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86-567: The Grand Tourisme Alpine (or GTA ) is a sporty automobile model produced by the French manufacturer Alpine , launched in 1985. It is the successor to the Alpine A310 , and the first Alpine produced 100% by Renault . It 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). Longer, wider, and taller, it effectively updated

172-434: A Triumph Spitfire and Ferrari 488 Pista can be considered sports cars, despite vastly different levels of performance. Broader definitions of sports cars include cars "in which performance takes precedence over carrying capacity", or that emphasise the "thrill of driving" or are marketed "using the excitement of speed and the glamour of the (race)track" However, other people have more specific definitions, such as "must be

258-522: A 0–97 km/h (0–60 mph) time of 6.3 seconds and a top speed of 240 km/h (149 mph) as tested by Autocar. Sales of the naturally aspirated model were always sluggish, but with the more powerful turbo, things picked up considerably. At the 1986 Birmingham Show , the right-hand-drive version was presented and UK sales, as the Renault GTA, commenced. In early 1987 a catalyzed version appeared, with fifteen fewer horsepower. This meant that

344-417: A German tuner. The fenders are widened, and the front turn signals migrate from the fender tips to the bumper. The fenders and front mask are formed in one piece and rocker panels are added. It has specific ACT wheels " BBS style" with a false central nut. Only three colors are offered: Alpine Blue (No. 488), Imperial Red (No. 570) and Beetle Green (No. 592). This body kit will give the outline of its successor,

430-399: A controversial choice for a "purist" sports car. The Elan sold poorly and was discontinued after three years. The 1996 Lotus Elise , a mid-engined, rear-wheel drive roadster, was much more successful and remained in production until 2021. Roadsters enjoyed a resurgence in the mid-1990s, including the 1989-present Mazda MX-5 , the 1995-2002 BMW Z3 (succeeded by the 2002-2016 BMW Z4 ),

516-423: A fixed roof (which were previously considered grand tourers ). Attributing the definition of 'sports car' to any particular model can be controversial or the subject of debate among enthusiasts. Authors and experts have often contributed their ideas to capture a definition. Insurance companies have also attempted to use mathematical formulae to categorise sports cars, often charging more for insurance due to

602-565: A limited budget at the beginning of the project, its appearance does not differ much from the GTA, and it looks quite similar to the USA GTA with its pop-up headlights. Nonetheless, it is a completely different car, sharing only the windows with the GTA. The basic concepts of all Alpine cars are there (e.g. the rear engine , and the steel backbone chassis that all Alpines since the A110 have had). The car

688-556: A limited edition of 100 cars, also featured a special dark red metallic paintjob, polished aluminium wheels, and a large silver-gray triangular stripe with the Alpine "A" across the left side of the front. In February 1990 the limited edition Le Mans arrived, this car had a more aggressive body kit with polyester wheel arch extensions and a one piece front with smaller headlights. Wheels were 3 piece BBS style produced by ACT, 8x16" front & 10x17" rear. Many of these changes were adopted for

774-642: A mere 80 cars were built. In Jeremy Clarkson's 2007 direct to DVD film Supercar Showdown , the production infamously destroyed a particularly rare right-hand-drive example of the A610, by driving it into a concrete K-rail. 7.3 L/100 km (39 mpg ‑imp ; 32 mpg ‑US ) 9.2 L/100 km (31 mpg ‑imp ; 26 mpg ‑US ) 14.7 L/100 km (19.2 mpg ‑imp ; 16.0 mpg ‑US ) [REDACTED] Media related to Renault Alpine A610/GTA at Wikimedia Commons Sports car A sports car

860-715: A part of the World Championships from 1950 until 1960 despite not being named a Grand Prix. The 1950 British Grand Prix was the first Formula One World Championship Grand Prix. Not included in this list are non-championship Grands Prix held to Formula One regulations from 1946 to 1983 and as part of each of the British Formula One Championship and the South African Formula One Championship . Races have been held under 54 race titles as of

946-399: A pressed-steel chassis, a gated 4-speed transmission, pushrod-actuated overhead inlet valves , a honeycomb radiator, low-tension magneto ignition , a long wheelbase, a low center of mass and a very effective suspension system. The overall result was a "safe and well-balanced machine" with a higher performance than any other contemporary production car. At the 1903 Gordon Bennett Cup ,

