Alpine A110 R Ultime pushes the A110 further than ever

With 350PS (257kW), the R has 100PS (74kW) more than the standard A110 and it produces 80Nm more torque, with a maximum of 420Nm (310lb ft) chiming in from 3,200rpm. That's good for a 3.2 kg/hp power-to-weight ratio and 0-62mph in just 3.8 seconds.

The extra performance comes from a dreamland shopping list that includes a modified turbocharger and an Akrapovic titanium exhaust system, but also a DW6 gearbox, Ohlin dampers and AP Racing brakes with 330mm bi-material discs, high-performance pads and improved cooling. Power is sent to the road via 19-inch wheels at the rear (18 at the front) shod in Michelin PS2 Cup tyres. 

Alpine has also been busy in the wind tunnel, so the R Ultime produces an extra 160kg of downforce next to an Alpine A110 R Turini at Vmax. The result is what Alpine calls a "road legal circuit" car. A posh one at that.

You can customise your A110 R Ultime in a choice of two finishes: swanky Atelier or Atelier Sur-Mesure, for all the bells and whistles. 

Atelier offers 27 exterior colours and Alcantara upholstery, finished in Grey, Red, Blue or Orange, that extends to Sabelt seats, steering wheel stitching, dashboard, door decorations, centre console and floor mats.

For “a complete premium experience” you’ll want Atelier Sur-Mesure, which lets your creative juices flow with a choice of nine additional Alcantara interior colours, ten more leather colours and three finishing techniques: embroidery, embossing and leather braiding.

Leather or microfibre packs the car from floor to ceiling, including the centre console, dashboard, steering wheel and doors. On the outside, you can have the car's carbon-fibre bonnet, upper air intakes, rear window, fin and spoiler finished in your own bespoke colour. 

The car seen here is finished in Alpine's "La Bleue" configuration, limited to 15 units. Outside, it gets a mixture of Alpine Vision Blue and Abysse Blue. Inside, there's Poltrona Frau and Sabelt blue leather. Sadly, it's a configuration that bumps the Alpine up to around £330,000.