While Renault car sales in France have been robust in the first half of 2008, in Europe – its biggest market – the group is down 4.6 percent. If higher sales and better market penetration is the question, could a sports coupé be the answer? The Cartribe reckon Renault thinks so. They say after an interview with one of Renault’s highest-ranking officials, news was revealed to them of a sportscar similar to the Nissan’s 350Z will be on sale by 2010.
Underpinning this vehicle would be an Infiniti G37/ Nissan 370 Z base, which we think wouldn’t be a lame idea in the least bit, given the outstanding handling characteristics of these two cousins. Moreover, the name Alpine would be the one to carry a sports Renault. You know the name from decades ago when it used to build winning racing cars using Renault engines. Although WCF reported on such a car a few weeks ago, it has been very much a rumour. Up until now.
A Renault proper sportscar we suspect would use a relatively small turbo engine rather than a large V6 block for obvious reasons; weight, compactness, emissions and a possible return of the turbo to Formula One. The car will not be based on any existing Renault car and will be quite different, even radical in styling. Renault desperately needs to justify its multi-million-Euro involvement in F1 and so far, as good as RenaultSport is, it hasn’t happened to the extent desired.
2010 Renault Alpine Sportscar All But Confirmed?
Renault Alpine rendering
Based on 370 Z, Infiniti G37
By Thami Masemola
July 27, 2008 11:00 PM
Filed Under: Artist Renderings, European, General, Renault, Rumours
Comments
ludo
July 27, 2008 11:17 PM
good news, Renault needs to put some real fire into their range. ...but it took my 5 minutes to realise that the main photo is a toy car :-D
Nurchus
July 28, 2008 8:55 AM
I must say, it was a cheeky attempt at giving people smirks. Very neat toy! If it becomes a reality, I can only hope and pray that it comes here.
Cheers!
AG4
July 28, 2008 10:48 AM
Its odd that all the rendering that are shown always show a mid-engine sportscar. But if you read the articles, it says that it will probably use the G37/370Z's Nissan FM platform.
Akrion
July 28, 2008 5:20 PM
I agree with woo, this car looks very similar to Audi R8, but then again R8 is sold out for 2 years ahead, so this may be an alternative. Its like the first years of the iPod :) there ware companies that thought they are better, then later on they just copied the Apple product ... industry standard these days.
AG4
July 28, 2008 6:39 PM
Take note, this is just an artist's rendition/illustration of what it could look like. The actual car from Renault might look totally different.
alessandro
July 28, 2008 9:59 PM
Main pic is not a first time in WCF page and this photo is not just an illustration. It is so called "1 m model" made by Russian student from a Moscow school or some faculty of automotive design.
Real Alpine will be hardly based on front engine platform and hardly with some others engine as well. Probably it will be a new 2.4 - 3.2 l V6 or even a smaller 4 cilinder engine which can be used to replace Laguna's and coming Megane's 2 liter petrol engines.
187
July 6, 2009 6:27 PM
no r8 here. u think it looks like the r8 because of the rear silver blade? r8-2006 right? well i say the rear silver blade is from the clio V6 - 2003. :)
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