Renault Might Revive Alpine, Add Premium Brand

Chief Operating Officer Carlos Tavares tells an analyst conference that Renault SA will decide by year-end whether to add an upscale brand dubbed "Initial Paris," Les Echos reports.

Renault also will decide by that time whether to revive the Alpine sports car line, as it has long discussed, according to the French newspaper. It adds that Tavares says that if the projects are approved, new models would be developed in cooperation with other carmakers.

A photo of Renault's Alpine concept car was leaked on the Internet this week ahead of its official unveiling this weekend at the Monaco Grand Prix. Reports speculate that the concept is named the ZAR, which might eventually go into production, based on the platform of the GT-R performance car made by with alliance partner Nissan Motor Co.