PARIS, FRANCE – Alpine stole plenty of attention at the 2026 Paris Motor Show with the A310 Vision, a dramatic electric design study that celebrates 55 years of the original Alpine A310. With its razor-sharp wedge shape, pop-up headlights and glass-domed cockpit, it is one of the most striking concepts of the show, and a clear sign of how bold Alpine’s future electric sports cars could look.
Alpine calls it a one-off design study. It is not destined for production, but it links the 1970s wedge era with the brand’s new electric performance platform, which will underpin the next generation of Alpine sports cars, starting with the electric A110.
Remembering the A310
The original Alpine A310 was introduced in 1971 as a more comfortable, more practical companion to the legendary rally-winning A110. Its sharp, angular styling was a big departure from the A110’s curves, and in 1976 it gained a V6 engine, turning it into a genuine grand tourer. Alpine’s own design team has affectionately called the original “weird”, but its wedge-shaped silhouette has become a cult classic.
A wedge for the electric age
The A310 Vision takes that wedge shape to the extreme. It stands just 1.18 metres high and widens dramatically to 2.03 metres at the rear. Alpine says it is lower, wider and longer than the latest Porsche 911 Turbo S, giving it an incredibly planted stance.
The details are full of references to the original. Ultra-thin headlights pop up when the car is started, an S-duct channels air through the bonnet, and a central bridge runs back into the rear lighting. Blade-shaped tail-lights, a ducktail spoiler and a cutaway rear that exposes the wide tyres complete the look, while the wheels use an “A” design that nods to the rims of the historic A310. Even the lower sections of the doors are made of glass.
A cockpit under a glass dome
Alpine says the study focuses mainly on the exterior, but the cabin is still eye-catching. The two-seat cockpit is finished in intense red and can be seen through a glass dome, with organically shaped seats and physical controls inspired by high-end hi-fi equipment. Alpine describes the interior as a “living space” rather than a conventional dashboard.
Remarkably, the design team reportedly created the concept in just three months.
Built on the Alpine Performance Platform
Underneath, the A310 Vision is based on the Alpine Performance Platform (APP), a lightweight, modular aluminium architecture designed specifically for electric sports cars. The platform allows different motor configurations and battery sizes, giving Alpine the flexibility to build several types of performance car on the same foundations. The first production model on the APP will be the next-generation electric A110.
Alpine has not given any technical specifications for the A310 Vision itself, such as power, battery size or range, because it is purely a design exercise.
“The cherry on the cake”
“The cherry on the cake, to elevate the brand.”
Antony Villain, Alpine head of design
Villain says he would love to see the A310 Vision on the road, but Alpine has no plans to build it. Alpine CEO Philippe Krief explained the thinking behind halo concepts like this one: “It’s not a market of 100,000 cars, but it could sell more of our other models.” In other words, a car like the A310 Vision is designed to make people fall in love with the brand, even if they end up buying an A290 hatchback or A390 SUV.
Why design studies matter
Concepts like the A310 Vision often look like pure fantasy, but they play an important role. They let designers test bold ideas in public and see how fans and the media react. Details that prove popular, such as a lighting signature, a wheel design or a cockpit layout, frequently find their way onto production cars a few years later. For a small brand like Alpine, which is still building awareness outside France, a show-stopping concept is also one of the most effective forms of advertising.
The A310 Vision also sends a message to rivals. Electric sports cars have often been criticised for looking anonymous or being too heavy. By pairing a lightweight aluminium platform with such a dramatic body, Alpine is showing that it intends to make electric performance cars that are exciting to look at as well as to drive.
Alpine’s electric future
Alpine is in the middle of a major transformation into a fully electric performance brand. The A290 hot hatch and the A390 sports SUV have already joined the range, and the electric A110 successor is next. The A310 Vision shows that, even without engines, Alpine intends to keep making cars with strong character and a clear connection to its rich history in rallying and endurance racing.
For motorsport fans, Alpine is also a familiar name in Formula 1, where its works team carries the brand onto the world stage. Concepts like the A310 Vision help connect that racing image with the road cars buyers can actually own.
Alpine A310 Vision: key facts
- Type: One-off electric design study
- Celebrates: 55 years of the 1971 Alpine A310
- Size: 1.18 m tall, 2.03 m wide at the rear
- Platform: Alpine Performance Platform (APP)
- Seats: Two
- Production: None planned