Fans got to see the Alpine Alpenglow concept car in-person at the annual motoring mecca in West Sussex. It runs off combusted hydrogen rather than petrol, diesel or battery, which means it not only looks space-age, it releases almost no emissions.
While Alpenglow is a one-off concept car, both its hydrogen powertrain and styling are set to inspire future Alpine road cars. The French motoring firm is planning to launch a part-petrol, part-electric powered £1m+ road car for customers in future, as well as a series of sports cars and sporty cars featuring design inspired by Alpenglow.
Bruno Famin, from Alpine Motorsports, said: “With the development of this brand new Hy6 V6 engine, we are demonstrating our commitment to hydrogen research, which could herald motorsport applications with high-performance levels.
“The Alpenglow Hy6 concept is the perfect example of what is possible to achieve the essential step of reducing carbon emissions in motorsport.”
Crowds of 200,000 at this year’s Goodwood had the chance to see how a high-performance combusted liquid hydrogen engine can be an alternative to battery electric. The Alpenglow was first revealed in 2022 as a concept car, designed as a blueprint for the brand’s future direction.
Following on from the first road-going prototype powered by a 340 bhp, turbocharged 2.0-litre 4-cylinder engine, this Alpenglow Hy6 is equipped with an all-new engine that offers more than double the power.
The car contains a groundbreaking 3.5-litre V6, developed entirely by Alpine for optimum hydrogen combustion. It produces 544 kW (740 bhp), or more than 150 kW/l (210 bhp/l), giving Alpenglow first-rate performance.
On the outside, the styling of the concept’s Specular Blue all-carbon bodywork has a more extreme edge. The spoiler is more prominent, visible from the front of the prototype, while the shark-fin is larger and bears the Alpine logo, the chemical formula for hydrogen and a line of shading from magenta to blue, symbolising its combustion process.
Under the bonnet, Formula 1 engine development methodologies have been used to define and fine-tune the elements at the heart of the engine’s performance.
Antony Villain, VP, Alpine Design, added: “The adaptation of this V6 is a technical challenge, highlighted for all to see in a redesigned rear section.
“Various elements of the concept’s design are evolving, sculpted by the aerodynamic imperatives implied by its new performance, while visually evoking both speed and the virtuous aspects of hydrogen.”