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1032-427: A production Simplex 60 hp was entered only due to a specially-built 90 hp racing car being destroyed in a fire; the 60 hp famously went on to win the race. The 1910 Austro-Daimler 27/80 is another early sports car which had success in motor racing. The 27/80 was designed by Ferdinand Porsche , who drove the car to victory in the 1910 Prince Henry Tour motor race. The Vauxhall and Austro-Daimler —like

1118-452: A re-focus on the Alpine name. The Renault logo was gone from the car, with an alpine logo up front and a large "Alpine" print appearing between the taillights. However, as the name 'Alpine' could not be used in the UK the name Alpine was removed from cars destined for the UK; there was no large print at the back of these cars and a UK specific logo was fitted to the front of the car. The Mille Miles,

1204-557: A season. Italy has held the most Grands Prix with 107 since its first in 1950. Only Morocco has staged just one Grand Prix. The most recent addition was the Las Vegas Grand Prix in 2023 . As of the 2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix , 1,123 World Championship events have been held over 75 seasons in 34 countries and under 54 race titles at 77 racing circuits. These figures include the Indianapolis 500 races which were

1290-416: A separate, shorter qualifying session held on Friday. Grands Prix are frequently named after the country, region or city in which they are raced, and in some seasons, nations have hosted more than one event. Should Formula One hold two or more races in the same nation in the same year, on either a different or the same track, then their names will be different. The results of each Grand Prix held throughout

1376-406: A series of races around the world, known as Grands Prix, usually held on purpose-built circuits , and in a few cases on closed city streets . Each Grand Prix meeting lasts three days with either one or three practice sessions before a three-part qualifying session on Saturday to set the starting order for Sunday's race. A Saturday sprint is held at select events, with the starting grid determined by

1462-583: A single-make racing championship, and 69 cars were built (54 in 1985 and 15 more in 1987). The Alpine V6 Turbo model (D 501) was introduced in September 1985. With a larger rear spoiler grille to improve cooling. The C x increases from 0.28 to 0.30. Like the Renault 25 V6 Turbo, the GTA uses the 2458 cc V6 PRV turbocharged engine producing 200 PS (147 kW; 197 hp) at 5750 rpm and 290 N⋅m (214 lb⋅ft) of torque at 2500 rpm. This gave it

1548-620: A two-seater or a 2+2 seater" or a car with two seats only. In the United Kingdom, early recorded usage of the "sports car" was in The Times newspaper in 1919. The first known use of the term in the United States was in 1928. Sports cars started to become popular during the 1920s. The term initially described two-seat roadsters (cars without a fixed roof), however, since the 1970s the term has also been used for cars with

1634-494: Is a type of car that is designed with an emphasis on dynamic performance, such as handling , acceleration, top speed, the thrill of driving, and racing capability. Sports cars originated in Europe in the early 1910s and are currently produced by many manufacturers around the world. Definitions of sports cars often relate to how the car design is optimised for dynamic performance, without any specific minimum requirements; both

1720-452: Is an iconic sports car of the early 1960s, due to its attractive styling and claimed top speed of 241 km/h (150 mph). The E-type was produced for 14 years and was initially powered by a six-cylinder engine, followed by a V12 engine for the final generation. In 1962, the MG B introduced a new era of affordable lightweight four-cylinder roadsters. The MG B used a unibody construction and

1806-406: Is notable for using a three-seat layout, where the front row consists of a centrally-located driver's seat. The location of the engine and driven wheels significantly influence the handling characteristics of a car and are therefore crucial in the design of a sports car. Traditionally, most sports cars have used rear-wheel drive with the engine either located at the front ( FR layout ) or in

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1892-410: Is optimized and the power increases from 185 to 210 PS. The registration was modified accordingly. The Danielson "Le Mans" has almost the same performance as the non-catalyzed V6 Turbo. In acceleration, it can be as fast as a Porsche 911 (964) Carrera 2 or a Ferrari 348 TB (from 100 to 140 km/h (62 to 87 mph) in 9.3 s in fifth gear). This preparation cost at the time 16 000 FRF in addition to

