• Alpine, celebrating its 70th anniversary, entertains the crowds on the opening day of the Goodwood Festival of Speed
  • World dynamic debut of the Alpine A290 Rallye, an all-new, motorsport-modified version of the 2025 Car of the Year, led the celebrations
  • Alpenglow HY6 show car, A110 R Ultime and Alpine A390 also make their UK dynamic debuts on the famous hillclimb course
  • Alpine Formula One team showcases the marque’s motorsport pedigree in thrilling demonstration run

Alpine starred on the opening day of the Goodwood Festival of Speed, thrilling a sold-out crowd as the Alpine A290 Rallye made its world dynamic debut, and the hydrogen-powered Alpenglow HY6 concept car, the phenomenal A110 R Ultime and the soon-to-launch A390 fastback all ran in the UK for the first time.

The event forms part of the renowned French sports car maker’s 70th anniversary celebrations, and the BWT Alpine Formula One team were on hand to add high-octane thrills to the day, while the all-electric A290, which scooped the European Car of the Year 2025 title earlier this year, also took to the track.

The Alpine A290 Rallye, a competition-modified version of the 2025 Car of the Year took to the track after being unveiled last week. Featuring a full safety cage and a raft of competition-bred enhancements, including a ZF limited slip differential, plus upgraded suspension, brakes and running gear, the car underscores the motorsport DNA that exists between Alpine’s road and competition vehicles.

Also taking to the legendary hillclimb course for the first time was the hydrogen-powered Alpenglow HY6 show car. Pointing to a potentially exhilarating future direction for Alpine in motorsport, Alpenglow features a 3.5-litre twin-turbocharged V6 engine that produces 740bhp, and which combines environmental innovation with sportiness to offer a new way of reducing a sports car’s carbon footprint. Its design also incorporates elements for future road-going Alpine models.

The A110 R Ultime also set a marker for the event, as it made its UK dynamic debut. Engineered to be the finest expression of the A110, with 345bhp, 420 NM of torque and a 0-100kph time of 3.8sec, it is expected to be a car to watch as drivers battle for quick times throughout the rest of the Festival.

Alpine’s road car line-up was also showcased, led by the A390, the brand’s first sports fastback, which is set to hit UK roads in 2026. The 100% electric five-seater was joined on display by the all-electric A290 and much-admired A110, both of which offer the high-performance and handling agility that typify Alpine’s motorsport heritage.

By Dave Stopher

Dave Stopher is an Expert Online Marketer. He has worked in the industry since 2006. Do you want his expertise. Email dchstopher@googlemail.com