This year marks the 70th anniversary of the foundation of Alpine, a brand that has evolved to become the high-performance arm of the Renault Group, one that will soon be all-electric. Coinciding with this occasion, Alpine is launching onto the Irish market, under the stewardship of Cedar Motors - custodian of Renault, Dacia and Renault in Ireland.
Where are the Irish Alpine showrooms?
Reflecting its specialised nature, Alpine will operate on a small scale to begin with. All test drives and sales will be conducted at Windsor Motormall, off the M50 north of Dublin City. However, interested buyers will also be able to check out the cars in person at the Alpine Store in Dundrum Town Centre from July 1.
Which Alpines are on sale in Ireland?
Available for immediate delivery is the new Alpine A290. This shares a lot with the Renault 5 E-Tech electric, though has a uniquely developed chassis and higher power output, along with bespoke styling inside and out. Alpine is marketing it as an electric hot hatch.
Irish buyers will also have the option to order what is expected to be the final Alpine with an internal combustion engine, the latest development of the Alpine A110. This two-seat sports coupe uses a turbocharged, mid-mounted petrol engine and lightweight design to offer keen drivers an engaging experience.
How much do Alpines cost in Ireland?
As the A110 is going through a 'model year change', Irish pricing has yet to be confirmed, though an Alpine Ireland insider confirmed a starting price in excess of €90,000.
Full pricing details for the Alpine A290 in Ireland have been released, however, and the five-door electric hatchback starts at €36,690 including government incentives.
How powerful is the Alpine A290?
There are two different electric motors available in the A290. The entry-level A290 GT and the higher-spec A290 GT Premium (€39,690) get up to 180hp, while the A290 GT Performance (€38,990), A290 GTS (€42,500) and the soon-to-be-discontinued Premiere Edition all produce up to 220hp.
In all cases, the motor turns the front wheels only and is paired with a 52kWh battery pack. The most efficient version officially manages 380km from a charge.
Any other new Alpines in the pipeline?
Absolutely. We've already seen the stylish new Alpine A390, a three-motor fastback with performance to challenge the electric Porsche Macan, and Alpine has also confirmed that an electric replacement for the A110 is on the way, to be followed by a four-seat sports coupe of some description and at least one other sporty electric car.
We've already reviewed a selection of Alpine's models, so make sure you check out our Alpine Reviews page if you're interested.