Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[REPORT: Renault to relaunch Gordini performance brand in 2010]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/03/06/report-renault-to-relaunch-gordini-performance-brand-in-2010/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/03/06/report-renault-to-relaunch-gordini-performance-brand-in-2010/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/03/06/report-renault-to-relaunch-gordini-performance-brand-in-2010/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,



While it may seem like an inopportune time to exhume a performance marque, that's just what Renault is up to, says Car. According to the U.K. glossy, Renault will relaunch the Gordini brand in Europe next year with a new Twingo variant. You may recall that it was recently revealed that the French automaker's plans to bring back its storied Alpine product line has been axed, but the decades-dormant Gordini is apparently a different matter altogether.

The new lineup of hot hatches will slot in above current Renaultsport offerings, with the aforementioned Twingo reportedly being followed by Clio and Megane Coupe models. Like the Gordini-tuned cars of yore, the new models are tipped to wear blue paint and white stripes along with various performance upgrades that will make them a likely foil to Fiat's reborn Abarth lineup.

[Source: Car]

REPORT: Renault to relaunch Gordini performance brand in 2010 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 06 Mar 2009 18:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AbarthAlpinecar magazineCarMagazinecliofiatGordinihot hatchHotHatchmegane coupeMeganeCoupeRenaultrenault alpineRenaultAlpineRenaultsportTwingoFri, 06 Mar 2009 18:27:00 EST<![CDATA[REPORT: Renault's Alpine revival is D.O.A.]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/26/renault-alpine-revivial-is-doa/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/26/renault-alpine-revivial-is-doa/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/26/renault-alpine-revivial-is-doa/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Just like that, it's over. Renault had been working on bringing back the Alpine nameplate with a sports car being co-developed as the Nissan 200SX. But according to Autocar, economic strain has led to the vaporization of both programs, even though development was quite far along. Rumors have been swirling for a long time about the revival of the Alpine offshoot, with a mid-mounted engine driving the rear wheels, or even sharing Nissan's 370Z platform. There seems to be no return to the planning for now, so we'll just keep gazing dreamily at past Alpines until something new pops up.

[Source: Autocar]

REPORT: Renault's Alpine revival is D.O.A. originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 26 Feb 2009 09:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alpinerenaultrenault alpinerenault alpine cancelledrenault alpine conceptrenault cancelledRenaultAlpineRenaultAlpineCancelledRenaultAlpineConceptRenaultCancelledThu, 26 Feb 2009 09:28:00 EST<![CDATA[Rendered Speculation: Brazilian student dreams up new Renault Alpine]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/16/rendered-speculation-brazilian-student-dreams-up-new-renault-al/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/16/rendered-speculation-brazilian-student-dreams-up-new-renault-al/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/16/rendered-speculation-brazilian-student-dreams-up-new-renault-al/#comments
Click above for a high-res gallery of Marcello Felipe Maggioni's Renault New Alpine

Between the GT-R and the Z-car, Nissan has a rich history of fine sportscars. However, its French sister company is another story. Since discontinuing the Alpine in 1996, Renault's sporting spirit has had to subside on hot hatches and in its F1 program. Remarkable as they are, the French automaker has been working on bringing back the Alpine sportscar line, with a new model anticipated to debut sometime next year. That's a long way off, if you ask Brazilian design student Marcello Felipe Maggioni. So he's come up with a design of his own for the new Alpine.

The concept is characterized by a chopped-down greenhouse and low-slung headlamps, creating a wedge shape similar in style to the Lexus LF-A. Maggioni based the design around a mid-engine layout, with a homologated street-legal version of the high-revving 2.4-liter V8 from the Renault F1 car. Of course this is well beyond what Renault might actually produce to revive the Alpine nameplate, but if you're going to dream, why not dream big?

Gallery: Renault New Alpine concept by Marcello Felipe


[Source: Serious Wheels]

Rendered Speculation: Brazilian student dreams up new Renault Alpine originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 16 Jan 2009 09:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alpinealpine conceptAlpineConceptmarcello felipe maggionimarcello maggioniMarcelloFelipeMaggioniMarcelloMaggionirenaultrenault alpinerenault alpine conceptRenaultAlpineRenaultAlpineConceptFri, 16 Jan 2009 09:27:00 EST<![CDATA[Geneva '08 Preview: Renault to show new Alpine?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/18/geneva-08-preview-renault-to-show-new-alpine/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/18/geneva-08-preview-renault-to-show-new-alpine/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/18/geneva-08-preview-renault-to-show-new-alpine/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Wildfire rumors that Renault is preparing to launch an unspecified "desirable" concept car at the upcoming Geneva show, alongside the new Koleos crossover, have had fuel added. Patrick Pelata, the French automaker's product planning exec-veep, confirmed that Renault is working on a new sportscar. "Think Mazda MX-5 or even Smart Roadster and you are on the right lines", said Pelata in a recent interview.

If previous reports hold their water, the small roadster will have more content than the previous bare-bones Renault Sport Spider, and could feature a mid-mounted turbocharged engine driving the rear wheels. Reviving the Alpine name, the new model is also expected to be just the first of a new line-up of sportscars that would capitalize on Renault's success in Formula One. Meanwhile marketing chief Stephen Norman revealed that the company is also working on a new flagship sedan positioned above the new Laguna set to target fellow French rivals from PSA Peugeot-Citroen. With just two weeks to go, we'll just have to sit tight and see what Renault has in store for us this year in Switzerland.

[Source: AM Online - free subscription required]

Geneva '08 Preview: Renault to show new Alpine? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 18 Feb 2008 18:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>geneva renaultGenevaRenaultrenault alpinerenault flagship sedanrenault mx-5 rivalRenaultAlpineRenaultFlagshipSedanRenaultMx-5RivalMon, 18 Feb 2008 18:21:00 EST<![CDATA[Renault Alpine coming in 2010 with midship turbo-power]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/29/renault-alpine-coming-in-2010-with-midship-turbo-power/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/29/renault-alpine-coming-in-2010-with-midship-turbo-power/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/29/renault-alpine-coming-in-2010-with-midship-turbo-power/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



Renault hasn't done much to tap into its Formula One successes, nor has it provided credible competition to the RX-8s and 350Zs of the world. That's all going to change come 2010. Renault is expected to revive the much-loved Alpine name and slap it on the back of two-door coupe powered by a turbocharged engine mounted amidships. AutoExpress has it on good authority that designers are wrapping up the exterior and that a Megane-bodied mule caught testing on the Nurburgring is actually the new Alpine being put through its paces. Renault is confident that the new coupe won't go the way of the Sport Spider that was dropped in 1997 after it was maligned for offering little refinement and even less practicality. We're hoping to see the Alpine make its concept debut in Paris next year.

[Source: AutoExpress]

Renault Alpine coming in 2010 with midship turbo-power originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 29 Nov 2007 09:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alpineparisparis motor showParisMotorShowrenaultrenault alpineRenaultAlpineThu, 29 Nov 2007 09:03:00 EST