1978-1257: The 2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix . There have been 34 countries that have hosted a Formula One World Championship race, as of the 2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix . Styrian Grand Prix : 2 (2020–2021) Azerbaijan Grand Prix : 7 (2017–2019, 2021–2024)* Sakhir Grand Prix : 1 (2020) São Paulo Grand Prix : 4 (2021–2024)* Swiss Grand Prix : 1 (1982) European Grand Prix : 12 (1984, 1995–1996, 1999–2007) Luxembourg Grand Prix : 2 (1997–1998) Eifel Grand Prix : 1 (2020) Pescara Grand Prix : 1 (1957) San Marino Grand Prix : 26 (1981–2006) Tuscan Grand Prix : 1 (2020) Emilia Romagna Grand Prix : 4 (2020–2022, 2024)* Pacific Grand Prix : 2 (1994–1995) Mexico City Grand Prix : 4 (2021–2024)* European Grand Prix : 7 (1994, 1997, 2008–2012) European Grand Prix , 3 (1983, 1985, 1993) 70th Anniversary Grand Prix , 1 (2020) United States Grand Prix , 45 (1959–1980, 1989–1991, 2000–2007, 2012–2019, 2021–2024)* United States Grand Prix West , 8 (1976–1983) Caesars Palace Grand Prix , 2 (1981–1982) Detroit Grand Prix , 7 (1982–1988) Dallas Grand Prix , 1 (1984) Miami Grand Prix , 3 (2022–2024)* Las Vegas Grand Prix , 2 (2023–2024)* A total of 77 circuits have hosted

2064-623: The 25 Turbo saloon actually gained power when it became catalyzed. In response Danielson SA, a famous French tuner, created an upgraded version of the Le Mans with 154 kW (210 PS). Renault and Alpine quickly considered exporting the GTA to the United States through American Motors , then-partially owned by Renault. A model derived from the V6 Turbo was therefore designed and finalized to adapt to local constraints. In compliance with North American regulations, it lost its front lights under

2150-520: The Audi RS 2 Avant . Ford Europe withdrew from the sports car market at the end of 1986 when the Capri was discontinued after a production run of nearly two decades. There was no direct successor, as Ford was concentrating on higher-performance versions of its hatchback and saloon models at the time. In 1989, a new generation of Lotus Elan roadster was released which used a front-wheel drive layout,

2236-541: The BMW 303 , Citroën Traction Avant and Fiat 508 — offered similar handling and comfort to the more expensive sports cars. Powerful, reliable, and economical (although softly suspended) American saloons began to be imported to Europe in significant numbers. Sports car ownership was increased through models such as the Austin 7 and Wolseley Hornet six , however many of these sports cars did not offer any performance upgrades over

2322-623: The Bentley Speed Six (1928-1930), with the former famously described by Bugatti's founder as "the fastest lorry in the world". Between the Great Depression and the World War II the pre-war era was a period of decline in importance for sports car manufacturers, although the period was not devoid of advances, for example streamlining . Cheap, light-weight family sedans with independent front suspension— such as

2408-520: The Jensen FF became the first sports car to use all-wheel drive . The Ford Capri is a 2+2 coupe that was produced from 1968 to 1986 and intended to be a smaller European equivalent of the Ford Mustang. A main rival to the Capri was Opel Manta , which was produced from 1970 to 1988. The 1973-1978 Lancia Stratos was a mid-engined two-seat coupe that was powered by a Ferrari V6 engine. This

2494-403: The 1905 Isotta Fraschini Tipo D, the 1906 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost , the 1908 Delage , the 1910 Bugatti Type 13 , and the 1912 DFP 12/15 . Early motor racing events included the 1903 Paris–Madrid race , the 1905-1907 Herkomer Trophy, the 1908-1911 Prince Henry Tour and the 1911–present Monte Carlo Rally . The Prince Henry Tours (which were similar to modern car rallies) were among

2580-495: The 1921 Coppa Florio . Another approach— such as that used by Morris Garages— was to convert touring cars into sports cars. The first 24 Hours of Le Mans race for sports cars was held in 1923, although the two-seat sports cars only competed in the smallest class, with the majority of cars entered being four-seat fast touring cars. "This race, together with the Tourist Trophy Series of Races , organised after

2666-404: The 1948 Ferrari 166 S . A new concept altogether was the modern Gran Turismo class from Italy, which was in effect unknown before the war: sustained high-speed motoring from relatively modest engine size and compact closed or berlinetta coachwork. The 1947 Maserati A6 1500 two-seat berlinetta was the first production model from Maserati. In Germany, the motor industry was devastated by

