Image Credit: alpinecars / Instagram.Pop-up headlights disappeared from new cars decades ago, taking one of the industry's most entertaining design features with them. Alpine appears to have found a way to capture some of that old-school theater without actually making the lights pop up.The French performance brand has released a short Instagram teaser for a mysterious new concept called the PS1. Its most noticeable feature is a pair of headlight covers that disappear downward into the body when the lights are switched on.Rather than exposing conventional lamps, the mechanism reveals a row of slim rectangular LEDs. The brief glimpse also shows a low, wide front end, pronounced fenders, and what appears to be a substantial rear wing or spoiler.Alpine isn't showing much else before the car makes its full debut at the Paris Motor Show on October 12. Even its eventual relationship to a production model hasn't been confirmed, leaving us with plenty of questions about what sits behind those unusual headlights.They're Pop-Down HeadlightsClassic pop-up headlights physically raised the lamps above the bodywork when needed. Alpine's concept effectively reverses that idea, moving the body panels downward to expose lighting elements underneath.The teaser shows four short rectangular lights alongside a longer element, while another thin light remains visible below. The arrangement also incorporates the colors of the French flag, adding an unmistakably Alpine touch to the design.There could be a practical reason for doing things this way. Traditional pop-up headlights largely disappeared as pedestrian-safety requirements and aerodynamic considerations made protruding mechanisms increasingly difficult to justify, while Alpine's interpretation keeps the moving pieces below the hood line.Alpine Calls It The PS1Image Credit: alpinecars / Instagram.The name PS1 is not related to the original PlayStation. It stands for "Projet Spécial 1," and Alpine says the concept represents its new Special Projects pillar. This part of the business is intended to produce exclusive, limited-run vehicles while showcasing the company's highest levels of design, materials, and personalization.That puts the PS1 in a different territory from Alpine's mainstream electric models such as the A290 and A390. The company also has an "Icons" category centered around the A110 sports car and its eventual successors.Alpine hasn't released technical specifications for the PS1, so its powertrain, performance, and production prospects are unknown at the time of writing.It Could Hint At A Modern A310The teaser has inevitably sparked comparisons with the original Alpine A310, produced from 1971 until 1984. Its low nose and distinctive rectangular lighting give the PS1 enough visual similarity to make that connection tempting.Alpine is developing a new electric grand tourer with a 2+2 layout, sparking speculation that the PS1 could preview that future model, though Alpine hasn't confirmed the concept shown here has anything to do with that, or if a revival of the A310 name is indeed happening.Fortunately, the mystery won't last long. The PS1 will make its public debut in Paris alongside Alpine's A110 Sculpture and customized versions of the A290 and A390, and those strange disappearing headlights have already given enthusiasts something to watch for.If you want more stories like this, follow Guessing Headlights on Yahoo so you don't miss what's coming next.