Alpine says goodbye to combustion models in the best possible way: the A110 R Ultimate, the most sporty Alpine ever built

The most sporty Alpine ever built to date is a combustion model, the A110 R Ultimate. The question is whether, from now on, when Alpine will only launch new models with fully electric propulsion, the Dieppe-based brand will be able to put on the market a vehicle that not only surpasses, but at least approaches the sensations the A110 Ultimate R is capable of transmitting through the steering wheel. I find it complicated…

With production limited to 110 units, each of which has a starting price from 265,000 euros, the A110 Ultimate R is the ultimate vehicle for track driving. A genuine “predator” also homologated for road use, which achieves what seemed impossible: improving on the Alpine A110 R. And for those seeking even more exclusivity, of those 110 planned units Alpine reserves 15 for the special “La Bleue” edition, which, among other personalization details, includes a body finish with a manually applied degradé paint and a unique interior configuration that takes its price up to 330,000 euros.

More power and more aerodynamic downforce

The exterior modifications featured on the A110 R Ultimate aim for maximum aerodynamic efficiency for track driving. It features fins on the bumpers and a flexible splitter under the bumper that increases downforce and allows drivers to “attack” the curbs on circuits without fear of damage, a specific bonnet with hot-air outlets, NACA ducts on the underbody, improvements to brake and engine cooling, and a new rear wing that offers four different angle settings, between 0 and 6 degrees. The wing alone is capable of generating up to 25 kg of additional load. In addition, the bodywork height has been lowered and the wheels have different diameters: 18 inches on the front axle and 19 inches on the rear axle. In its road-homologated configuration, total aerodynamic downforce increases by 149 kg compared to the A110 R at a speed of 275 km/h.

The engine raises power from 300 CV to 325 CV, and also increases maximum torque by 80 Nm to reach 420 Nm, mainly thanks to a new engine control unit that allows the turbocharged 4-cylinder to run on higher-octane fuel: using RON 102 petrol instead of RON 98, maximum power reaches 345 CV. It is not the only change: forged connecting rods and pistons from motorsport are also used, and the turbocharger has been redesigned to “blow” at a maximum pressure of up to 2.9 bar. The Akrapovic titanium exhaust is 3.5 kg lighter, and the DW6 gearbox has been specifically developed to withstand the greater power and torque of the engine and the demands of track driving. It now allows gear changes in just 100 milliseconds.

A chassis to match

In terms of performance, the A110 R Ultimate cuts the 0-100 km/h acceleration by a full second, stopping the clock at 3.8 seconds. But the most interesting point is that lateral acceleration increases by 10% compared to the A110 R. The 400 metres from a standing start are covered in 11.5 seconds, and 0-1,000 metres in 21.5 seconds, with top speed limited to 280 km/h. Kerb weight is 1,100 kg, with a 41% front and 59% rear weight distribution.

Among the chassis modifications, the A110 R is fitted with Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres with the specific A11 marking, in sizes 225/40-18 for the front axle and 255/35-19 for the rear. The Ohlins TTX dampers come directly from the GT4 version and feature compression and rebound adjustment. The anti-roll bars are also specific, reducing body roll from 2.2 degrees to 1.9 degrees per G. The limited-slip rear differential is newly developed, and the brakes are also specific, with larger 330 mm front discs and high-performance pads. Naturally, both the ABS and ESP have been recalibrated to suit track driving.

Alpine A110 R Ultime – Image Gallery