Browse
Log in / Register
Share
Alpine confirmed on Oct. 8, 2024 that a new concept called Projet Spécial 1 will make its debut at the Paris motor show, which opens Oct. 14. The French brand released a single teaser image alongside the announcement, and it is already generating debate over what the PS1 will eventually become.
PS1 is an unusual name. Alpine says it deliberately sits outside the “everyday” range, meaning the A290 hatch, the A390 crossover and the A110 sports car. In other words, this is not a small update or a trim-level exercise. The company wants people to see it as something separate, a special project with its own identity.
That separation matters. A concept named Projet Spécial 1 could be a styling study for a future flagship, or it could be a more emotional design statement that never reaches production. Alpine has not said which direction is more likely. What it has shown us, though, gives a few clear clues.
The teaser image is mostly shadow, but the details are enough to work with. The most obvious element is a narrow headlight, glowing in the colours of the French flag. That is a patriotic signal, but almost every brand does something similar at a home show. The more interesting detail is the bodywork around that headlight.
There is a straight-edged fender line that cuts across the front of the car. That is a direct reminder of the original A310, the four-seat GT Alpine built between 1971 and 1984. Unlike the curvier A110, the A310 had a cleaner, more geometric face. The new teaser appears to borrow that same visual language, which is why the PS1 is already being linked to a future A310 revival.
At the rear, the silhouette seems to include a prominent spoiler. It is not possible to tell from a single image whether it is a fixed wing or an active unit, but it is clearly more aggressive than anything on the current A110. That kind of aero can point in two directions: a hardcore track-tuned model, or a high-power hybrid with serious downforce requirements.
Alpine is also showing a sculpture in Paris that hints at the next-generation A110. The fact that the PS1 is being kept separate from that sculpture is significant. If the PS1 were simply a preview of the next entry-level sports car, there would be no need for two different displays. Instead, Alpine appears to be using the PS1 to ask a different question.
One possibility is that the PS1 previews Alpine’s planned flagship supercar. The company has previously been linked with a Ferrari SF90 rival for 2028. That model is expected to use a turbocharged V6 combined with electric motors to produce more than 1,000bhp. A concept shown now would fit the normal production timeline: brand styling first, engineering validation later, showroom arrival in roughly three or four years.
A large rear wing makes sense for that car. A 1,000bhp hybrid needs strong aero, especially if Alpine wants the road car version to be stable at very high speed. The narrow headlight and flattened nose in the teaser also match the look of modern mid-engined supercars, which are gradually moving away from the rounder, retro-inspired forms of today’s A110.
The other possibility is slightly less extreme but maybe more commercially important. Alpine has been planning a second sports car line for some time, and the A310 is the obvious name to bring back. Autocar has previously reported that a new A310 is due in around two years as a 2+2 rival to the Porsche 911. That car would allow Alpine to keep its driving-focused character while adding more practicality.
A 2+2 GT would also need a differentiated design. It should not be mistaken for a stretched A110, and it should not look like a regular four-door coupe. The straight-edged fender tip seen in the PS1 teaser could be exactly the kind of unique detail that gives an A310 successor its own face. It is a nod to the past without being a retro copy.
There is also a chance that the PS1 combines both ideas. Concept cars are often used to test styling cues for several upcoming models at once. That is especially common at a home-market show, where the brand wants to create a strong visual impression without saying too much about production plans.
Alpine has not confirmed a powertrain for the PS1. It has not even confirmed whether the car is a static model or a running prototype. That level of secrecy is standard for concepts, but it makes the teaser even more important. Every design detail has been chosen carefully, and the tall rear deck, long hood and slim headlight are not accidental.
From an industry perspective, the timing is also strategic. The Paris motor show is smaller than it used to be, but it remains the most significant event in Alpine’s home market. Revealing a concept there sends a message that Alpine is not shrinking away from high-performance, even as it moves into electric crossovers and urban cars.
The A290 and A390 will handle the mainstream sales. The A110 will continue to represent the core sports-car spirit. The PS1, if nothing else, is Alpine’s way of saying there is still space for a more extreme or more expressive project in the brand’s future.
The show will provide a clearer answer very soon. Until then, the debate over whether the PS1 is a 1,000bhp hybrid flagship or a romantic GT concept will only get louder. Either way, Alpine has succeeded in making the road to Paris more interesting.