Renault Alpine GTA/A610 - Misplaced Pages Continue

2752-499: The 1980 Deutsche Rennsport Meisterschaft and Giro d'Italia automobilistico marathon. The Montecarlo was a basis for the silhouette racing car , Lancia Rally 037 . In the 1970s, turbocharging began to be adopted by sports cars, such as the BMW 2002 Turbo in 1973, the first Porsche 911 Turbo in 1975, and the Saab 99 Turbo in 1978. Turbocharging became increasingly popular in the 1980s, from relatively affordable coupes such as

2838-452: The 1980–1986 Renault Fuego and 1992–1996 Rover 220 Coupé Turbo , to expensive supercars such as the 1984-1987 Ferrari 288 GTO and 1987-1992 Ferrari F40 . In the late 1980s and early 1990s, several manufacturers developed supercars that competed for production car top speed records . These cars included the 1986–1993 Porsche 959 , 1991–1995 Bugatti EB 110 , 1992–1994 Jaguar XJ220 and 1993–998 McLaren F1 . The 1980-1995 Audi Quattro

2924-506: The 1990s, all-wheel drive has become more common in sports cars. All-wheel drive offers better acceleration and favorable handling characteristics (especially in slippery conditions), but is often heavier and more mechanically complex than traditional layouts. Examples of all-wheel drive sports cars are the Lamborghini Huracan , Bugatti Veyron , and Nissan GT-R . Rear engine layouts are not typical for sports cars, with

3010-578: The 1995-2002 MG F , the 1996–present Porsche Boxster and the 1998–present Audi TT . Formula 1 Grand Prix Formula One , abbreviated to F1, is the highest class of open-wheeled auto racing series managed by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), motorsport's world governing body. The "formula" in the name alludes to a series of FIA rules to which all participants and vehicles are required to conform. The Formula One World Championship season consists of

3096-651: The 375 000 FRF of the basic car. 7.0 L/100 km 7.9 L/100 km 14.7 L/100 km 6.4 L/100 km 8.1 L/100 km 12.8 L/100 km - - - - - - - - - 7.1 L/100 km 9.0 L/100 km 13.9 L/100 km 8.3 L/100 km 10.1 L/100 km 13.7 L/100 km The successor to the Alpine GTA, the Alpine A610 was produced by the Renault-owned French manufacturer Alpine from 1991 to 1995. Due to

3182-603: The 610's engine was downsized to 2,963 cc (3.0 L; 180.8 cu in) in March 1993 to better fit the Swiss taxation system. The A610 Albertville 92 was presented in 1991 for the Olympic Games . Two examples, and other Renault cars, were used to drive VIPs, before being sold. They had a specific color (Gardenia White) and interior, but used the standard engine and technical specifications. The A610 Magny-Cours

3268-568: The 69 cars manufactured between 1984 and 1987, it is estimated that only seven remain in the "civilian" version. All cars left the production lines of the Alpine factory in Dieppe with their registration certificate , but to recover the VAT , some Europa Cups no longer carry the proper paperwork for registration. In July 1985, the Europa Cup model appeared; this limited edition model was intended for

3354-462: The A610. In 1990, Alpine had been obliged by French regulations to clean up its engines. Contrary to the Renault 25 V6 Turbo which sees its power going from 182 to 205 hp, the V6 Turbo of the GTA dropped from 200 to 185 PS because of the various adaptations required to fit it at the rear of the car, in particular for the implementation of the gearbox. With a totally different engine environment,

3440-468: The Mercedes Simplex 60 hp— were production fast touring cars. The 1912 Hispano-Suiza Alfonso XIII is also considered one of the earliest sports cars, as it was a "purpose built, high performance, two-seater production automobile". The model was named after King Alfonso XIII of Spain , a patron of the car's chief designer and an enthusiast for the marque. Other early sports cars include

3526-639: The Turbo could finally be sold in Switzerland and later in other European countries such as Germany and the Netherlands when they adopted stricter legislation. The catalyzed model had lower gearing in the fourth and fifth gears to mask its power deficit. In 1988 anti-lock brakes became available. For the 1989 model year the Mille Miles version appeared. With the non-catalyzed engine, this model heralded

Renault Alpine GTA/A610 - Misplaced Pages Continue

3612-403: The canopy in favor of retractable optics, its bumpers were more protruding and deformable, and side lights were inserted into the bumpers and integrated into adhesive protections. The front bumper grille was widened to improve cooling. The front turn signals were orange. A third brake light was inserted under the rear spoiler. The GTA USA benefitted from a major redesign of the chassis. The tubes of

