Alpine slips to 2017

Alpine may have shown a concept of its first new model in 20 years, but the relaunch of the brand could still be 18 months away.

Speaking exclusively to motoring.com.au this week, the boss of the Renault-owned French sports-car brand, Bernard Ollivier, made it clear the company would not jeopardise the relaunch of the marque to hit any specific deadline. Indeed, he confirmed Alpine's launch would slip from the expected late 2016 timeline into 2017.

Alpine celebrated the 60th Anniversary of its establishment with the unveiling of a purpose-built show car, the Alpine Celebration, at last month's 24 hours of Le Mans. The car, sporting revised livery, was also displayed and run two weeks ago at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. The next expected outing of the car will be an Alpine club-based anniversary event in September.

Originally it was anticipated Alpine would relaunch at the Paris motor show in September 2016.

Of the likely new timetable Ollivier told motoring.com.au: "Today, I am not exactly able to make a commitment."

"We will have only one shot; one shot because when we launch this design, we are not launching one car, we have to launch one car and [the] Alpine [brand]. The future of Alpine is based on this car. So we have only objective today – the success of this [first] car.

"We are taking into account the feelings of the people who are seeing our show car and so that could change to be sure that at the end the car will be good. So I am not able to make a commitment on the [launch] date," Ollivier said.

"[But] Sorry, the date cannot be before [20]17 clearly... And if we need some more [time] to realise the success of the car, we'll take it. The main point is to be sure our car will be absolutely perfect," Ollivier said.

A look at the show car at Goodwood confirmed its mid-engine configuration and the soundtrack of actual runs up the 1.16mile hillclimb left us in no doubt it sported an RS-derived turbo-four engine and twin-clutch gearbox. Taking a peek inside the car confirmed the paddle gearchange and suggested it features a conventional monocoque sheet metal chassis rather than a carbon-fibre tub a la Alfa Romeo's 4C. That chassis could, however, be aluminium rather than steel

The former head of RenaultSport, Ollivier would not comment on the technical details of the new Alpine during this week's interview.

"I can, however, explain that we will be very in line with Alpine DNA. It means light weight and the car will be very light because we want it to be very agile.

"We have focussed the choice of the technology to get it lightweight and the car will receive many technological innovations but it's not the time to explain that today," he teased.

Ollivier was, however, clear on plans to launch the brand Down Under. He reiterated Australia's place in the Alpine rebirth plan – news which motoring.com.au broke last year.

"I can confirm the main points you have [already] written. First, there will be a right-hand drive car and this car will go to Australia clearly… Second point: Australia will be a logical market for Alpine...

"I know that the sales of a RenaultSports car today are not bad and we think Australian customers can appreciate the journey of Alpine.

"So we think the, the potential exists and we are interested," he stated.