exciting in theory, the real market for them remains quite small.
Model Family and Competition with Porsche
The APP architecture will underpin several cars, not just the new A110 coupe. Of course, there will be it, as well as a convertible spider, and a larger 2+2 sports coupe created to compete with the Porsche 911. The latter could be particularly interesting for the USA, where the 911 sells in large volumes, and a higher price would mean greater profitability compared to the A110.
Alpine’s decision to test the car to American safety standards is a significant signal to the market. It demonstrates the seriousness of the brand’s intentions, for which entering the US market has always been a difficult but desired goal. Shifting priorities—from electric crossovers to a sports coupe that already has cult status in Europe—could prove to be a strategically smart move. It would allow winning the loyalty of enthusiasts from day one, which is critically important in the premium segment. The success of a model aimed against the Porsche 911 will depend not only on technical characteristics but also on Alpine’s ability to build a strong dealer network and create an attractive service proposition for the demanding American client.