3698-479: The car appeared during the next year or two, all conforming to the same basic design and earning for themselves a reputation second to none for fast and reliable travel. The 60-h.p. cars were announced late in 1902. The cars were possessed of a very real performance superior to anything else which could be bought at the time... and the model achieved an almost invincible position among the fast cars of its day. The Sports Car: Development and Design The basis for

3784-615: 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 the large rear windshield. Like its predecessor, it used the V6 PRV engine in a rear-engined layout, with extensive use of Polyester plastics and fibreglass for the body panels making it lighter and quicker than rivals such as the Porsche 944 . Passenger room increased, making

3870-411: The development of performance cars such as the 1910 Vauxhall Prince Henry , 1910 Sunbeam 12/16 , 1910 Talbot 25 hp , 1910 Straker-Squire 15 hp and 1913 Star 15.9 hp . Following the halt in sports car production caused by World War I , Europe returned to manufacturing automobiles from around 1920. It was around this time that the term 'Sports Car' began to appear in the motor catalogues, although

3956-400: The early 1920s, the cost to produce a racing car was not significantly higher than a road car, therefore several manufacturers used the design from the current year's racing car for the next year's sports car. For example, the 1921 Ballot 2LS based on the racing car that finished third at the 1921 French Grand Prix. The Benz 28/95PS was also a successful racing car, with victories including

4042-563: The engineers cannot optimize the GTA's pollution control at a reasonable cost without reducing power. The sales volumes of the Alpine do not allow such investments. Apart from the top speed, which drops from 250 to 240 km/h (160 to 150 mph), the decrease in performance is not noticeable. With the help of the Danielson SA company, the after-sales service nevertheless develops a simple and inexpensive engine preparation intended to calm discontented Alpine buyers. The engine management

4128-547: The entire range of this generation, stands for "Grand Tourisme Alpine," but in most markets, the car was marketed as the Renault Alpine V6 GT or as the Renault Alpine V6 Turbo. In Great Britain, it was sold simply as the Renault GTA, as Sunbeam (and then Chrysler/Talbot ) had been using the " Alpine " badge since the 1950s. Rather than being molded in a single piece as for the preceding A310,

4214-463: The exact origin of the name is not known. The decade that followed became known as the vintage era and featured rapid technical advances over the preceding Brass Era cars . Engine performance benefited from the abandonment of " tax horsepower " (where vehicles were taxed based on bore and number of cylinders, rather than actual power output) and the introduction of leaded fuel , which increased power by allowing for higher compression ratios . In

4300-472: The first supercars . Other significant European models of the 1960s and 1970s which might be considered supercars today are the Ferrari 250 GTO (1962-1964), Ferrari 250 GT Lusso (1963-1964), Ferrari 275 GTB/4 (1966-1968), Maserati Ghibli (1967-1973), Ferrari Daytona (1968-1973), Dino 246 (1969-1974), De Tomaso Pantera (1971-1993), Ferrari 308 GTB (1975-1980) and BMW M1 (1978-1981). In 1966,

4386-528: The first World War by the R.A.C. , appealed to the public imagination and offered to the manufacturers of the more sporting cars an excellent opportunity for boosting sales of their products." The classic Italian road races— the Targa Florio , and the Mille Miglia (first held in 1927)— also captured the public's imagination. By 1925, the higher profits available for four-seater cars resulted in

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4472-713: The front structure were replaced by pressed sheet metal. Energy dampers for the shields were added. The sides were reinforced with bars in the doors and doubled side reinforcements. Many of the developments made for the GTA USA chassis were reused on the A610. Renault had planned a federalized version of the Alpine V6 Turbo, originally for the 1986 model year, but development proceeded slowly. The US model had an engine with emissions controls 180 hp (134 kW; 182 PS), bigger bumpers, and flip-up headlamps. Various crash safety improvements were also carried out, and it

4558-799: The inherent risk of performance driving. There is no fixed distinction between sports cars and other categories of performance cars, such as muscle cars and grand tourers , with some cars being members of several categories. Traditionally, the most common layout for sports cars was a roadster (a two-seat car without a fixed roof). However, there are also several examples of early sports cars with four seats. Sports cars are not usually intended to transport more than two adult occupants regularly, so most modern sports cars are generally two-seat or 2+2 layout (two smaller rear seats for children or occasional adult use). Larger cars with more spacious rear-seat accommodation are usually considered sports sedans rather than sports cars. The 1993-1998 McLaren F1

