Alpine A110 R

The Alpine A110 R sits in an unusual position beside the Alpine A110 in the catalogue: it is not defined by chasing the highest figures, but by how deliberately it occupies its own space. With a power rank of 510 out of 600 cars, its 296 bhp places it far from the upper end of outright output, yet the rest of the picture reveals a more focused character.

The A110 R reaches 100 km/h in 4 seconds, making it faster than 283 cars in the catalogue, a result that places it 317th overall for acceleration. Its top speed of 284 km/h sits at rank 339 of 600. These numbers show a car whose appeal is not built around dominating individual categories, but around the relationship between its compact performance package and the wider collection around it.

That distinction comes into sharper focus through its engineering layout. The A110 R uses a turbocharged inline-4 with 1.8 litres of displacement, producing 340 Nm of torque and sending power to the rear wheels. Only 30 of the 600 cars combine an inline-4 engine with RWD, while 58 are turbocharged inline-4 cars. The combination is therefore a notable thread within the catalogue, a specific formula rather than a common one.

The A110 R is also a French entry in a collection where just 23 of 600 cars come from France. Alpine itself contributes three cars to the catalogue, giving this model a distinct place within a smaller group of vehicles. Its used price of £75,000 places it at rank 359 for cost, meaning 241 cars in the catalogue are more expensive. At £253 per bhp, it sits as a considered performance proposition rather than a simple numbers contest.

The fixed-head coupé two-seater shape reinforces the car’s clear purpose. It is a 2022 sports car with a balance of 296 bhp, 4-second acceleration and rear-wheel drive, a combination that prioritises a particular interpretation of performance.

For a collector choosing from 600 cars, the Alpine A110 R presents a judgement that cannot be reduced to rankings alone. Its place beside the Alpine A110 is about whether a focused, French, turbocharged inline-4 rear-wheel-drive sports car adds the kind of distinction a garage needs. The figures define its boundaries, but the final decision belongs to the person deciding which character they want represented when the doors open.