Alpine Might Actually Bring That Gorgeous A110 Sports Car to the States

So apparently Alpine is reconsidering their whole American strategy. You know that tiny French sports car that looks like it escaped from the sixties? The A110. Yeah, that one. Word is they might finally let us buy it here, which honestly feels like something I should’ve heard in a dream because French cars and America have a complicated relationship. But here we are, talking about it like it’s actually happening.

Porsche 718 Cayman

Look, if Alpine shows up here, the Cayman is the first car everyone’s gonna compare it to. Around sixty thousand gets you in, and honestly, it’s the grown-up choice. But there’s something clinical about it sometimes, you know? Like it’s almost too good. Every input feels measured and the steering is talking to you in German efficiency. I respect it, but part of me wonders if I’d miss the chaos a little. The way it grips through corners though, that’s where you forget all your doubts and just drive.

Mazda MX-5 Miata

This little roadster lives rent-free in every car person’s heart for a reason. Starts somewhere near thirty grand which sounds almost quaint now. Pop the top, feel the wind mess up your hair, and suddenly you’re seventeen again even if your knees complain getting in. It’s not fast in any modern sense but who cares when you’re grinning like an idiot on a back road. The Alpine costs more and probably handles sharper but the Miata has this purity thing going on that’s hard to quantify on paper.

Toyota GR86

Toyota and Subaru built this thing together and somehow didn’t ruin it with committee decisions. Right around thirty thousand, maybe a touch more depending on the trim. Rear-wheel drive, manual gearbox, enough power to be fun without being scary. The back end will step out if you’re brave or stupid, probably both. It’s the kind of car that makes you take the long way home even when you’re tired. Practical? Not really. Worth it? Ask me after another canyon run.

Lotus Emira

Here’s where things get interesting because Lotus is also doing this whole lightweight sports car thing. Starts around eighty grand which is proper money. The Emira looks stunning in person, like genuinely stop-and-stare pretty. It’s British so there’s that traditional worry about reliability, but modern Lotus seems more serious about build quality. If Alpine lands here, these two would be natural rivals, both chasing that same European sports car magic with different accents.

Chevrolet Corvette C8

Yeah I know, completely different price bracket when you’re looking at seventy thousand or more. But hear me out. America’s sports car went mid-engine and suddenly it’s competing with European exotics on track times. The Alpine is about finesse and lightness while the Corvette brings American muscle theater. V8 noises, stupid-fast acceleration, and you can actually see out of it. Two philosophies, same joy, different routes to get there.

BMW M2

Forty-something thousand used, sixty-plus new, this little monster is all about turbocharged inline-six drama. It’s compact but feels planted, and the steering has that BMW weight to it that enthusiasts won’t shut up about. Rear-wheel drive, a proper six-speed if you want it, and enough torque to make your passenger nervous. Not as pure as the Alpine probably aims to be, but there’s something satisfying about German engineering when it’s trying to have fun instead of just being efficient.

Subaru BRZ

The GR86’s twin but with Subaru badges and slightly different styling. Same basic formula, same price range around thirty grand, same good time. Some people swear they can feel a difference between the two but honestly it’s splitting hairs. Boxer engine sounds characterful, handling is playful, and the whole package just works. If Alpine shows up asking fifty or sixty thousand, the BRZ will be sitting there going “but why though” with its much friendlier price tag.

Nissan Z

Nissan brought back the Z and it’s actually good, which surprised some people. Forty-ish thousand gets you twin-turbo V6 power and retro styling that works way better than it should. It’s heavier than the Alpine would be, more muscle car than scalpel, but there’s charm in that approach. Manual transmission available, decent tech inside, and it looks fantastic from certain angles. Not the same mission as a lightweight French sports car but they’d definitely cross-shop.

Alfa Romeo 4C

Okay so Alfa doesn’t make this anymore but the used market exists and they’re going for thirty to forty thousand now. Carbon fiber tub, mid-engine layout, Italian styling that photographs like art. No power steering which sounds hardcore until your arms are tired. It was Alfa’s attempt at a pure sports car and honestly, if Alpine comes here, the 4C proves there’s appetite for weird European sports cars that prioritize feel over spec sheets. Reliability is Alfa Romeo reliability though, so there’s that.

Ford Mustang Dark Horse

Last one, and yeah it’s completely different from what Alpine would bring. Fifty-something thousand gets you into serious performance territory. It’s big, it’s loud, it’s unapologetically American. V8 rumble, rear-wheel drive, and enough power to break the speed limit in second gear. The Alpine would dance around it on a tight road but on a highway, that Mustang would just pull and pull. Different tools, different jobs, both make you smile but for totally different reasons.