Lotus and Renault-Alpine scrap sports-car collaboration

UK sports-car maker Lotus and French car giant Renault's performance division Alpine have axed plans to work together on new electric vehicles.

Alpine and Lotus signed a 'memorandum of understanding' in January 2021 to "conduct a comprehensive feasibility study for the joint engineering, design and development" of a new electric sports car for each brand.

However two years later the companies have parted ways "amicably", for a reason that is yet to be disclosed.

In a media statement sent to the UK's Autocar, Alpine said: "Lotus and Alpine have been collaborating on a future [electric] EV sports car vision for more than two years, during which time a strong relationship between the two companies has developed.

"As with any collaboration following an MoU [memorandum of understanding], the outcome was not guaranteed.

"We have decided not to progress with the joint development of a sports car for Alpine. This is a mutual decision reached amicably, and we will continue to discuss other future opportunities."

Meanwhile, Lotus said in a statement to Automotive News Europe: "We have decided not to progress with the joint development of a sports car for Alpine. This is a mutual decision reached amicably. We have built a strong relationship between the two companies and will continue to discuss other opportunities."

MORE: Alpine and Lotus to co-develop all-electric sports car

The joint-development project would have spawned the electric successor to the mid-engined, turbo-petrol Alpine A110, and a new Lotus electric sports car codenamed Type 135.

Both vehicles were due in overseas showrooms in 2026.

It is unclear if each company will continue development of its vehicle individually – and if both models proceed, whether the projects will be restarted and their launches delayed, or will continue with the progress achieved so far.

The Type 135 was planned to use vertically-stacked battery cells placed behind the two occupants, with one or two electric motors delivering up to 650kW combined.

The Alpine A110 electric successor was one of five electric Alpine models due within five years, alongside a city-sized A290 hot hatch, and small, medium and large-sized SUVs.

Meanwhile, the Type 135 was one of five new Lotus models by 2026, following the petrol Emira sports car and electric Eletre large SUV launched last year, Type 133 electric sedan due this year, and Type 134 mid-sized SUV due next year.

All new vehicles launched by both car makers from here onwards will be electric.

It is unclear where the axing of the Alpine-Lotus sports-car plans leaves reports claiming Alpine was looking to borrow a Lotus architecture for its two largest electric SUVs, due in 2027 and 2028.

If development of the electric Alpine A110 was to proceed without the involvement of Lotus, it would be a near-identical repeat of the creation of the current, petrol A110 a decade ago.

The current Alpine A110 was intended to spawn a twin from small British sports-car specialist Caterham, as part of a joint-development project between the two companies.

The Alpine-Caterham partnership was announced in 2012, but was cancelled in 2014, after troubles with Caterham's finances – and a supposed disagreement over the design and engineering of the vehicle – Renault to buy out Caterham's stake in the project.

Alpine was left to finish development on its own, with the final A110 going on sale overseas in 2017.

The timeline is eerily similar to the latest Alpine-Lotus deal, scrapped two years after it was announced, and three years before the cars were due to go on sale.