Legendary French sportscar manufacturer Alpine is continuing its Renault-driven renaissance with a World Endurance Championship competitor. The A460 will compete in the LMP2 class, with Renault Alpine hoping to carry on the legacy of the A441 that took out the European Sport-Prototype Championship in 1974.
Although Renault Alpine has been out of the road car game for a while, 2016 is its second year in the World Endurance Championship. Last year saw the team's A450 finish fourth in LMP2 class, a result it will be keen to build on with a brand new car this year.
Hiding underneath the A460's aero-focused prototype body is a 5.0-liter VK45 Nissan V8. Weighing in at 150 kg (330 lb), the motor generates 410 kW (550 hp) of power and 580 Nm of torque, which should be enough to shift the car's 900 kg (1,984 lb) heft without too much trouble. Power is put to the rear wheels through a transverse mounted, six-speed paddleshift gearbox.
The A460's carbon and kevlar body is wrapped around a carbon fiber monocoque chassis, which provides a stiff mounting point for the double wishbone suspension system. The whole package sits on Dunlop tires measuring 30/65R18 at the front and 31/71R18 at the rear, with vented carbon brakes in charge of stopping the whole package.
The cars will first compete at Silverstone on April 17, and join the ice-cool Alpine Vision concept as a part of Alpine's relaunch.
Source: Renault