PARIS -- The Alpine Alpenglow concept, a Le Mans-inspired hydrogen powered hypercar, combines the Renault brand’s aspirations for both racing and road cars as it prepares to launch three new full-electric models.
The Alpenglow will make its debut at the Paris auto show on Monday. Alpine is also showing the A110 R, a lightweight version of the sports coupe, as well as the A110 E-ternity, a full-electric concept version that was unveiled in 2021.
The five-meter-long (16 feet) Alpenglow takes its proportions from Le Mans and Formula One race cars, with a single-seat central cockpit nestled between two 700-bar hydrogen tanks. It is less than one meter high.
The concept’s design "hints at what Alpine cars will be like tomorrow, and at our vision for motor sports moving forward," brand CEO Laurent Rossi said in a news release Thursday.
Alpine’s future LMDh-category racing cars will draw on the Alpenglow’s silhouette. The category, which stands for "Le Mans Daytona hypercar," is a semi-spec sports-racing series that will start in 2023 for both the WEC and IMSA.
Alpine plans to enter a WED vehicle in 2024. Entrants can choose from among four chassis, but must use a spec hybrid system; body and engine choice are less restricted.