Brazilian student presents new Renault Alpine

Between the GT-R and the Z-car, Nissan has a rich history of fine sportscars. However, its French sister company is another story. Since discontinuing the Alpine in 1996, Renault's sporting spirit has had to subside on hot hatches and in its F1 program. Remarkable as they are, the French automaker has been working on bringing back the Alpine sportscar line, with a new model anticipated to debut sometime next year. That's a long way off, if you ask Brazilian design student Marcello Felipe Maggioni. So he's come up with a design of his own for the new Alpine.

The concept is characterized by a chopped-down greenhouse and low-slung headlamps, creating a wedge shape similar in style to the Lexus LF-A. Maggioni based the design around a mid-engine layout, with a homologated street-legal version of the high-revving 2.4-liter V8 from the Renault F1 car. Of course this is well beyond what Renault might actually produce to revive the Alpine nameplate, but if you're going to dream, why not dream big?

© Source: autoblog
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Is the Renault Alpine coming back?

The '60's Alpine was an icon for French and international sport cars enthusiasts, and in AutoExpress' opinion the charming coupè could soon have a heir.

According to a Renault insider, the new car is going through the development tests and will be on sale in 2010. Rumors say that it will probably have a small turbocharged gasoline which will follow the current downsizing trend. Some say (and we hope it's true...) that the unit will be in mid-rear position, in order to enhance the driving experience.

The only clues we have nowadays are a few pictures of some Renault Megane-shaped test-mules while lapping on the 'Ring that very likely hide the next Alpine's mechanichs.

© Source: eurocarblog
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