Alpine A310 Vision Revives a 1970s Cult Coupe as a Retro-Futuristic Special

Alpine used the Paris motor show to show off the A310 Vision, a concept that takes its cues from the company's 1970s coupe and pushes them into a more dramatic, retro-futuristic direction. The car is officially a one-off, but Alpine design chief Antony Villain has hinted that a limited production run could follow.

The concept draws on both generations of the A310. The original 1971 car was a four-seater with angular bodywork that set it apart from the rest of Alpine's range at the time. The V6-powered version that arrived later gave the model more muscle and a wider body. The new car, which marks 50 years since that V6 model appeared, blends the two. Its sharply raked bonnet, rising rear deck and two-part rear wing all echo the original, while the front lights pop down and only show when the car is active. Villain described the look as "really extreme," and said the softer, more organic lines on the lower body are meant to soften the angular upper section.

Unlike the 1971 car, the A310 Vision has two seats. It measures 4,550mm long, 1,180mm tall and 2,030mm wide, with a 2,450mm wheelbase. The cabin uses orange glass in a nod to the 1970s, along with controls inspired by hi-fi equipment.

The more important detail is what sits underneath. The concept is designed to fit the Alpine Performance Platform, the architecture that will underpin the next-generation electric A110 and also serves the Renault 5 Turbo 3E. The platform can split its battery into two sections and accommodate different layouts, which is why Alpine can use it for a car with different proportions. Villain said that the platform is flexible enough to support different widths, wheelbases and engine and battery positions, opening the door to special projects at the top of the range. The project's internal code was PS1, short for "project special," which hints at where it might sit in Alpine's lineup.

Alpine is not promising a production version. Villain said one "was not planned," but added that there is room for it and that he expects a positive reaction to the car. He also did not say whether a future special would be rear-wheel or four-wheel drive, and the platform can accommodate a combustion engine, which could make a petrol special possible given the small numbers involved.

The next-generation electric A110 is due next year and was previewed at Paris with a sculpture. Any limited-run special like the A310 would likely follow a few years after that.