Alpine A110 R 2024 Review | Goodwood Test

The Alpine A110 first arrived in the UK back in 2018, and as time goes by my appreciation of its quality only grows as the years go by and still nothing comes close to matching its astounding poise on the road. Even the masterminds behind the car itself have struggled to improve upon the prowess of the original. We’ve had the A110 S and the GT, and both have proven a compromise too far when it comes to playing with what I’m coming to think is the perfect sportscar formula.

We are, however, on the verge of the arrival of the next generation of Alpine sportscars, one that will include a new electric replacement for the A110. But before that happens, the team in Dieppe has taken one last crack at delivering something better than the original. It’s the Alpine A110 R, and it represents the greatest departure from the formula to date – a striking and ‘radical’ reimagining that transforms the ultimate lightweight sportscar into a track-focused racing car for the road.

It's an evolution that has been achieved within the defined confines of Alpine’s mantra, however. Instead of packing the A110 with gargantuan amounts of power, the adjustments are altogether more subtle, instead centring on what made the original so good in the first place: purity and lightness.

And it all starts with what you can see on the outside. The A110 R is the lightest of all the Alpines to date, weighing in at just 1,082kg, a drop of around 20kg-25kg compared to the lightest versions of the A110, S and GT.

Much of that reduction has been achieved with some liberal use of carbon fibre, which makes up the bonnet, roof, engine cover, rear wing, skirts, diffuser and even the wheels. The carbon bonnet has been sculpted for improved airflow, and the rear window is now completely gone to make way for that carbon rear section.

All of the new additions are functional, the side skirts, along with that substantial rear diffuser and the sleek, if slightly aftermarket looking, rear wing work to develop more aerodynamic grip. At top speed, the A110 R produces 29kg more rear downforce than an S fitted with the aero kit, while also delivering a five per cent reduction in drag.

In many ways, Alpine shot itself in the foot when it developed the A110. A lightweight sportscar with a single-minded intention to deliver the ultimate driving experience with simplicity and engineering precision. And with every version that has come along since, every variation the designers have introduced to the recipe, the compromise has taken away from the original’s arguable perfection. You can imagine my reservations when the R was promised to be the greatest deviation yet.

An open mind is required here, though. In the case of the S and the GT, these were simply alternative routes to the same end, a sportscar trying to conquer the road. With the R, Alpine has been very clear that the goal is altogether different. This is a racing car that can also be used on the road.

So is the R the best version of Alpine A110 to take on track? Absolutely. It’s lighter and more direct than any of the versions that have come before. The feel of driving it as you’re strapped tightly into your seat is akin to that of a racing car. The chassis has seen some upgrades, with stiffer anti-roll bars (10 per cent front and 25 per cent rear), and there’s a level of adjustability that allows you to play with the behaviour of the car. You can stiffen and soften the dampers, and lower the ride height by 20mm in track mode. These are all adjustments that you can feel in the car, which makes them all brilliantly justified when the corners just keep on coming.

When you do arrive at a corner, the confidence and balance that you’ve always had and felt in the A110 is present and correct, albeit with an overabundant feeling of control. It’s almost a touch too conservative, a little overbearing in forcing you to drive a certain way. Within a couple of laps, you find yourself giving way to the car instead of impressing your own will. And that’s fine because it’s a very good car, but if you’re someone who likes to experiment with grip and tease the limits, this isn’t the A110 for the job.

Then, when you’re ready to power away from the apex, there comes a hint of disappointment as the power never quite arrives as you’d hope it might. The engine is the same as it’s found in the A110 S and GT, a turbocharged 1.8-litre four-cylinder producing 300PS (221kW) and 340Nm (251 lb-ft) of torque. There has been an increase in performance, the A110 R manages 0-62mph in 3.9 seconds, which is 0.3 seconds quicker than both the S and the R, but that is entirely down to its lightness. Is it a little underwhelming? Yes, but it’s by no means slow. It’ll still pull, and keep pulling with a sound that is far more impressive than that tiny little engine has any right to produce.

But what about when you’re just out on the road? I’ve long maintained that the added stiffness of the Alpine A110 S went some way to ruining the balance of the standard car, so surely this even more extreme A110 R will be even worse? Somewhat surprisingly, that isn’t the case. While yes, in my eyes, this car is still not as good as the original on normal roads, it does still perform quite brilliantly.

The adjustability means you can soften everything fairly comprehensively and actually, the feel on the road is one of compliance and predictability. If you can find a reasonably smooth stretch of asphalt it’s neither rattly nor particularly harsh, and in a less open environment, the power from the engine suddenly feels far more substantial. The noise of that new exhaust system is more entertaining, too, though the relentless pops and bangs can feel a touch unnecessary.

If further clues were necessary as to the intentions of the A110 R, you need only look at the carbon race seats fitted with race harnesses. For day-to-day use, the belts particularly are a novelty that quickly lose their charm, but there is no denying the benefits to support and safety they bring if you are out on the track. The seats on the other hand are comfortable in all scenarios. The positioning of the padding had been well thought out, there are no snags in the seating position whatsoever.

The lack of a rear window is an obvious change from the standard A110, and that also means the rear-view mirror has been done away with, saving a few more valuable grams. The rest of the cabin layout is largely the same, although the steering wheel, dashboard, centre console and door linings are all swathed in Alcantara, and the instrument cover is made from carbon fibre. You also get some bright red, racing car-esque door pulls.

Perhaps one clue that Alpine has not gone as far as it could have with the notion of turning the A110 into an out-an-out track weapon, is the retention of some of the more comfort-orientated features. Still present are the sound system and infotainment screen, which are carried over from the standard car. The infotainment is still best suited to smartphone mirroring.

You still get electrically adjustable and heated wing mirrors, the standard automatic LED headlights, automatic wipers, climate control, cruise control and a pair of USB ports. The frunk remains underneath the carbon bonnet to provide 100 litres of storage space supplemented by the 96-litre rear boot tucked in behind the engine.

At the more sporting end of the spectrum, there’s a new 3D-printed R exhaust system and the same Brembo brakes found on both the S and GT variants.

When you consider the Alpine A110 R is priced at just barely less than £100,000, you have you think very carefully about what you’re getting here. Is it worth what is alarmingly close to twice that of the standard car? It is lashed with carbon fibre and it does offer a more exclusive feel with those race harnesses and carbon seats. It’s faster, lighter, more complex and better on the track, all the while not proving to be too much of a compromise on the road.

It does look fantastic, too. The aero tweaks give it a tinge of motorsport bravado and make it feel like a special event. The standard A110, while beautiful, is so in a wonderfully understated way. If you’ve always wanted your sportscar to have a little more lambency, the R might be more to your tastes.

As someone who has revered the A110 since my very first moments behind the wheel, however, the R, after all these years, is still not the car to make me change my mind. I would still have the standard car because it is still the most well-rounded, and alarmingly affordable sportscar on the market.