Introduction
It is a bittersweet day for automotive purists. The final Alpine A110 has officially rolled off the assembly line at the historic Manufacture Alpine Dieppe Jean Rédélé in France. Since its triumphant resurrection in 2017, the mid-engined French coupe has stood as a defiant, featherweight champion in an era increasingly dominated by heavy, over-complicated performance cars.
But the automotive landscape is changing rapidly. As we move through 2025, Alpine is aggressively pivoting toward its "Dream Garage"—a fully electric lineup designed to future-proof the brand. While the departure of the internal combustion engine (ICE) A110 leaves a massive void in the hearts of driving enthusiasts, the French marque promises that its upcoming electric successor will carry the same agile DNA. Let’s dive into what made the A110 so special, what we know about its electric successor, and how you can still grab an analog driving thrill in 2025.
Why the Alpine A110 Was a Modern Masterpiece
When Renault revived the Alpine brand, they didn't just build a sports car; they built a love letter to driving dynamics. At a time when competitors like the Porsche 718 Cayman were creeping past 1,400 kg (3,086 lbs), the standard Alpine A110 tipped the scales at an astonishingly low 1,103 kg (2,431 lbs).
This lightweight construction was achieved through an all-aluminum chassis and body, paired with minimalist interior design and bespoke suspension components. Powered by a mid-mounted 1.8-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine (shared with the Renault Megane R.S.) and mated to a snappy 7-speed dual-clutch transmission, the A110 was never about raw horsepower. Instead, its 249 to 296 horsepower variants focused on power-to-weight ratio, offering a playful, organic handling experience that made every corner feel like a racetrack.
The final production run represents the end of a highly successful chapter. The A110 proved that there was still a market for pure, unfiltered driving dynamics, earning universal acclaim from journalists and owners alike.
The Electric Successor: Keeping the Spirit Alive in the EV Era
With the ICE A110 retired, Alpine is shifting its focus to the Alpine Performance Platform (APP), which will underpin its next-generation electric sports cars. The brand has already teased its future lineup, including the hot hatch Alpine A290 and a larger electric crossover. However, the true spiritual successor to the A110 is an all-electric sports car currently slated for a late 2026 or early 2027 debut.
Developing an electric sports car presents a massive challenge: weight. Batteries are notoriously heavy, which directly opposes the core philosophy of the original A110. To combat this, Alpine is engineering a bespoke battery layout. Instead of a traditional "skateboard" platform where batteries sit flat under the floor, Alpine plans to stack battery modules behind the seats and in the center tunnel. This mimics the mid-engine weight distribution of the ICE A110, preserving the car's pivot characteristics and low polar moment of inertia.
Furthermore, Alpine is experimenting with advanced torque vectoring and active aerodynamics to simulate the nimble feel of a lightweight car, promising that the upcoming EV will still feel like a true Alpine.
Top Analog Sports Cars to Buy in 2025
If the death of the gas-powered Alpine A110 has you scrambling to secure a pure, lightweight driver's car before they are gone forever, you still have some excellent options. Here are the best alternatives on the market in 2025:
1. Mazda MX-5 Miata Club
* Approximate Price: $32,500 * Why buy it: If lightweight, rear-wheel-drive purity is what you seek, the MX-5 Miata remains the undisputed king of budget sports cars. Weighing in at just under 2,400 lbs, it offers a tactile 6-speed manual transmission, a rev-happy naturally aspirated engine, and a top-down driving experience that closely mirrors the analog joy of the Alpine, at a fraction of the cost.2. Toyota GR86 Premium
* Approximate Price: $31,900 * Why buy it: Developed in partnership with Subaru, the GR86 is a masterclass in modern chassis tuning. It offers a fixed-roof coupe experience similar to the A110, featuring a 2.4-liter boxer engine, a low center of gravity, and incredibly communicative steering. It is one of the most rewarding track-day toys you can buy today.3. Porsche 718 Cayman
* Approximate Price: $68,300 * Why buy it: The Cayman was the A110’s primary target. While it is heavier than the French coupe, its mid-engine balance, razor-sharp steering, and premium cabin make it the benchmark for daily-driver sports cars. Like Alpine, Porsche is transitioning the 718 lineup to electric power soon, making the current gas-powered models highly collectible.4. Lotus Emira V6 First Edition
* Approximate Price: $105,400 * Why buy it: If you have a larger budget and want a true exotic experience, the Lotus Emira is the ultimate British alternative. Serving as Lotus's final internal combustion engine car, the Emira pairs a supercharged Toyota-sourced V6 with old-school hydraulic steering and a gorgeous, mini-supercar aesthetic.Bottom Line / Our Verdict
The retirement of the Alpine A110 is a watershed moment for the automotive industry. It marks the definitive end of the lightweight, mid-engined ICE era for mainstream manufacturers. Alpine took a massive gamble in 2017 by building a car solely focused on weight reduction and driver feedback, and that gamble paid off by cementing the brand's legendary status.
While we are apprehensive about the added weight of the upcoming EV successor, Alpine’s commitment to engineering innovation gives us hope. If any brand can make a heavy battery pack feel light, agile, and emotional, it is Alpine. Until then, the original modern A110 will go down in history as one of the finest driver's cars ever constructed—a modern classic that we will sorely miss on the winding roads of the world.