I had one from new, living in France in the 80s, chosen over a Porsche 911. It was very comfortable and quiet over long distances, very quick, especially for the time and good fun to drive. Some care was needed in the rain. The stereo was memorably good. All in all, a great car. (No rattles at all).

Probably one of the most underrated KZfaq channels ever IMO.

I bought one new in 1988. Sold it 3 years later with 77k on the clock. Loved lt. Red black leather, graphic equaliser and volume control on the steering wheel.

Your pronunciation of "Grand Tourisme Alpine" wasn't terrible at all. In fact, it was almost perfect.

I think you're right Jack, selling it as a Renault was a big marketing mistake, when you're going up against a Porsche.

I love the dashboard not because it's such a well thought out layout as you'd find in a BMW of that period but because it gives of that nostalgic 80s vibe that we had somehow arrived in the future.

Glorious and way more interesting than a 911. For those doubting the looks, have a look at the very last of these - the A610. Wonderful.....

I remember Performance Car did a head-to-head between the Renault GTA V6 Turbo and the Renault 5 GT Turbo and listed the various predictable comparisons between the 2 cars. The R5 GT Turbo did a very good job of keeping up, but the author was completely bowled over by the GTA V6 Turbo. He said something on the lines of "it deserves to be a world class seller".....I then cut out the pictures and put them all on my bedroom wall! 👍

A few years ago, whilst crossing the Jura, I was lucky enough to witness well over 100 French Alpine Club members racing around the hairpins on route to Geneva. One had to be there to appreciate, but it was quite a spectacle particularly on such a challenging road.

Probably one of the most underrated cars ever IMO.

Look at that interior! Look at that switch gear! Ugh, gorgeous.

Back in the late eighties, I was working for Renault UK. I drove quite a few of these cars. Once you got used to them, they were a great, surprisingly fast, agile car. I have carried 2 adults in the rear seats, albeit not for many miles. They are still surprisingly inexpensive. Non Turbo versions, which are still a good car, are very good value. There is an excellent specialist, Alpine Renault Restoration, run by Paul Sage. His late father Jean Sage, who I met a few times, was the Renault Sporting Director.

Not to take the spot light off the Renault, but that group of Ferraris you passed at 7:02 was NUTS!!

Oh my, this IS a surprise!! Thanks so much Jack, for featuring one of my all time favourites! Greetings from the Netherlands

I’ve had two GTA’s and I loved both of them. The first was an ‘86 sold new here in New Zealand. The second was a 1990 which was badged as an Alpine (after the Talbot/Chrysler trade mark expired). The steering rack is straight out of a Fuego, so interesting you felt it steered well. Also the brakes are the same size front and rear and straight off an R30. One of the most disconcerting aspects is the bizarre ‘chine walk’ they do at higher motorway speed - a distinct movement from side to side that you have to power through. Another issue is the rear tyres that are unique to the car - still available from Michelin Heritage. Would I have another today? - ABSOLUTELY!

That might be the best sounding V6 I've ever heard 🥴

I have never heard a PRV engine sound like it does in this video. Kinda cool. Actually sounds a bit like an inline 5 at some moments in the video...

Absolutely love this, looks fantastic, rarity. I’ve never driven one but as an ex-Porsche technician, I know the Porsche range inside out, I can say that the Carrera 3.2 quality of build or driving dynamics are not all they’re cracked up to be…

Epic car! imagined being wealthy businessman in 1985 driving around this GTA in la Defence in Paris playing Jean Michel Jarre Zoo Look album🎉

When I want to relax I watch this channel. It has this sweet space around it.

Microsoft Windows is the most UNpopular operating system in the world - but it is the most widely installed... 🤓

I think this car - while not really admired when new - will go down as one of the most uniquely and interestingly designed cars ever, and may even end up being timeless inside and out, in the same way Mies Van Der Rohe architecture is timeless.

