cars news 10: Spied! Alpine Sports Car Stays True to the Concept

Our spy photographers recently spotted a camouflaged Alpine sports car looking just about identical to the concept unveiled earlier this year. Expected to make its official debut very soon, the Renault-backed car will compete squarely against the Porsche Cayman.

Just like the Alpine Vision concept, this mule features circular foglights positioned just under the headlights. While retaining the same sloped roofline, flat rear deck, and thin taillights, the Alpine receives a new set of glossy black wheels. Vents positioned below the headlights on the concept look a bit different on this new model, and it’s hard to tell under the camouflage if the character lines on the doors remain the same. Many of the model’s design cues were originally taken from the Alpine A110 sports car of the 1960s.

But unlike the original rear-engine A110, Alpine revealed its new concept with a mid-mounted turbocharged inline-four engine estimated to hit 62 mph in less than 4.5 seconds. Said to be about 660 pounds lighter than a Cayman, the rear-drive Alpine could potentially make around 250 hp. Time will tell if Alpine will keep the same turbo-four for the production car or add new engine options.

Upon revealing the concept, Renault said it hoped to bring the final model to dealerships by early 2017. It should make its public debut before the end of this year.

Photo Source: CarPix