SPIED: Alpine-Caterham coupe starts track testing

Alpine-mule-1

We haven’t put a wrong title on; what you see here really is the Alpine-Caterham lightweight sports car project caught field-testing. There isn’t a recent Alpine or Caterham body that’s suitable to use for the test mule, so an old Lotus Exige skin will do.

What gave its identity away, you ask? For starters, it’s running on French plates, and our European spy photographers CarPix said that an entourage of Renault Sport models escorted the test mule around the track. It looks to be an early prototype test to see how the mechanical package stacks up.

Nothing much to comment on the car seen here, other than its heavily blistered wheelarches hiding a much wider chassis on the final production car. What we do know of the upcoming model is that it will be a lightweight, mid-engined sports car in the mould of the classic Alpine A110 from the Sixties, which last year’s A110-50 Concept paid homage to.

In modern terms it’ll be closer to the Alfa Romeo 4C rather than the Mazda MX-5 in terms of character and price. Co-developed with Caterham, the Renault-owned Alpine will be built in Dieppe, France – the same base where the brand built its World Rally Championship-winning legacy in.

Looking to sell your car? Sell it with Carro.

10% discount when you renew your car insurance

Compare prices between different insurer providers and use the promo code 'PAULTAN10' when you make your payment to save the most on your car insurance renewal compared to other competing services.

Car Insurance

Hafriz Shah

Preferring to drive cars rather than desks, Hafriz Shah ditched his suit and tie to join the ranks of Malaysia’s motoring hacks. A car’s technical brilliance is completely lost on him, appreciating character-making quirks more. When not writing this ego trip of a bio, he’s usually off driving about aimlessly, preferably in a car with the right combination of three foot pedals and six gears.

 

Comments

  • Next level camo.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Dru-Zod on Jul 17, 2013 at 2:18 pm

    Mules could be an indication of what is to come based on modification done on the body, wheelbase, suspension etc. Exterior wise, this Exige looks quite stock. Maybe the Alpine could use the Elise/ Exige chassis. Just a thought.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • Bryan on Jul 17, 2013 at 2:23 pm

    Prior to the launch of this car. I really hope Tony Fernandes could take some time off pretending to be a demi-god and firing people on a reality television show, and focus more on getting good people on-board his CaterHam F1 team….
    With the resources he has behind the team, the results he is getting is shite. Looks like he could focus more on firing people there or himself…..

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 3
  • jolly_idiot on Jul 17, 2013 at 2:35 pm

    An indication proton buying caterham? Or vise versa?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 3
  • Joe Radzif on Jul 17, 2013 at 3:52 pm

    Lotus, are u there under the skin?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 1
 

Add a comment

required

required