Renault May Revive Alpine, Add Luxury Brand

Renault SA is expected to use this weekend's Formula One race in Monaco to unveil an Alpine concept car that could be used to revive the brand.

Renault was widely expected to reintroduce the Alpine brand several years ago but said in 2009 it canceled those plans during the global economic crisis. Renault bought the company that created the Alpine in 1973 and marketed it as a separate brand of sport models until the mid-1990s.

Design chief Laurens van den Acker told Autocar in January that the company was likely to show an Alpine concept at the Paris auto show in September to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Alpine A110, a rear-engine, fiberglass-bodied coupe in the 1960s and 1970s.

Chief Operating Officer Carlos Tavares tells analysts that Renault also is deciding whether to add a new luxury brand called "Initial Paris," according to Les Echos. The French newspaper reports that he says a decision on both programs will be made by year-end.

Tavares adds that, if approved, both new vehicle lines would be developed in partnership with another carmaker. Media reports speculate that the Alpine concept will ride on the same platform that carries the GT-R supercar developed by alliance partner Nissan Motor Co.