4644-573: The late 1920s were AC Cars , Alfa Romeo , Alvis , Amilcar , Bignan and Samson, Chenard-Walcker , Delage , Hispano-Suiza , Hotchkiss , Mercedes-Benz and Nazzaro . Two cars from the Vintage Era that would influence sports cars for many years were the Austin Seven and MG M-type "Midget". Successful sports cars from Bentley during this era were the Bentley 3 Litre (1921-1929) and

4730-518: The mass-produced cars upon which they were based. The highest selling sports car company of the 1930s was Morris Garages , who produced 'MG Midget' models of the M-Type , J-Type , P-Type and T-Type . The K3 version of the K-Type Magnette was a successful racing car, achieving success in the Mille Miglia , Tourist Trophy and 24 Hours of Le Mans . The Bugatti Type 57 (1934-1940)

4816-537: The middle of the vehicle ( MR layout ). Examples of FR layout sports cars include the Caterham 7 , Mazda MX-5 , and the Dodge Viper . Examples of MR layout sports cars are the Ferrari 488 , Ford GT , and Toyota MR2 . To avoid a front-heavy weight distribution , many FR layout sports cars are designed so that the engine is located further back in the engine bay, as close to the firewall as possible. Since

4902-509: The most Grands Prix on any circuit with 74. The Circuit de Monaco is second with 70 events and the Silverstone Circuit in the United Kingdom is third with 59 races. Austria, Bahrain, Germany, France, Italy, Japan, Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States have all held two Grands Prix in various seasons; the United States ( 1982 , 2023 and 2024 ) and Italy ( 2020 ) are the only countries to have hosted three races during

4988-529: The motoring press, and approval from the British car show Top Gear . The A610 was to be the last car to carry the Alpine name until the 2017 release of the new Alpine A110 . After production of the A610 ended, the Alpine factory in Dieppe produced the Renault Spider . 818 were built, 67 of which were right-hand-drive. Sales the first two years were acceptable, but from 1993 until production ended in 1995

5074-426: The naturally aspirated model was identical to the version used in the Renault 25 , a 2849 cc unit producing 160 PS (118 kW; 158 hp). The small power gain compensated for the weight increase, up by 92 kg (203 lb). Also available was the more powerful turbocharged model, which used a smaller (2.5-liter) displacement. The central backbone chassis (with outriggers for side impact protection)

5160-418: The new Alpine's body was molded in a large number of small separate panels. This required a significant overhaul of the Alpine plant, leaving only the sandblasting machinery intact. The car was also considerably more efficient to manufacture, with the time necessary to build a finished car dropping from 130 to 77 hours - which was still a long time but acceptable for a small-volume specialty car. The PRV engine in

5246-755: The notable exception of the Porsche 911 . The front-wheel drive layout with the engine at the front ( FF layout ) is generally the most common for cars, but it is not as common among traditional sports cars. Nonetheless, the FF layout is used by sport compacts and hot hatches such as the Mazdaspeed3 . Sports cars with an FF layout include the Fiat Barchetta , Saab Sonett , or Opel Tigra . The ancestor of all high-performance cars had its origin in Germany. The 28-h.p. Cannstatt-Daimler racing car of 1899

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5332-456: The philosophy of achieving performance through minimizing weight and has been rated as one of the top 10 sports cars of the 1960s. The Elan featured fibreglass bodies, a backbone chassis, and overhead camshaft engines. A different style of roadster was the AC Cobra , released in 1962, which was fitted with V8 engines up to 7.0 L (427 cu in) in size by Shelby . The Porsche 911

5418-423: The production of two-seat sports cars being limited to smaller manufacturers such as Aston-Martin (350 Astons built from 1921 to 1939) and Frazer-Nash (323 cars built from 1924 to 1939). Then by the late 1920s, the cost of producing racing cars (especially Grand Prix cars) escalated, causing more manufacturers to produce cars for the growing sports car market instead. Significant manufacturers of sports cars in

5504-492: The rear seat more useful, while equipment was much more complete and now included items such as power locks. It was one of the most aerodynamic cars of its time, and the naturally aspirated version achieved a record 0.28 drag coefficient in its class. Due to its bigger tires and need for more cooling intakes, the Turbo's drag coefficient was a bit higher: 0.30 C x {\displaystyle \scriptstyle C_{\mathrm {x} }\,} . The GTA name, used to denote

