Why the base $62,500 Alpine is still a bargain
Even if its price has increased slightly since 2018, the Alpine A110 still displays a very good price-performance ratio in its entry-level version. It even becomes cheaper than most compact sports cars, stunned by inflation and the ecological malus. What makes it an almost affordable sports car?
€54,700. This is the price that the Alpine A110 cost in its basic version when it was launched in 2018. At the time, it was the same price as the Porsche 718 Cayman in its entry-level variant without any equipment. Today, the first price of the A110 is €62,500. As with all other cars on the market today, inflation has been there. Yet when you look at where the competitors are, it seems more attractive than ever with its 252 horsepower, its featherweight (1102 kg on the scale), its peak performance (0 to 100 km/h in 4.5 seconds) and its particularly tasty piloting.
At this price, the A110 imposes the Glacier White color (the others start from €850). And the 17-inch 10-spoke rims (the 18-inch ones start at €1,030). The Alpine does not look like a company car in this configuration and the white suits it very well anyway. Same remark for the interior, with attractive seats with a leather / Dynamica finish from the entry level and all the necessary comfort equipment (including Apple Carplay / Android Auto smartphone connectivity. Track racers will have to do without the Alpine Telemetrics (310€) and music lovers of the top-of-the-range Focal audio system (620€), but everything one is entitled to expect from a car at this price is there (apart from options like the adaptive cruise control, still unavailable on the Alpine).
The most affordable real sports car
The secret weapon of this entry-level Alpine A110 is its 2023 penalty contained at €1,761 where most of its direct competitors now make up with more than €10,000 in penalties. And since this ecological penalty also penalizes compact sports cars and since they too are increasingly expensive (the new Civic Type R, for example, costs €67,000 by combining price and penalty!), the A110 now acts as an affordable car even compared to a Renault Mégane RS (charged for more than €63,000 in its Trophy version including the penalty!) . That's why we see all the reasons in the world to fall for the pretty French sports car, especially since it knows how to be versatile and comfortable in addition to its addictive driving. The A110 GT and S offer even better performance and finish, but they also cost significantly more (respectively €72,500 and €74,500 before penalty). Let's not talk about the A110 R , which we can't wait to try but which plays the elitist with its price of €105,000.
These three versions nevertheless remain competitive given their performance and their services, but the price-performance ratio of the basic A110 is particularly well positioned on paper. With the effect of the penalty, it is only €13,000 more expensive than a Toyota GR 86 which is also tasty to drive, but in another league in terms of performance and refinement. You hesitate with a Porsche 718 Cayman? The German now costs €91,419 malus included without any options! With a Toyota Supra? Even in its basic four-cylinder version, the Japanese costs just under €60,000 because of the penalty. In short, it is perhaps the time or never to fall for a sports car with an extravagant style and made in France. Take advantage of it, it will soon disappear and its electric replacement will probably cost a lot more...