The PRV is basically a V8 with 2 cylinders cut off. That's also why the block angle is not classic V6 and the ignition sequence is a weird odd-fire. Not every mechanic made the genuine effort to understand it. Fun fact: Volvo re-developed and refined the PRV for the 960 and 780 in which case it was renamed B280F. Power was 20hp more then the old B28. It i remember correctly the GTA Turbo also uses this improved PRV block design. I actually came very close to buying one. But altho these cars have a fibreglass body they do have a backbone chassis ( a bit like Lotus? ) and these chassis can and do rust! So, to prospective buyers, beware and have an inspection done by an Alpine specialist. Well worth it! Fun fact that hardly anybody knows: when Alfa Romeo needed an engine for their 155Ti DTM race car they realised that the Busso wasn't ideal for the task but the PRV V6 WAS! Not really surprising because the block was a fully alu-alloy casting and the block angle was wide so there was a LOT of space for a generous intake plenum and runners and the angle from the heads into header exhaust manifolds was also good. In the AR 155ti application the PRV was extremely succesful in the hands of Nicola Larini. Another succesful PRV application was in the MVS Venturi. Another french sportscar, more upmarket (competition for the V8 Ferrari's) and i think some faster models used twin turbo's. They also raced them at LeMans.

Outstanding! Good of you to review one of my favorite cars, Perhaps, my absolute favorite French classic of the era. As a teenager in the USA, I wouldn't have typically known about Alpine-Renault 310 series, but because of a family friend who was a well-heeled connoisseur and collector I happened to get to know a pair of them quite well. They were a very early A310, with the 6 headlights under glass, and a later series model (directly preceding the one driven here) in white. This gentleman had imported them via gray market, at a non-trivial expense. The newer of the two had the flared wheel arches, deep dish Gotti modular wheels, and an integrated spoiler on the rear deck. Both were spirited rides and the older one of the pair was the first truly "exotic" car I'd ever been in, having been profoundly changed by a ride its owner took me on at the age of 9, shortly after it arrived in the states. It even had an on-board cellular phone, which I (of course) used to call my Mom, at home, excitedly reporting on the whole experience. This was probably 1979 or '80. Your review reminded me of these fond memories. As an aside, regarding your comment about Hoovie, I suspect that given his age and locale, he wouldn't have known how much of a parts bin special the GTA's interior was and, compared to its American "peers", its aesthetic probably seemed retro-futuristic and posh in spite of that. This is merely speculation but seems a reasonable assumption. Anyway, love the channel, do keep up the good work 27! Cheers!

200BHP was a lot of power in the 1980s. Family cars were more like 90BHP.

Always drooled over Alpine cars. My favourite was the A610 turbo. Great video Jack.

Fantastic review of this glorious and much underrated sports car! Dare to be different anyone? At the present value and prices, I belive there's never been a better time to own one. Congratulations - and thanks - to Greg! Also, in my opinion, a car - a giant slayer - was released that made such an impact it questioned spending so much more for anything else! The Ford Sierra Cosworth. It really was a game changer. Thanks again Jack. An excellent review for such a special car. P.S. So cool you drove past two Ferrari 275GTBs and a 250GT Convertible etc,. saw them yet didn't bat an eyelid!!

Not sure that the 911 is more conventionally pretty, it's just more familiar... Good review, Jack, on another oddball car. Keep them coming

those who want also buy..... it is very popular in Europe... it is a collector's car... for people who have 5 or more cars, then this will be the right one

I love all the Alpines. The new one should have been made rear engined too.

Nobody notice the FERRARI’s???? 2 275GTB’s and what looks like a 330GTC??? Holy shit!! Jack!! Pull over!

I remember back in the day that performance car magazine would always rate the A610 (facelift one of these) in their top performance cars. They loved it

Used to own a 610 turbo back in ‘93. Lovely blue colour. I think there were only 12 registered in the UK that year. It was my company car and my fellow director had one in the same colour. We put them together and I reckon that was a one off. When I filled up with petrol nobody knew what it was. I remember that spares were always a problem. Loved it though.

Fabulous car very underrated, Renault like Ford have a great racing history and many other cars had a Renault engine, like Lotus, De Lorean. I’d take one just to be different.

A very elegant, sophisticated sports car it probably didn't sell well in the UK because it was too noble and too French in appearance for the masses. It really deserved to sell a lot better in the UK. The general public forgets that Renault competes in Formula 1 and has a rich pedigree heritage in hot hatches that very few manufacturers can match!

