Cars are often compared with sculptures, but Alpine’s latest concept takes that description literally. The French sports car maker has created a full-size sculpture previewing the design of the next A110, which will serve as the centerpiece of its stand at this October’s Paris Motor Show. The exhibit reveals the shape of the 2028 A110 while deliberately keeping much of the finished car hidden. Its tightly drawn surface resembles a silk sheet pulled over the body and vacuumed into place, showing the aluminum skin’s main contours while preserving some of the coupe’s secrets.
Alpine has not abandoned the elements that made the outgoing A110, itself strongly influenced by the original 1960s model, so appealing. The V-shaped front end and twin-headlamp arrangement remain, while the sculpture suggests a car that is slimmer and perhaps lower and longer. Even so, it should remain instantly recognizable as an A110.
A Familiar Design Meets a Revolutionary Powertrain
That may be harder to identify if you cannot see it go by, since the A110 is becoming electric. At the Goodwood Festival of Speed in July, Alpine demonstrated the new technology in a stretched version of the current car called the A110 Future. Its hardware includes a dual-motor rear axle with active torque vectoring and sophisticated wheel-slip control. The current A110 is celebrated for its agility, but the EV is being developed to deliver even greater mobility.
The battery layout will also be unconventional. Rather than using one large pack beneath the floor of the APP platform, the new A110 will carry two smaller batteries positioned at opposite ends of the chassis. This arrangement allows for a low floor, low seating position and low roof, while helping Alpine target a 40:60 front-to-rear weight distribution. An 800-volt electrical system will support fast charging, but Alpine has not yet disclosed charging times, range or vehicle weight. The latter is expected to increase by 660 lbs (300 kg).
Electric Power First, With a Possible Combustion Option
Alpine has also kept its plans for combustion power under wraps. The A110 was initially conceived as an EV at a time when electric cars appeared likely to quickly become the clear majority over gasoline models. However, while EVs continue gaining ground in Europe and now represent one in four new-car sales, enthusiast customers have shown a preference for petrol engines. Alpine appears to be taking that feedback seriously.
“Before you ask, yes the platform is designed to accommodate an internal combustion engine,” Alpine CEO Philippe Krief told British magazine Autocar in March. Four months later at Goodwood, he said Alpine would decide by the end of 2026 whether to build a petrol-powered version. If approved, such a model could take approximately two years to enter production.
A Potential Route to the United States
Krief has not said which combustion engine could be used in the A110, but one likely source is Horse Powertrain. The company, established by Alpine parent Renault and China’s Geely, has developed several hybrid engines, including one producing 349 hp (354 PS) and 380 lb-ft (515 Nm).
A combustion-powered variant would be important if Alpine decides to bring the A110 to the US, where the current model has never been sold and EV demand remains very weak. Alpine had previously included American expansion in its growth plans, but those plans were paused in 2025, partly because of tariffs introduced by President Trump. Krief nevertheless revealed this summer that the A110 was undergoing US crash testing.
Alpine’s next A110 will retain the recognizable character of the current car while adopting a longer, leaner design and an electric powertrain. Its dual-motor setup, twin-battery layout and 800-volt system promise strong agility and rapid charging, although weight, range and charging figures remain undisclosed. Alpine is also considering combustion power, a move that could support a future US launch.
The Toyota RAV4 remains a popular compact SUV, but its value and capabilities face strong competition from five hybrid alternatives.
Volkswagen has owned Bentley since 1998, but the luxury marque remains closely tied to its historic Crewe factory, where its current models are assembled in England despite their extensive German engineering and component links.
Tesla’s latest Roadster remains unconfirmed for production, but its dramatic debut included airborne stunts that few cars could match.
A fire at Frank Kent Cadillac in Fort Worth, Texas, destroyed six electric SUVs believed to be Cadillac Escalade IQs and took nearly 18 hours to bring under control.
A Ferrari F50 with just 106 miles on its odometer is expected to surpass $20 million at auction on October 31, potentially setting a new record for the model and highlighting its rapid rise in collector value.