Alpine has finally let go of the handbrake of modesty. It says it will hit the road in 2028 – with a 1,000-horsepower, turbocharged V6 and two electric motors – with the Alpine Alpenglow Hy6 concept. Ferrari? Watch out.
Alpine, a brand we usually associate with nostalgic knotting in curves and classic ease, has decided it's had enough of playing in the sandbox. Now it's going big. Very big, even. Their latest project – Alpine Alpenglow Hy6 – is not just a new toy for millionaires – is a statement. In 2028, a hypercar with 1000 horsepower (745 kW), which will seriously shake the ground under your feet for the first time Ferrari and Lamborghini.
The recipe is clearly proven: a turbo V6 on the rear axle, two electric motors at the front, four-wheel drive, brutal power and – judging by the competition – acceleration in the “what just happened?” range. There is talk of 0 to 100 km/h in less than 2.5 secondse. Speed? Over 320 km/h (200 mph)? Don't ask, just hold on to the steering wheel.
Three reasons why it exists (and none are modest): Alpine Alpenglow Hy6
Philippe Krief, Alpine's chief executive, explained to TopGear that the car will have "three missions". First, to put Alpine alongside the big players. Second, to serve as laboratory of the future – first for this car, then for all other Renault models. And thirdly? That it will bring in money. Yes, unlike most hyperprojects, this one is not just meant for showcases and car shows.
The engine brains – Alpine Hypertech, a branch formed after the demise of Renault's F1 program – develop the powertrain. And if anyone knows how to squeeze every last drop of power out of technology, it's engineers with petrol in their blood and electro-diagnostics in their pockets.
Inspiration: Alpenglow… with a turbo future
Although the car doesn't have a name yet (Alpine Alpenglow Hy6), everyone is already speculating whether it will look like the brutal Alpenglow Hy6 concept. That had 740 horsepower (552 kW), a hydrogen-powered twin-turbo V6, and looks that make you think of the 1980s Batmobile as a family van. But Alpine says – the new hypercar won't be Alpenglow 2.0. It will be something completely new. Something serious.
Alpine expands horizons – even across the Atlantic
This isn't an isolated case of flashbacks, though. Alpine plans to launch five new electric models by 2030. The A110 gets an electric successor, the A310 returns as an electric 2+2 GT, a larger SUV than the A390 is coming to carry Alpine to the US - and finally, this hybrid beast that is set to be the crown jewel of the range.
Target price? More than 200,000 euros. A lot? Maybe. But if it really delivers on what they promise – it'll be one of those cars that doesn't stand in line for accolades. They write them themselves.
Conclusion: Alpine finally opens the throttle all the way
The feeling is like this: Alpine no longer wants to be that boutique brand, known only to rally fans and nostalgics. Now it's aiming high - and if the car of 2028 really offers everything they predict - it will no longer be a quiet French whisper in the automotive world. It will be a scream. The 1000-horsepower, hybrid, technologically uncompromising scream of the future.
Ferrari, Lamborghini and the rest? Watch who's breathing down your neck. And no, it's not a Porsche. This time it comes from Dieppe.
