Renault confirm Alpine sports car WILL debut this year as they eschew Paris Motor Show

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Despite failing to arrive at the Paris Motor Show this month, Renault confirm its new Alpine Sports car will be revealed before the end of 2016 and go on sale early 2017.

A new Renault Alpine sports car has been on the way for some time, and although it’s not had the easiest genesis we were certain that Renault’s assertion it would debut this year would mean a glitzy roll out at their home show – the 2016 Paris Motor Show. But there’s no sign of the new Alpine in Paris.

Interestingly, Renault say the Paris Motor Show is not the right place to launch their new car as it’s too busy to be a suitable venue, but that the Alpine will debut this year at a more suitable venue. We’re guessing a special event in Monaco.

When the production version of the new Alpine is unveiled it’s expected to be a dead ringer for the Alpine Vision concept revealed at the Geneva Motor Show in the spring.

That will mean a Renault take on the Alfa Romeo 4C, a light and nimble car which doesn’t need copious amounts of power to deliver appealing performance, with the 1.6 litre from the Clio RS taken out to 1.8 litre expected to deliver 250bhp, and perhaps as much as 300bhp, for plenty of lively fun.

The Alpine will be a global car – perhaps as the Alpine AS100 or AS1 – despite which Renault seem to be looking at sales of only 5,000 units a year at a price around £50,000.

Renault Alpine Vision Concept Video