Renault Alpine A110-50 (2012) first official pics

After last week's leak, here is the official announcement of the Renault Alpine A110-50. These new photos reveal a mid-engined sports car shadowing the Renault Dezir, but with an Alpine twist.

As hinted at by that name, the A110-50 doffs its cap to the golden anniversary of the original Alpine A110 - as does that Alpine Blue paint job.

Renaultsport had a hand in making this concept car, which must be a good thing. These people have a history of making some of the best hot hatches on the planet, so we hope the A110-50 drives with as much brio as the Clio 200 and Megane RS.

The bodywork wrapped around the Megane Trophy race car is carbonfibre to peg weight to a flyweight 880kg and designer Yann Jarsalle claims he sought inspiration from the A110 of yesteryear. Still seems to look remarkably like the Renault Dezir concept to these eyes.

It's on an identical 2625mm wheelbase to the Alpine, but the track between those 21-inch wheels is stretched even wider at both ends.

All those ducts and scoops are said to be properly functional: the left-hand air vent near the rear wheelarch feeds oxygen to the mid-mounted 400bhp 3.5-litre 24v V6, while the right-hand scoop cools the transmission.

Renault unveiled the Alpine A110-50 at the 2012 Monaco grand prix. We especially like the shot with the bodywork pinged open; the doors hinge upwards in scissor fashion, while the front and rear clamshells swivel to give this the look of a Le Mans racer.

It's not far from the truth; the Renault Megane Trophy race car underpinning this concept is a proper track car, and Paris says the A110-50 is a driver. The steering wheel is taken from the racer, and incorporates a colour screen and other track functions.

That mid-mounted engine provides even-Stevens weight distribution, with 48% of the weight over the front axle, the balance of that mass at the rear, according to Renault.

Officially, the Alpine is a trip down memory lane for now. But CAR has interviewed global marketing chief Stephen Norman who's admitted that Renault is considering reintroducing the brand to inject some fizz into the company's image.

Consider the Alpine A110-50 a toe in the water.

By Tim Pollard