Renault Alpine GTA/A610

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Renault Alpine GTA & A610

Manufacturer:	Renault
Production:	1986-1995
Body Styles:	RR coupé
Engines:	2.7 V6 PRV 3.0 V6 PRV
Predecessors:	Alpine A310
Successors:	Renault Spider
Competitors:	Nissan 300ZX Porsche 944

The Renault Alpine GTA and Renault Alpine A610 were two successive versions of a coupe automobile produced by the Renault-owned French manufacturer Alpine between 1986 and 1995.

The Alpine GTA was the first car launched by Alpine under Renault ownership (though Alpine had been affiliated with Renault for many years, with its earlier models using many Renault parts). It effectively updated the design of its predecessor, the Alpine A310, updating that car's silhouette with modern design features like body-integrated bumpers and a triangular C pillar with large rear windshield. It used the PRV V6 engine in a rear-engined layout, with extensive use of fibreglass for the body panels making it considerably lighter and quicker than rivals such as the Porsche 944. It was one of the most aerodynamic cars of its time, the normally-aspirated version achieving a world record 0.28 drag coifficient. The PRV engine in the normally aspirated model was identical to the version used in the Renault 25, a 2849cc unit producing 160 hp. Also available was the turbocharged model, which increased the power of the PRV unit to 200 hp.

The Alpine A610 was launched in 1991, and was effectively an extensive revision of the GTA. Many minor changes were made to the exterior, most notably the replacement of the original large headlights with more fashionable pop-up headlights (this was believed to be because the Alpine, when viewed head-on, strongly resembled mid-80s versions of the Ford Sierra). The PRV engine remained, but it was enlarged to 3 litres, which enabled it to produce 250 hp. The A610 did not result in an improvement in sales over the commercially disappointing GTA and the car was discontinued in 1995, despite acclaim from the motoring press, and approval from the British car show Top Gear. The A610 was to be the last car so far to carry the Alpine name; after production of the A610 ended, the Alpine factory in Dieppe produced the Renault Spider.

[edit] Trivia

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Renault Alpine A610/GTA

A Triumph TR7 (with modified bodywork) was used in the special effects as a replacement for Marcus Tandy's A610 in the last episode of BBC 1 soap opera Eldorado, when the car exploded in one of the final scenes.