Alpine unveils a prototype of the A110 electric car.

Alpine's only current product is a lightweight mid-engine sports car called the A110, which was launched in 2017 and represented a resurgence for the brand.

However, the French performance brand and Formula 1 team plans to transition to electric vehicles in the future, with Alpine working on at least three electric cars. These include a crossover, a hot hatch, and a sports car to replace the A110.

The sports car, due in 2026, is being developed in partnership with Lotus on the British brand's new E-Sports platform, while Alpine is celebrating the brand's 60th anniversary as a rolling laboratory for future EVs with an electric current A110 car version was built.

Called the A110 E-ternite, the electric A110 was unveiled Friday at the French Grand Prix at Circuit Paul Ricard this weekend. Powered by a single electric motor with a maximum output of 238 hp and 221 lb-ft of torque, it drives the rear wheels via a two-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, accelerating from 0-62 mph in 4.5 seconds and reaching a top speed of 155 mph, which is faster than the 1.8-liter inline-4 of the base A110 turbo (248 hp) of the base A110.

There is a significant weight penalty for electrification. The battery alone weighs 864 pounds and the vehicle weighs 3,038 pounds, making it 569 pounds heavier than the gasoline-powered A110. The battery has a capacity of 60 kilowatt-hours and an estimated range of 260 miles on the WLTP cycle and probably around 200 miles on the EPA cycle. To achieve such a range, the A110 electric car would need to be driven like a regular car, not a sports car.

Much of the electric hardware was borrowed from parent company Renault's Megane E-Tech.

Besides the powertrain, Alpine added several features that might be found in the current A110. The highlight is a removable roof, consisting of two carbon fiber panels that must be manually removed and stowed. There is also a new infotainment system, a new audio system, and body panels made of flax fiber, a plant-derived material that Alpine says has similar strength and weight properties to carbon fiber, but with better acoustic properties.

Alpine's first production EV will be a tuned version of the Renault hatchback that was teased last year in the Renault 5 prototype. It will go on sale in 2024. A year later, Alpine will unveil a crossover called the GT X-Over; the A110's successor will arrive in 2026.