One of the ways to make a more agile car is to reduce its weight. This is exactly what Alpine did with the new ‘R’ version of its A110 coupe, largely by using generous amounts of carbon fiber.
As you may remember, the standard A110 was by no means a heavyweight itself, weighing between 1,102 and 1,140 kilograms (2,430 – 2,513 pounds) depending on the spec. The R manages to surpass even those results by tipping the scales at just 1,082 kg (2,385 lbs).
Powering the flagship edition is the same old 1.8-liter turbo engine rated at 300 PS (296 hp / 221 kW) and 340 Nm (251 lb-ft) of torque. On the outside, the hood cover is new and so are the wheels wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires with Brembo calipers seen behind the spokes. A carbon-fiber panel resides where the rear window once was, and the interior boasts carbon-framed Sabelt Track seats.
The suspension grows stiffer in this version of the A110 and sits 10 mm (0.2 inches) lower than standard. Adjustable dampers allow lowering it by an additional 10 mm. The car sprints 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) in 3.9 seconds (0.3 seconds faster than standard) and maxes out at 285 km/h (177 mph), surpassing the stock counterpart by 10 km, or 6 miles, per hour.