Renault to revive Alpine name for "radical" new sports car

Renault is working on not one, but a whole line of new sportscars to add to its current line-up of hatchbacks and minivans. Our European brethren aren't likely to see anything within the next three years – despite earlier rumors that a small roadster would be coming in 2009 – as Renault has a couple dozen new models making their debut before the end of the decade. But when they do come, the French automaker promises the line will include a "radical sports car" – their words, not ours.

The presence of sportier models in the Renault line-up would give the French automaker a better opportunity to capitalize on its Formula One prowess, having won two back-to-back world championships with Fernando Alonso and trying desperately to get back to the winner's circle again. While other front-running F1 teams like Ferrari and McLaren put their F1 tech into supercars like the 430 Scuderia and SLR respectively, Renault's titles get translated to the road through considerably more modest hatchbacks.

Rather than coming up with a new name for its "radical sports car", Renault will reportedly jump on the retro-nameplate bandwagon and revive the classic Alpine brand for its new sportier models.

[Source: Motor Authority]