Renault's Alpine Vision concept is proof that you always want what you can't have

That's right, this gorgeous piece of French sheetmetal is one that we'll likely never get our hands on. But that doesn't make us want it any less.

Meet the Alpine Vision Concept, a close preview of what's to come from Renault's revival of the defunct French sports car brand. Back in the late 1960s and early 70s, Alpine was essentially a household name in the world of motorsport, winning everything from the 24 Hours of Le Mans to the World Rally Championship, but the car that started it all was the gorgeous A110 coupe.

The brand has been defunct since the 1990s, but Renault is bringing it back in full force, with a plan to have a complete lineup of premium sports cars to take on the likes of Porsche, Aston Martin, and more.

(With a mid-mounted turbocharged 4-cylinder expected to push the car along to 60-mph in 4.5-seconds, the Alpine Vision is ripe to take on the likes of Porsche and Alfa Romeo.)

The Vision Concept, an unashamed throwback to the original Alpine, is their first entry, and with a turbocharged four-cylinder mounted midship, it'll have the weight balance to take on the Porsche Cayman and Alfa Romeo 4C.

(The Vision Concept, or whatever it is eventually named, is set to go on sale in 5 continents. Whether North America is among them is yet to be seen, but we're hopeful.)

Alpine claim that the Vision will hit 60-mph in just 4.5-seconds, with the potential for even hotter variants to push the envelope further. We're not sure just yet what the top speed will be, or even what the transmission setup is, but make no mistake that this thing will go every bit as good as it looks.

The Vision's launch is scheduled for later this year in Europe, and while the company states that the markets will expand from there to reach "five continents," it's highly unlikely we'll see it on our shores. French brands have never fared well in the U.S., but perhaps a gorgeous sports car is just the thing to change the tide.


Wouldn't you say so, Renault?




Source : nydailynews.com