The Porsche Cayman has some serious competition because Alpine’s more hardcore A110 S is a true track-day contender

The Alpine A110 burst onto the scene in 2017, not just resurrecting a coveted French nameplate but also introducing a new two-seater sports car that looks like little else on the market and offers a driving experience that only the likes of Lotus, Caterham and Porsche stand a chance of matching.

All of the above was masterminded by a small crack team of Renault engineers (yup, Alpine is a subsidiary of the French marque), who spent years perfecting the diminutive, featherweight package so it delivered thrills without the need for massive amounts of firepower. Small but perfectly formed.

It seems strange, then, that Alpine felt the need to produce a lighter, more powerful version. The basic model is about as much fun as you can have on four wheels. Light, agile, peppy and absolutely on fire when driven hard, it does what all small sports cars do best and entertains, even when operating no way near its performance limits.

The S model has clearly been tuned to be a more serious proposition, perhaps for those who like to frequent the odd track day, and the firmer suspension, more reactive steering and extra 40bhp (taking the total up to 288bhp) are immediately noticeable. Even though the 0-62mph sprint is only half a second faster in this lighter, more purposeful version, the speeds somehow seem more ferocious here.

Essentially, the extra money is poured into the chassis and suspension set-up, which now rides 4mm closer to the ground than the standard model, while springs have been stiffened by 50 per cent and the anti-roll bars are 100 per cent firmer. This car is also 7kg lighter, which is thanks to some bespoke 18-inch forged “GT Race” alloy wheels.

That will be the same mid-mounted 1.8-litre turbocharged engine as before, which is about as compact as things come but don’t be fooled into thinking it’s a pushover. This engine has been specifically tuned to deliver a gut-busting amount of power to the rear wheels. Total power output is increased by 40bhp over the regular alpine A110, while torque now sits at 320Nm. This means the top speed has been lifted to an eye-watering 161mph and the 0-62mph dash is a mere 4.4 seconds. It sounds great too and when the car is shifted into the most hardcore ‘Sports’ mode via some interior switches, the exhaust is freed up to stretch its lungs and emit some entertaining pops and bangs.

Perhaps the one thing that hardcore sports car enthusiasts will bemoan is a lack of manual gearbox option, as Alpine only offers its seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, which is operated by paddles mounted behind the steering wheel. There’s little to worry about though, as it’s extremely snappy and engaging to use.

In a word: fantastic. But it does beg the question why Alpine decided to unleash a more hardcore version of this already entertaining vehicle. In fact, the beauty of the standard model is that it can be enjoyed without pressing too hard. The A110 S positively begs to be pressed harder.

The lower ride, firmer springs and more purposeful chassis are immediately felt when behind the wheel. It sets off with more gusto and picks up speed quicker than the standard model, while steering feels a tad more precise and the car is more eager to turn in on those enjoyable country roads, but it’s not like the A110 was any slouch. The updates here are probably best experience on a track, where the A110 S will really come alive, but is it worth the additional money? We’re not sure.

Alpine did a great job weaving in styling cues from the original 1960s Alpine A110 Berlinette but also ensured this modern version cuts an imposing figure on the streets. It looks completely different to anything else currently on sale and passers-by will often stop to ask what it is, where it is from and how much it costs.

The low roofline, gorgeous front headlights, skin waist and bulging rear with tiny boot-lip spoiler have been left untouched for this version and that’s a good thing. Alpine could have easily opted to cover it in stickers, garish bodywork and other shouty expressions, but instead they’ve let the car and driver do the talking. Up until very recently, this S model was available in a fairly limited colour palette (grey, white or blue), but the company now offers an eye-catching Jaune Tournesol (Sunflower Yellow) paint job that harks back to an original Alpine colour of the 1960s.

The interior is compact but cleverly laid out, with all switches and dials in easy reach of the driver. The digital instrument binnacles are a nice, premium touch and the toggle switches underneath the standard infotainment screen compliment the oversized D, N, R (drive, neutral, reverse) gear selector buttons on the sleek transmission tunnels. It all feels very fighter jet inside.

There are dashes of carbon fibre trim, Alcantara-wrapped sports seats and a premium Focal sound system, which was selected by Alpine engineers for its patented flax cone technology, which helps reduce overall weight. It’s fairly tight in the cabin, especially when transporting a passenger, but there are some clever cubby holes for stashing smaller items. Don’t expect much boot space though, as the mid-engine layout sees a compact storage area at the front of the vehicle, which is just about large enough for a couple of soft weekend bags. 

Drivers get the usual connectivity, with DAB Radio, USB ports, Bluetooth and smartphone integration loaded as standard. Perhaps the biggest bugbear is that a majority of the switchgear has been borrowed from Renault, which makes it feel slightly less special.

But speak to anyone at Alpine and they will suggest that they would have rather spent development budgets on chassis dynamics, handling and powertrain than waste it on fancy buttons.

This more potent A110 variant feels like the sort of car engineers close to the project wanted to build, rather than a reaction to overwhelming customer demand. That’s admirable in our eyes and will likely go down a storm with those wanting more grip, increased power and a sharper model to exploit on track.

However, we were huge fans of the original when it launched back in 2017 and feel that the recipe of compact proportions, involving drive, extreme lightweight and a revvy little power plant still work well today. It’s also cheaper, making the standard A110 feel like excellent value for money.