That interior is centred on the hydraulically assisted driver’s seat, which can switch from the standard driving set-up to one that mirrors an F1 bucket. The pedals also raise, while the steering wheel transforms from wide to narrow and displays extra information such as the weather.
The cabin has also been designed for the front passenger to “share the driving experience”. As well as getting the same type of seat (although without the ability to change position), a panel is fitted to the dash displaying upcoming road information. This means, according to Villain, that they are “no longer a passenger, and now a co-pilot”.
Elsewhere, the interior’s Alps theme can be seen in the white (snowy) seats and in the floor, which has been designed to mimic stones found on an Alpine pass. These light up when the car is moving, with beams travelling from front to rear to give the feeling that you’re floating over the road.
Alpine wouldn’t be drawn on the battery, range or power the production car might possess, but Robert Bonetto, vice-president of Alpine Engineering, told Autocar it would “not aim to be the fastest” or the rangiest car of its type, because increasing the battery size would add weight. Instead it will offer “the right levels” and “be something that is still competitive”, he said.
When it does arrive, it will come with a hefty price tag, said Krief – below £100k but expensive enough to keep volumes lower than rivals’.
