Geneva Motor Show: Renault reveals first image of Alpine A110

Europe's first major automotive event, the Geneva Motor Show, is just a week away and Renault is already teasing fans what to expect from the public debut of its highly anticipated Alpine A110.

New images of the production version of the sports car reveal it harks back to the A110 from the late 1960s and early 1970s, with the iconic circular fog lamps and sloping rear-window.

While the original car had its engine hung out over the rear wheels like a Porsche 911, the 2017 version is expected to feature a mid-engine layout that should offer drivers more predictable handling characteristics.

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AutoExpress reports Renault will fit the retro-inspired sports car with a 1.8-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine producing 250bhp, around 50bhp less than its rival the Porsche 718 Cayman.

Renault could, however, introduce a hardcore "RS" version producing up to 300bhp, adds the magazine, achieved by tweaking the car's engine control unit and adding "larger air intakes at the front and in the doors".

It's also expected to have a completely flat floor, says Evo, allowing the Alpine A110 to generate more grip at higher speeds. Unlike bolt-on wings and splitters, a flat floor can generate downforce "without the unwanted side effect of drag".

Prices will range from €50,000 to €60,000 (£42,000 to £50,000) when it enters the market towards the end of the year. Pre-orders are open, with a €2,000 (£1,700) deposit to secure a car in the colour drivers want.

Renault will release more details and performance figures next Tuesday at Geneva.

Orders open for new Renault Alpine sports car

12 December

Renault has opened orders for its upcoming Alpine-branded sports car, which is expected to rival the likes of Alfa Romeo's 4C and the Porsche 718 Cayman when it arrives next year.

First buyers will be entitled to the limited-run Premiere Edition which can be pre-ordered through a dedicated Alpine app. Renault is only producing 1,955 examples of the car, which can be specced in either black, white or the traditional Alpine blue.

Renault says that its new sports car will go from zero to 62mph in 4.5 seconds, but no specific technical specifications will be released until early next year. This would make the Alpine acceleration figures identical to the Alfa 4C and slightly quicker than the Porsche Cayman's time of 4.7 seconds.

CarBuyer says the Alpine is likely to feature the same 1.6 or 1.8-litre turbocharged petrol engine as the Clio RS hot hatch which will power the rear wheels and "should come with dual-clutch automatic gearbox as standard".

While Renault has revealed its Alpine sports car in light camouflage, the design clearly borrows several features from the Alpine Vision Concept unveiled earlier this year, including the iconic circular headlights of the brand's original cars from the 1960s and '70s.

The new Alpine sports car will cost between €50,000 to €60,000 (£42,000 to £50,000) when it launches towards the end of 2017. A pre-order fee of €2,000 (£1,700) will secure buyers a car in the colour they want.