Alpine Alpenglow Hy6 is a 205mph hydrogen-powered racer

15th October 2024

Simon Ostler

The hydrogen-powered Alpine Alpenglow has returned at the 2024 Paris Motor Show, and it's changed quite a bit from the last time we saw it. Named after the glowing light that shines on a mountain before sunrise, the Alpenglow Hy6 symbolises a new motoring dawn and is being developed to showcase what's possible from a hydrogen-powered racing car.

The original Alpenglow prototype featured a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine, this new Hy6 version is powered by a 3.5-litre hydrogen-fuelled, twin-turbocharged V6, more than doubling the power output to 740PS (544kW).

It’s made up of a solid aluminium block, cast aluminium heads, a dry sump and an Inconel exhaust system specially tuned pump out great sound up to 9,000 rpm. It’s also been fine-tuned to burn hydrogen with a combustion chamber that favours turbulent movements for an even mixture before the spark, avoiding the pre-ignition (or knocking) hydrogen is prone to. The hydrogen is stored in three tanks at 700 bars of pressure.

Outside, the Alpenglow Hy6 is an evolution of the old four-cylinder model with more extreme styling. The new engine – complete with one of the prettiest exhaust manifolds we've ever seen – is displayed under a glass cover inspired by the rear window of the A110 and features NACA air intakes that send cooling to the gearbox oil cooler. Alpine removed the bridge from the see-through rear spoiler to save weight, and you can see condensation forming from exhaust vapour when the car's running.

Alpine designed the doors to give as much entry space as possible, you can slide over the side pods before dropping into its adjustable bucket seats. Once in place, you'll find a driver's display that can change colour and give information on things like passing speeds and cornering G-forces. The display lives in a dashboard modelled on an aircraft's wing, featuring materials like carbon-fibre, aluminium and Alcantara with 3D-printed motifs. The engine starts via a magenta-coloured starter button, and the steering takes inspiration from Alpine’s road cars.

Bruno Famin, VP at Alpine Motorsports, said: "With the development of this brand new Hy6 V6 engine, we are demonstrating our commitment to hydrogen research, which could herald motorsport applications with high-performance levels. A solution for continuing to cultivate the passion for motor racing using a very noble V6 with remarkable specific power and a sound to thrill drivers and spectators with its maximum revs at 9,000 rpm.

"The Alpenglow Hy6 concept is the perfect example of what is possible to achieve the essential step of reducing carbon emissions in motorsport."

For now the Alpenglow remains a concept car, a platform to develop hydrogen combustion technology, and Alpine’s intention is to keep on working on this philosophy. The obvious goal is an entry into the Le Mans 24 Hours when the FIA and ACO are preparing plans to open the entry list to hydrogen-powered prototypes from 2028.