Renault Sport is a name that you’ll associate with some seriously formidable performance hatchbacks, but fans will soon need to get used to the name Alpine as Renault has rebranded its performance division.
As of now, Renault Sport Cars will become known as Alpine Cars. Alpine was relaunched as a sub-brand in 2017 with the release of the A110 sports car, but now the division will take charge of Renault’s entire performance portfolio. Renault’s Formula One team has already been rebranded in accordance.
According to Alpine CEO Laurent Rossi, Alpine Cars aims to be “a premium sports brand at the forefront of innovation and technology”.
“As part of the reorganisation of the Renault Group by brand, it is essential that the various entities that make up the Business Unit bear the Alpine name and embody the values and ambitions of the brand,” Rossi said.
Alpine remains tight-lipped about its future product plans but Auto Express reports that the new Renault Clio is likely to be the first to get the Alpine treatment, possibly followed by the Captur. However, the future is electric and to that end Alpine says that is is currently developing a “100 percent electric” future Alpine range.
The division is also engaged in technical discussions with the various Alpine Racing teams, because racing know-how is always a boon in the performance car market.
“By becoming Alpine Cars, the teams are embarking on a new dynamic which will be rich in projects carried out with the support of the Alpine Racing teams and all of Renault Group’s businesses,” said engineering director Robert Bonetto.
“This is an extremely exciting time for our engineers”.
The Alpine brand was founded in 1955 by racing driver and Renault dealer Jean Rédélé and the brand soon built a name for itself with sports cars like the A108 and A310.