5590-786: The season are combined to decide two annual championships, one for drivers and one for constructors . Grand Prix distance regulations have varied throughout Formula One history. Between 1950 and 1957 , events ran for more than 300 km (190 mi) or three hours. In 1958 , race lengths were set between 300 and 500 km (190 and 310 mi) or two hours. It was reduced to between 300 and 400 km (190 and 250 mi) from 1966 with an established maximum length of 321.87 km (200.00 mi) in 1971 . From 1973 to 1980 , races had to last either 321.87 km (200.00 mi) or two hours, whichever came first. Distances of between 250 and 320 km (160 and 200 mi) or two hours were used from 1981 to 1984 . The minimum distance

5676-611: The six full years was just above 1000 per annum, or just above three per day - almost identical to the A310 V6's annual production. Alpine wanted to launch a complete range of models. Three models were announced for public use. Presented in November 1984, it is the base version. With a C x of 0.28, and an SC x of 0.48, the V6 GT set a record for aerodynamics at the time for a car in this category. The first model introduced

5762-558: The sporting events of the period, bringing renown to successful entrants. The Prince Henry Tours started the evolution of reasonably large and technically advanced production sports cars. In England, the development of sporting cars was inhibited by the Motor Car Act 1903 , which imposed a speed limit of 20 mph (32 km/h) on all public roads. This led to the 1907 opening of the Brooklands motor circuit , which inspired

5848-408: The sports car is traced to the early 20th century touring cars and roadsters , and the term 'sports car' would not be coined until after World War One. A car considered to be "a sports-car years ahead of its time" is the 1903 Mercedes Simplex 60 hp , described at the time as a fast touring car and designed by Wilhelm Maybach and Paul Daimler . The Mercedes included pioneering features such as

5934-476: The sports car, but also the most important and diverse technical developments [and] very rapid and genuine improvement in the qualities of every modern production car; assisted by new design and manufacturing techniques a consistently higher level of handling properties has been achieved." In Italy, a small but wealthy market segment allowed for the manufacture of a limited number of high-performance models directly allied to contemporary Grand Prix machines, such as

6020-418: The succeeding A610. The regular V6 GT and V6 Turbo ended production during 1990, while the Le Mans version continued to be produced until February 1991. 325 of these were built in total. Also in 1990, Renault was forced to install the less powerful catalyzed engine in cars destined for the home market, leading to grumbling amongst Alpine enthusiasts about the loss of power (down to 136 kW (185 PS)) while

6106-522: The time of the withdrawal, 21 pre-series cars had been finished. Twelve of these were sold by Alpine directly to specially selected customers in France. The Le Mans was released in February 1990, with a plan of building 300 units. 325 were built until February 1991. It used the catalyzed V6 Turb engine, with power dropping from 200 to 185 PS. It is equipped with a body kit derived from the one proposed by

6192-478: The war, but a small number of manufacturers returned it to prominence. In 1948, the Porsche 356 was released as the debut model from Porsche. The significance of the Porsche 356 and its successors was described in 1957 as "future historians must see them as among the most important of mid-century production cars". The 1954 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL is another significant car from this era. The 1961 Jaguar E-Type

6278-415: Was a pioneering all-wheel drive sports car. The 1995 Porsche 911 Turbo (993) saw the 911 Turbo model switch to all-wheel drive, a drivetrain layout that the model uses to this day. The BMW M3 was released in 1986 and has been produced for every generation since. The 1993-1996 Mercedes-Benz W124 E36 AMG was the mass-produced AMG model. Audi's equivalent division, called "RS", was launched in 1994 with

6364-684: Was an unusual arrangement for a car used to compete in rallying, nonetheless it was very successful and won the World Rally Championship in 1974 , 1975 , and 1976 . The Lancia Montecarlo was produced from 1975 to 1981 and is a mid-engine two-seater, available as a coupé or a targa-top. It was sold as Lancia Scorpion in the USA. Its racing variant, Montecarlo Turbo, won the 1979 World Championship for Makes in its division and overall for 1980 World Championship for Makes and 1981 World Endurance Championship for Makes . Montecarlo also won

