Is this what a supercar will look like in the year 2035? We’ll have to wait and see.
Istituto Europeo di Design (IED), an Italian-based design school, has revealed a supercar concept called the A4810 Project by IED in collaboration with French automaker Alpine.
Powering this two-seater supercar concept is some sort of hydrogen powertrain that’s “environmentally friendly” and is said to give a “glimpse into just how sporty the future is set to become”.
The choice of a hydrogen powertrain is no surprise as Renault, Alpine’s sister brand, is also planning to reveal a hydrogen-powered concept in May 2022.
Renault has also already revealed the Master Van H2-Tech hydrogen fuel-cell (FCEV) prototype that was developed as part of the HYVIA joint venture between the Renault Group and FCEV specialists Plug Power.
This Alpine A4810 concept has been designed by 28 students as part of a thesis project for their Master in Transportation Design at IED Turin.
Based on a brief provided by Alpine to design a “super berlinette” for the year 2035, this concept is said to be “a light yet powerful and agile concept car that boasts a pure driving pleasure”.
The students also chose the name A4810 because ‘4810’ refers to the height in metres of Mont Blanc, which is the highest peak in the Alps.
Measuring in at 5091mm long, 2010mm wide, and 1055mm tall with a 2717mm wheelbase, the students designed it to have a “lightweight look and aerodynamic features inspired by Formula 1 models”.
The concept’s primarily painted in blue with lashings of matte black and carbon fibre as highlights.
At the front there’s an illuminated Alpine ‘A’ badge in the middle, as well as a light bar with integrated headlights spanning the entire front of the concept. There’s also a large front splitter, triangular side air intakes and a stripe that runs to the back of the concept.
Around the side are swollen wheel arches, a pair of what appear to be gullwing doors and humongous front wheel arch air vents.
Pirelli and OZ Racing also provided the tyres and rims, respectively, as they both signed on a technical sponsors.
The students designed the concept’s silhouette with many “overlapping layers and sculptural aspects”.
At the back there’s a pair of what appear to be centrally-mounted exhaust pipes, as well as large, transparent vertical tail lights.
Inside the Alpine A4810 concept is a pair of low-slung seats with a skeletal design, as well as an F1-inspired steering wheel.
The interior is finished in the colours of the French flag – blue, white and red – and there’s also red ambient lighting.
IED students have previously designed prototypes like the Suzuki Misano in 2021, the Honda Tomo in 2019, and the Alfa Romeo Gloria in 2013.
Although this prototype might have been designed in collaboration with Alpine, it’s expected the A4810 concept will remain just a one-off study with no production intent.
Alpine does have a new sports car in the pipeline, however.
A replacement for the current A110, it’ll be built in partnership with British sports car specialist Lotus, using the brand’s new E-Sport electric platform.
It’ll be one of three new EVs for the brand, which will all be launched by 2026.
GT X-Over teaser
The trio also includes the new GT X-Over performance EV crossover, set to begin production by 2025.
The Alpine GT X-Over will share its CMF-EV underpinnings with the Renault Megane E-Tech Electric and Nissan Ariya, and will be available with a hotter, all-wheel drive set-up.
On top of the upcoming GT X-Over, Alpine has also confirmed its new era will be all-electric and will include a hot version of the new Renault 5 EV on the CMF-BEV platform.
MORE: Alpine A4810 hydrogen concept teased, designed by IED
MORE: 2025 Alpine GT X-Over: Name confirmed for electric SUV
MORE: Alpine lays out its electric future
