Alpine ready to tackle Pikes Peak International Hill Climb with ‘most extreme A110 ever’
Alpine has revealed its first-ever entry into the world-famous Pikes Peak International Hill Climb – a wild Alpine A110 that features huge wings and almost twice as much power as the road-going version.
Designed as the “most extreme A110 ever”, the special Alpine A110 was co-developed between the Dieppe-based car-maker and Signatech – the outfit Alpine partnered with for its LMP2 race series.
Weighing in at just 950kg, Alpine says the A110 Pikes Peak has been specially tailored to the 19.93km Colorado hill climb.
That explains its huge aerodynamics package, which includes a front splitter, double rear wing and central dorsal fin, all designed to provide extra downforce for maximum corner speed up Pikes Peak’s 156 corners.
Other less obvious air bending aids include a set of slippery alloy rim covers, side skirts and a huge rear diffuser.
Look closely and, just above the rear engine cover, is a new cold air intake designed to feed clean air to the high-output turbocharged 1.8-litre four-cylinder engine that now pumps out an incredible 375kW – a healthy improvement over the modest 185kW the base A110 coupe produces.
No performance figures have been released for the Pikes Peak racer, but it’s thought it will easily overshadow the current 224kW Alpine A110 R with a sub-3.0-second 0-100km/h sprint. The A110 R can reach 100km/h in 3.9sec.
Designed by Alpine design chief Raphael Linari, the A110 Pikes Peak still complies with the road car-biased ‘Time Attack 1’ rules, which ensure the air/fuel delivery systems, number of cylinders and drive wheels correspond with the regular car.
What is permitted is a lower, stiffer suspension, new door mirrors and a stripped-out cabin with race-ready bucket seats.
Other changes, which could reappear later on a facelifted or special-edition production model, include new front and rear lights that feature laser-cut bars, replacing the road-going car’s trademark circular LEDs.
There’s also subtle rear lights embedded in both the spoiler and dorsal fin.
“The A110 Pikes Peak brings out the wildest side of this iconic car. It is agile and light by design, but with its specific aerodynamics and extreme proportions, it has become a genuine racing beast,” said Linari.
“This legendary event was an endless source of inspiration to push our creativity and enhance the A110 while integrating the constraints associated with performance.”
Maximising Alpine’s chances of success in the event, the A110 Pikes Peak will be driven by French rally ace Raphael Astier.
Astier is a Pikes Peak expert and has previously set the class record (9:23.721) in the Time Attack 1 category.
This year, the Alpine A110 will line up alongside the battery-powered Ford SuperVan 4 that’s claimed to produce an incredible 1500kW from its four electric motors.
If successful, Alpine could be prompted to produce a commemorative version of its A110, although it’s unlikely to be found on Aussie roads as the sports car currently doesn’t meet local side-impact safety regulations.
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Keyword: Monster 375kW Alpine A110 Pikes Peak revealed