Renault Plans More Alpine Models

Renault SA is developing a family of Alpine-branded models to follow the previously announced sports car due in about a year, Autocar reports. The rollout will include a high-performance variant in 2017, a crossover/SUV in 2018 and other unspecified Alpine-badged vehicles in subsequent years, according to the report.

Both versions of the sports car will be powered by a turbocharged 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine in a mid-rear configuration. Autocar says the base model will make 250 hp, while the high-performance car will be tuned to generate 300 hp.

The development of the Alpine SUV is at an advanced stage, according to the report. It says the vehicle could include a hybrid-electric four-wheel-drive variant similar to what Renault partner Nissan Motor Co. is planning for its next-generation "Z" model.

Renault stopped producing Alpine vehicles about 20 years ago. It announced plans to relaunch the sub-brand in late 2012. The program initially was to be a partnership with the U.K.'s Caterham Group until Renault bought out Caterham's stake in the venture in 2014.