Alpine

Year of foundation 1955

The Alpine car manufacturer was founded in 1955 by Jean Rédélé, a young motorsports enthusiast and the son of a Renault dealer in Dieppe. The name "Alpine" was chosen to pay homage to the pleasure of driving on the roads of the Alps, a region where Rédélé had achieved great sporting success. The first vehicles were derived from the lighter and modified Renault 4CV, with which Rédélé achieved significant success in competitions such as the Mille Miglia and the Critérium des Alpes.

In the 1960s, Alpine grew rapidly and in 1962 presented the legendary A110 Berlinette Tour de France, a lightweight and agile car that would become the symbol of the brand. At the same time, Alpine also developed endurance prototypes, such as the M63, and participated with promising results at Le Mans. During those years, the French manufacturer increasingly established itself in international competitions, becoming a benchmark in the world of rallying and racing.

The following decade marked the pinnacle of its sporting success. In 1971, Alpine dominated the Monte Carlo Rally with the A110, taking the top three spots on the podium, while in 1973 it won its first manufacturers' world title in the World Rally Championship. At the same time, the historic Dieppe plant, destined to become the brand's production hub, was inaugurated in 1969. In 1978, Alpine achieved overall victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans with the A442B, a result that cemented Alpine's position in the endurance racing world.

The 1980s saw the introduction of iconic models such as the Renault 5 Turbo, the Maxi Turbo, the Alpine V6 GT, and the GTA V6 Turbo—powerful, innovative cars that were a force to be reckoned with both on the road and in competition. In 1989, a special series called the "Mille Miles" was presented to celebrate the brand's 35th anniversary. In the 1990s, Alpine introduced the "Le Mans" model and the A610 Turbo, followed by the limited-edition Magny-Cours. However, sales were not sufficient, and Alpine production was discontinued in 1995.

In the early 2000s, the Dieppe plant continued to produce Renault Sport vehicles, such as the Clio RS, keeping the brand's technical heritage alive. The relaunch was announced but postponed several times, until Carlos Ghosn officially announced Alpine's return in 2012. In 2016, the Alpine Vision concept was presented, followed in 2017 by the debut of the new Alpine A110, a model that reinterprets the historic values ​​of lightness, agility, and driving pleasure with a modern twist.

In 2021, Alpine became a global brand of the Renault group: Alpine Cars, Renault Sport Cars, and Renault Sport Racing merged under a single identity. The brand also debuted in Formula 1 with the BWT Alpine F1 team, immediately achieving significant results. At the same time, it continued to compete successfully in endurance racing, winning titles in the ELMS and class victories at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Today, Alpine is preparing for a new revolution: the future will be electric. The "Dream Garage" plan has been unveiled, which envisions seven zero-emission models by 2030. These include the A290, an electric hot hatch, the A390, a sporty SUV, and the future electric successor to the A110. Alongside electric vehicles, Alpine is also exploring hydrogen technologies with concepts like the Alpenglow, a hypercar that combines sportiness and sustainability.

From Jean Rédélé's small workshop to its return to Formula 1 and the challenges of electric mobility, Alpine has remained true to its philosophy: building lightweight, agile, and exciting vehicles, combining tradition and innovation in a brand that continues to inspire enthusiasts around the world.