While many European brands relish the chance to offer their models for the lucrative US market, some instead remain fully focused on their home nations. This is especially true for French and Italian manufacturers, which generally build cars that excel on the tighter and twistier routes found in Europe, and don’t gel so well with the wider and more open spaces found across the Atlantic. While Italian marques like Ferrari and Maserati offer higher-end models, French manufacturers currently don’t offer any cars in the US.
A lack of popularity when the likes of Peugeot and Renault tried to offload vehicles stateside sent them running in the 20th century, and they’ve elected to steer clear ever since. That could soon be set to change though, as Renault gears up to bring its sporting brand to US gearheads.
The EV Market Has Attracted The Classic Alpine Brand To The US
Front 3/4 view of blue 1971 Alpine A110Bring a Trailer
The marque in question is Alpine, which is a prestigious performance-focused manufacturer that was first established in 1954 by Jean Redele. It primarily carried out motorsports projects using Renault machinery, and duly forged a close bond with its fellow French carmaker. It later went out on its own somewhat, developing cars like the stunning A110, which enjoyed success in rallying between 1962 and 1977. Alpine managed to claim the maiden World Rally Championship crown in 1973 with an upgraded variant of the A110, and was taken over by Renault the same year.
Alpine’s Current And Upcoming EV Range
A110 EV (due 2027)
A290 EV Hatch
A310 EV Sports Car (Porsche 911 rival, due 2028)
A390 EV SUV Crossover
Having produced a range of unsuccessful sports cars over the following few decades, it was mothballed in 1996. After a 20-year break, Renault resurrected Alpine as its premier sports and luxury brand. It went a step further in 2021 by collapsing its Renault Sport arm into Alpine so that it would take care of all of Renault’s sporting interests. Having offered a modern reimagining of the A110 sports car since 2017, Alpine revealed in 2024 that it would transition to becoming an EV-only manufacturer, which opened the door for Renault to make a return to the US market.
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Renault Has Been Absent From The US For Nearly 40 Years
1982 renault fuego side white parkedBring A Trailer
Global pressure has forced a gradual shift towards building EV models, though a lack of interest from buyers has led to backpedaling from many manufacturers heading down that path in recent times. As of January 2026, Alpine looks to be sticking to its guns by focusing on EV models, with the reset of the automotive landscape opening up an opportunity to break into the US market once more. The Renault Group was last present in the country in 1987, when its working partnership with American Motors Corporation came to an end.
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Renault’s Models Have Struggled To Garner Interest Stateside
Front shot of a brown 2016 Renault KadjarRenault
Renault failed to cut the mustard in the US for several key reasons, though its lack of dealer network and relatively poor quality offerings were likely the main ones. Buyers struggled to find much support for their ailing vehicles, forcing them to retreat to native marques that offered more comprehensive aftercare than Renault could manage. Its tie-up with AMC failed to bring the desired results as it looked to crack the market, leading to it steering well clear of the US once the partnership concluded. This trend has remained with Alpine, though Renault has been looking for ways to break into the nation.
Alpine Has Struggled To Justify A US Shift
Alpine LineupAlpine
One of the main setbacks is that it has only offered a single model for most of its second tenure, the low-volume A110, which would have cost a fortune to homologate for the US market. It’s unlikely Alpine would have shifted enough of them to make the exercise worthwhile, while recent worries about tariffs installed by the US government have only further harmed the business case. Still, a recent push by Renault to increase Alpine’s footprint worldwide means that the manufacturer is set to arrive stateside soon. Just not with the vehicle you want.
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The Gas A110 Won’t Be Heading To The US Anytime Soon
Alpine A110 Sports CarAlpine
Alpine is actively working on a return to the US with a range of new models, which include some SUVs that will complement a new EV version of the A110, which is set to arrive in 2027. This means the gas-powered sports car – which has received rave reviews for its refreshing and engaging driving experience overseas – won’t make the trip, as it is expected to exit production later this year ahead of the arrival of its electric successor.
2017-2026 Alpine A110
Engine
1.8L turbocharged I4
Transmission
7-Speed Auto
Power
249–300 hp
Torque
236–251 lb-ft
0-60 mph
4.1–4.5 seconds
According to Alpine CEO Philippe Krief, the brand is currently considering which models it would campaign for its US assault. Speaking to British publication Auto Express, the Frenchman explained that while a “big SUV” was favored for a while, it is currently exploring further options. “The thought we had one year ago was a big SUV,” began Krief. “Now we are back in the phase of contemplating what we need for the US market. We certainly need a model with higher volumes, but don’t want to make the mistake of going to the US with a big car that is outside the DNA of the brand.” The choices include models like the A390, a striking-looking crossover SUV.
While this makes sense for the manufacturer from a profitability standpoint, it’s undoubtedly a disappointment for gearheads who have had to watch from the sidelines while the Europeans have been able to enjoy the A110. Just as Alpine finally gets its ducks in a row for a US move, the gas A110 reaches the end of the road. It’s not as if Alpine will reverse its decision to cull the A110 either, given that its 1.8-liter turbocharged engine doesn’t meet the ever stricter emissions regulations.
A Revised ICE A110 Could Be On The Cards In The Future
Alpine A110 EV TeaserAlpine
However, that doesn’t mean that the marque couldn’t develop a new version with a cleaner powerplant at some point. While it will focus on only offering EV versions of the A110 to start with, Krief revealed that the new model is being developed to be as versatile as possible, and could be tweaked to feature pure ICE and hybrid powertrains in the future, should the demand be there. Speaking to Evo Magazine in December 2025, Krief reportedly stated that the brand had “found a solution” to bring back the gas-powered A110, should it be required.
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“We found a solution that will allow us to do it if we decide to push the button on ICE, mild hybrid or plug-in hybrid without compromising the car,” said Krief. “I think we could have opportunities to gain some markets where EVs aren’t so popular, offering ICE or plug-in. I want to be ready for anything.”
Given the recent move back towards ICE solutions for manufacturers in the US, this leaves the door nicely open for US buyers to finally get their hands on a gas A110. This depends on whether Alpine’s EV approach works out though, as if it does, don’t expect an ICE Alpine sports car to ever arrive.
Sources: Alpine.
