Renault Sets Production Targets for Alpine Sports Car

Renault SA tells Reuters it expects to make 5,000 Alpine sports cars in 2017 when the relaunched model debuts. Then the company plans to maintain annual output at 3,000 units.

Renault stopped making Alpines 20 years ago. It unveiled the new model as the A110-50 prototype at the 2012 Formula One race in Monaco.

That carbon-fiber-bodied two-seater was powered by a 3.6-liter, 400-hp V-6 engine placed midship. Media reports at the time speculated Renault might offer two versions of the car: one similar to the prototype and another more practical version priced at about €45,000.

Renault initially planned to make the new Alpine in partnership with the U.K.'s Caterham Group through a 50:50 venture announced in late 2012. Each company intended to market its own version of the car. But the partnership ended last June when Renault bought out Caterham's stake.