Alpine has offered the first serious glimpse of its next-generation A110, revealing an artistic full-size sculpture that previews the design language of the brand’s first all-electric sports car. Set to arrive in 2027, the third-generation A110 will move the legendary nameplate into the electric era while retaining the low-slung proportions and driver-focused character that have defined the model since its modern revival.
The full-scale sculpture will make its public debut at the Paris Motor Show next month, but Alpine has already used the design study to provide several clues about what we can expect from the production car.
At first glance, the concept appears to be wrapped in an aerodynamic veil, deliberately referencing the covers traditionally used to hide new cars before their official unveilings. Beneath that surface, however, the sculpture reveals a much more significant change: the A110 is evolving visually while remaining unmistakably Alpine.
A New Electric Alpine A110 for 2027
The third-generation Alpine A110 will be the first fully electric version of the French sports car. Rather than adapting the existing A110 architecture, Alpine is developing the new model around its Alpine Performance Platform, or APP.
The new architecture has been engineered specifically with high-performance electric vehicles in mind. Alpine has already demonstrated the platform in prototype form, including a development car that appeared at the Goodwood Festival of Speed wearing the bodywork of the outgoing A110.
That prototype provided the first indication that Alpine is serious about preserving the compact dimensions and low driving position of the A110 despite the transition to battery-electric power.
The new sculpture reinforces that message.
Alpine says the next-generation A110 will remain essentially the same height as the current car, an important detail for a sports car whose identity is closely linked to its low centre of gravity and lightweight, compact proportions.
Concorde Inspiration Shapes the New A110
The new A110 is not simply an evolution of the current design. Alpine’s designers have looked beyond the automotive world for inspiration, with the supersonic Concorde aircraft playing a particularly important role.
Antony Villain, Alpine’s design chief, explained that the team wanted the third-generation A110 to have a more dramatic visual character.
“For the third-generation A110, we wanted something that was more dramatic, so we played with Concorde at the moment when it goes supersonic, and used this as an inspiration to create an echo shape that we interpreted on the body sides,” Villain said.
That influence is visible in the sculpture’s flowing surfaces and apparently tensioned bodywork. Rather than relying on conventional aggressive creases, Alpine appears to be pursuing a smoother aerodynamic form, with the impression of air moving around the car becoming part of the design itself.
The reference to Concorde is also particularly appropriate for Alpine, given the aircraft’s Anglo-French heritage. The supersonic airliner was jointly developed by Britain and France and remains one of the most recognizable examples of European engineering collaboration.
Familiar Alpine Face, Sharper Details
Although the production A110 remains hidden for now, the sculpture offers several clues about its frontal design.
The familiar Alpine V-shaped front appears to remain an important element, helping connect the electric third-generation car with the A110s that came before it. However, the details are expected to become considerably more sophisticated.
The sculpture suggests the use of hexagonal headlights, replacing the more rounded lighting signature associated with the current-generation car. The front end also appears more sculpted and aerodynamic, reinforcing Alpine’s intention to give the electric A110 a distinct identity rather than simply turning the existing model into an EV.
Along the sides, the bodywork appears more tightly shaped around the wheels and airflow, with the Concorde-inspired “echo” form becoming a key design feature.
The result is likely to be a more futuristic A110 without abandoning the proportions that make the current car immediately recognizable.
Alpine Performance Platform Allows a Low-Slung EV
One of the biggest engineering challenges facing Alpine has been creating an electric sports car without sacrificing the low seating position and compact proportions that define the A110.
The Alpine Performance Platform is designed to address that challenge.
Unlike many electric vehicles that use a conventional skateboard architecture with a large battery pack occupying most of the floor between the axles, APP can accommodate battery modules positioned at both the front and rear of the vehicle.
That packaging approach gives Alpine greater freedom to keep the A110 low to the ground.
For an electric sports car, this could be particularly important. Battery-electric vehicles naturally carry substantial mass, and packaging that weight effectively is crucial to achieving the agile handling expected from an Alpine.
By distributing the battery system while retaining a low overall body, Alpine is attempting to combine the advantages of electrification with the proportions of a traditional lightweight sports car.
The A110 Is Going Electric Without Losing Its Identity
The transition from petrol power to electricity represents the biggest change in the A110’s modern history, but Alpine’s early design preview suggests the company is determined not to abandon the model’s core identity.
The current A110 has built its reputation around compact dimensions, low weight, agility and a distinctive French interpretation of the sports-car formula. The third-generation model will have to translate those qualities into an electric format.
The new sculpture provides an early indication that Alpine understands the importance of visual continuity.
The low roofline remains. The V-shaped front survives. The body remains compact and dramatically shaped. But the surfaces are cleaner, the aerodynamics more pronounced and the lighting technology more futuristic.
Most importantly, the next A110 does not appear to be trying to imitate a conventional electric crossover or GT car.
Source: Alpine