It has always been compared -and we have inevitably compared- the Alpine A110 with the Porsche 718 Cayman, two cars that are very similar in size, concept and engine position. However, this has led to a discussion with points in favor of the German, points in favor of the French and also weaknesses against the latter. But now comes the new Alpine A110 R, the most radical variant of the sports car, with a price of 107,000 euros in Spainseeking to have only points in favor and a very clear objective: to put an end to the eternal comparison.
We are talking about the A110 in its maximum exponent in terms of aesthetics, weight and set-up refers. Since in the mechanical section we do not find any variation with respect to the A100 S, a variant on which it is based and which is 100 CV below the Cayman GTS, although in its defense it must be said that power is not everything, and that It is something that the French sports car demonstrates in all its iterations.
107,000 euros is what Alpine asks for the A110 R in Spain
But, what are really the arguments for the A110 R for the French brand to ask for more than 100,000 euros for it? The first thing is a much more daring, aggressive and groundbreaking aesthetic design, where it takes almost all the prominence a generously sized spoiler finished in carbon fiber with “swan neck” anchors.
To match we find the sills and hood, wheels, rear window and diffuser finished in carbon fiber. But none of this aesthetic would make sense without a conductor at the height of the context, and this role is played perfectly by a new central double cylindrical outlet with a double wall to prevent the heat emanating from it from damaging the nearby elements. It has also been redesigned to improve the four-cylinder soundtrack..
The result is not only a more accentuated aesthetic, but also a weight reduction of 34 kilos to leave on the scale a derisory 1,082 kilos. The same positive result is found in the downforce, which increases by 29 kilos and goes in step with a chassis also adjusted for the occasion.
Thus, the Alpine A110 R offers a 10-millimeter lower ground clearance along with some 10% stiffer anti-roll bars at the front axle and 20% at the rear. The set becomes spicier with 10% stiffer springs and the possibility of choosing between 20 different positions for the compression and rebound dampers, although yes, all of them have to be configured manually.
Last but not least, the French firm seasons the Alpine A110 R with semi-slick Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires and with a braking system in which the bite remains intact but in which its cooling improves in 20% But how does all this translate to asphalt? With a 0 to 100 in 3.9 seconds, a top speed of 285 km/h and a 1.2-liter four-cylinder engine that develops 300 hp and 340 Nm of torque.
Now, is all this enough to justify the 107,000 euros it costs in Spain? It is an answer that each potential buyer will have to assess, but of course the decision is blurred by a clear culprit: the Porsche Cayman 718 GTS. And we compare it with the GTS directly because, although by approach it makes more sense to put the A110 R side by side with the Cayman GT4, the latter has a price in Spain of 119,537 euros, a figure that is far from the 107,000 euros of the French.
Be that as it may, the GTS variant of the German sports car uses a 4.0-liter naturally aspirated boxer six-cylinder emanating 400 hp and 420 Nm of torque, figures that are managed with a six-speed manual gearbox. The 0 to 100 occurs in 4.2 seconds and the top speed is 293 km/h, to which we must add finishes substantially above those offered by the A110 R.
And how is the main rival of the Alpine A110 positioned in the market? With a price of 99,804 euros in Spain, a figure that is also true that can be raised as much as one’s portfolio allows. But if it does not reach us for the Cayman or for the new A110 in any of its versions, we can always resort to the second-hand section of What car do I buy? and save thousands of euros on both models.
Second hand Alpine A110:
Used Porsche 718 Cayman: