Ford’s Mustang and Alpine’s A110 offer different approaches to the classic two-door coupé recipe. Will all-American brutishness win over French finesse?
Ford Mustang vs. Alpine A110, if you’re in the market for a coupé right now, what matters most to you? Burly looks or race-car proportions? Brutish performance or delicate handling? A compact footprint or space for the family? Ford Mustang vs. Alpine A110: Muscle meets agility!
Well as it turns out, whatever floats your two-door boat, there are two near-identically priced options which take very different approaches to the coupé formula.
In the blue corner is the Ford Mustang. This marks the seventh generation of one of the most famous exhibits of American muscle – a true bruiser in all the best possible ways. But now it’s packing more tech and refinements than ever before in order to give the best European sports cars a run for their money.
In the red corner is the Alpine A110. Parked beside one another, it might seem hard to draw any similarities between the two, but look closer and there are more than you might think. As with the Ford, the A110 sports retro design touches that nod to an iconic ancestor. And even if our rivals bring vastly different solutions in how to extract straight-line speed, the end results are remarkably similar.
But does one stand out more when it comes to making driving an enjoyable experience?
Ford Mustang
| Model: | Ford Mustang GT |
| Price: | £55,725 |
| Powertrain: | V8, 5,038cc, 440bhp, six-speed manual |
| 0-62mph: | 5.3 seconds |
| Test efficiency: | 23.5mpg |
| CO2: | 275g/km |
| Annual VED: | £600 |
It’s always a tough task to reimagine an icon, but that is what Ford has done for the sixth time, in the shape of this new Mk7 Mustang. With buyers easily falling for its predecessor’s looks, the aim was clearly to not tinker with the formula too drastically. The latest model is sharper, more menacing and more angular than the Mk6 generation, but it’s still instantly recognisable as a Mustang.
Alpine A110
| Model: | Alpine A110 S |
| Price: | £54,490 |
| Powertrain: | 4cyl in-line turbo, 1,798cc, 278bhp, seven-speed auto |
| 0-62mph: | 4.5 seconds |
| Test efficiency: | 42.1mpg |
| CO2: | 152g/km |
| Annual VED: | £600 |
The relaunch of Alpine as a brand was always going to be exciting. Reviving a manufacturer steeped in motorsport excellence and known for producing lightweight sports cars was a stroke of genius by Renault, and with many of RenaultSport’s engineers – responsible for some of the greatest hot hatchbacks ever created – raring to go after the demise of hot Clios and Méganes, we were looking forward to the result.
Head-to-head
These cars are brilliant to drive in their own very distinct ways. The Ford blends the brutishness of its V8 with a surprising amount of precision, and especially long-distance comfort. The A110 feels so pure, from its steering accuracy, to its agility, to its composure over difficult roads; everything about its chassis feels beautifully judged. At a time when cars are growing ever heavier, the Alpine feels like a wonderful antidote.
Can the raw power of the Ford Mustang outshine the agile handling of the Alpine A110? Our blog dives into this epic sports car showdown. Visit MustangParts.com to learn more!