6450-627: Was another significant sports car of the pre-war era and is now among the most valuable cars in the world. The T57 was successful in sports car races, including winning the 1937 24 Hours of Le Mans and 1939 24 Hours of Le Mans . Another successful Bugatti sports car was the Bugatti Type 55 (1932-1935), which was based on the Type 51 Grand Prix racing car. The decade following the Second World War saw an "immense growth of interest in

6536-517: Was built by Heuliez and then transferred to Dieppe. Aside from the body, most of the car was subcontracted to various suppliers. The drivetrain was mounted on a separate subframe, meaning it can be removed in as little as two hours. It was also moved 40 mm (1.6 in) forward (making the rear overhang shorter while nearly all other dimensions increased) compared to the A310, improving somewhat on that car's tailwards weight distribution. The transmission

6622-573: Was created for the Williams - Renault Formula One victory in the French Grand Prix at Magny-Cours in July 1991 . 31 cars were built, with specific color and interior. They carry a "Magny-Cours" legend on the doors and have body-colored rims. 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

6708-627: Was four hours, before being reduced to three hours for 2021 . The British Grand Prix and Italian Grand Prix are the most frequently held events in the Formula One World Championship with 75 editions each since the races first formed a part of the series in 1950, followed by the Monaco Grand Prix which has been held 70 times, all on the same course, the Circuit de Monaco . Italy's Monza Circuit has hosted

6794-565: Was planned to install softer suspension. AMC/Renault was planning a mid-1987 introduction, hoping to sell 3,000 Alpines per year (with an additional 300 cars slated for Canada). In March 1987, however, Renault sold its share in American Motors to Chrysler and began to withdraw from the American and Canadian markets. Commentators had already expressed concern about AMC dealers being able to handle such an expensive and complicated car. By

6880-694: Was produced until 1980. Other successful lightweight roadsters include the Triumph Spitfire (1962-1980) and the Alfa Romeo Spider (1966-1993). The Fiat X1/9 (1972-1989) was unusual for its use of a mid-engine design in an affordable roadster model. A late entrant to the affordable roadster market was the 1975 Triumph TR7 , however by the late 1970s the demand for this style of car was in decline, resulting in production ceasing in 1982. The original Lotus Elan (1962-1975) two-seat coupe and roadster models are an early commercial success for

6966-675: Was released in 1964 and has remained in production since. The 911 is notable for its use of the uncommon rear-engine design and the use of a flat-six engine . Another successful rear-engine sports car was the original Alpine A110 (1961-1977), which was a successful rally car during the Group 4 era. In 1965, the BMW New Class Coupes were released, leading to the BMW 6 Series which remains in production to this day. The Lamborghini Miura (1966) and Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale (1967) mid-engined high-performance cars are often cited as

7052-482: Was revised to 300 km (190 mi) including the formation lap in 1984 and the maximum length was standardised at 305 km (190 mi) in 1989 . The exception to the rule is the Monaco Grand Prix , which has a scheduled length of at least 260 km (160 mi). No race can last more than two hours if it goes unhalted. From 2012 , the maximum permitted race time including probable stoppages

7138-420: Was solely branded as an Alpine , as linking Alpine and Renault together (first as Alpine-Renault then Renault-Alpine) seemed to detract from the Alpine brand's sporty image. The PRV engine remained, but it was enlarged to 3.0 litres (2,975 cc), which enabled it to produce 184 kW; 247 bhp (250 PS) at 5,750 rpm and 350 N⋅m (258 lbf⋅ft) of torque at 2,900 rpm. As with all PRV engines,

7224-559: Was the naturally aspirated V6 GT (D 500), which entered production in November 1984, although press photos had been released in September 1984. The car was first shown at the 1985 Amsterdam Rai, immediately after which it also went on sale. The Europa Cup was initially rolled out in July 1985. The model was conceived for racing during the Formula 1 Grand Prix in Europe, hence its name. Of

7310-468: Was the same Renault 30 -based unit that the A310 had used, with some minor changes and somewhat longer fourth and fifth gears. Those gears were taller than for the GT Turbo model. At the time of introduction, the daily production number amounted to ten cars. This soon dropped considerably, as the somewhat less than prestigious Renault had a hard time in the sports car marketplace. The average production for

7396-417: Was without a doubt the first attempt to give real performance to a road car. Many of its features, such as a honeycomb radiator and gate gear change, were continued on the much improved version which Paul Daimler designed in 1899-1900. This was of course the famous Mercedes. It also laid down standards of chassis design which were to be followed, almost unthinkingly, for the next thirty years. Several variants of

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