Alpine: French Porsche to the French Tesla

This week, the director general of Renault should confirm the reorientation of Alpine to a range of electric sports cars.

- 76.5 %.This is the fall in sales of Alpine in France in 2020.Admittedly, the year was special, the market having plunged 25 % under the effect of the COVVI.But, after the beginnings with a fanfare of the A110, the soufflé quickly fell ... to the point of arouse concerns about the brand of the brand.The president of Renault had also sowed doubt by questioning the future of the historic site of Dieppe during the presentation of a savings plan for the group in May 2020.

Fortunately, doubts were quickly swept by the new managing director, Luca de Meo.Shortly after his entry into office, evoking the repositioning of the different brands of the group, he reassured the future of Alpine.Better still, he quickly strengthened his status: he made it the standard bearer of sport for the whole group.

One of his first marketing decisions was thus to rename the Formula 1 stable.Exit Renault Sport from this 2021 season, place in Alpine F1 Team.And it will be a double engagement as a brand for Alpine this year, since the firm at the arrow will remain in endurance.She will even go up in rank, joining the LMP1.What boost the brand's reputation, with the idea of "winning Sunday to sell cars on Monday".But what cars apart from the A110, which seems to have trouble capturing new customers after the first circle of enthusiasts?

Rumors have been going well for several years on the development of the range.On the side of the parent house Renault, there was no question of scattering in the projects and confusing speed and precipitation.It has always been clear that the priority was to succeed in the development and launch of the A110.A successful mission, the car having been a critical success, praised in particular by the demanding English Auto press.

But almost four years ago that the car was officially presented.And since then, apart from a variant S and special series, nothing happened.We are also concerned about the deafening silence of Patrick Marinoff, boss of the brand since September 2019 and debauched at Mercedes-AMG.Man has never made a concrete announcement on the future of the range, certainly evoking projects, but without detailing them.

Unsurprisingly, it is a lot of question of expanding customers with a SUV.What always bristle the hair of purists, but nowadays, it is a must that the most prestigious labels are no longer refused.We have imagined for years a development of Alpine Porsche way, which entered a new dimension at the beginning of the 21st century with its Cayenne, then with the Macan.Successes which are cash machines, which also allow to always offer a wide range of 911.

To give a future to the A110, it would therefore be necessary a backpacker that sells more.If the project of an SUV seems to be in internal, it will however be with a mechanical particularity: the electric motor.And this repositioning on the electric was obviously accelerated by Luca de Meo.According to information from Reuters, during the presentation of its battle plan for the group's revival next week, the CEO is expected to announce three electric new features for Alpine.What to make the firm of Jean Rédélé a tesla in the French.

These models would thus take up the new CMF-EV base, which will be established in the French factory in Douai (North) by the end of 2021.Future Alpine would thus remain made in France.