Yes. Yes yes. I remember it advertised in mt dad's car magazines I read as a kid. Loved the looks... That dash I thought was pure future in the 80's

Speedo's having a day off so we know it's French.

Great, honest review! Now you can review my A610, when it's roadworthy again. I'm hoping that will be later this year. I'll be in touch!

Always wanted my dad to get one of these. To 8 year old me, the Renault Alpine GTA was a spaceship. I had a poster of a metallic blue turbo on my bedroom wall for years.

My late uncle had a 310, this one here and then the wonderful looking LeMans with 250 PS. I always loved these cars and they were terribly underrated

This is one of my personal favorite cars! I wish more people remembered it.

Wow! I have never heard a PRV V6 sound that good! Really cool car!

Remember years ago in a magazine they had a limited edition le mans version sort of metallic purple colour absolutely beautiful.

I've never seen one of these before, but I kept being reminded of the Starion.

TY Jack 🙏🙏! Remember seeing my first one when they were new. I knew most cars, but thought 'what was that', it looked like a space ship! Still only seen a few decades since.

Jack, what I love, and what keeps bringing me back to your channel, is that somehow you keep reviewing the cars that piqued my interest as a teen. Sure, Porsche, Ferrari, etc., are all easy pickings but you find the cars that fit some reason never went completely mainstream but are beautiful. I remember walking home from school and seeing this Renault (Alpine) in a dealership window and being awestruck. I feel the same way about so name of the cars you review. Thank you for continually walking me down one of the happiest memory lanes of my childhood. PS. Living in the US and owning 5 Alfa Spiders (in varying states of repair) I love your commitment to Italian pronunciation!! Italy 🇮🇹 Ciao

I love that you get a hold of this kind of thing. Haven't seen one of these for years! In most of the drive-by shots, when you talk about stability, I can see the poise and control it has. I've watched scores and scores of you vids, and you can visually perceive that this was very composed on the bends! Nice one.....keep em coming

I remember, as a kid, being told off for sitting in one of these at the Earls Court Motor show shortly after they were launched. Loved it, and always been a bit sad we don't see more of them around.

Great review… quick and to the point…without leaving out important info😊

My old boss had one of these as a weekend car. I had a go on a few occasions as he used to let us drive his cars. Fantastic thing.

Beautiful car from every angle. We had a lot of Renaults in Argentina (built there) but never one of these. Thanks I enjoy watching.

the sound around 11 minutes in this video is just f.....g great.

Great review...Saw this at a Renault Garage in the West end back in the 80's and it was the most beautiful car that I as a teenager had seen in a metallic white, sort of sparkled...Would love to get one now...

One of my favorite car of all time! Thanks for this superior review! These old Alpines are sublime, I adore them much better than the overrated Porsches...... Please test a Volvo 480 Turbo as well! :))

Great video on a fascinating car. Regarding the interior, I have to say I'm with Hoovie--and I think it's because of the difference between the UK experience with French cars and the what we had across the pond. Renaults in the 80s had already become very rare and were dominated by the awful Alliance marketed by (about to disappear) AMC. Our interiors were either conservative sporty German, Living-room style American, or bland economy. We never got to experience those far more stylish French or Italian interiors... I love your channel, thank you!

I Remember reading about these in Autocar when they came out, loved the look of them then, and still do! This one sounds great too😎, I hope to see it on the track one day🙂

Oh I love these! great episode Jack

Always had a soft spot for these. This is a seriously cool example.

You forgot the wacky wipers 😊 very cool cars and loved the exhaust ❤️

Awesome stuff as always Jack buddy 👍

Thanks for the video mate,I wanted one of these in that colour with black leather but the wife wouldn’t let me as we had to put a child seat in the back.Got a 25 V6 turbo with a straight through fat pipe and it was exactly as you describe loads of lag then whoosh up to red line 😊

I owned a GTA turbo for 4 or 5 years - loved the design and drive but the build quality is relatively poor and it turned out to be very unreliable with various electrical and mechanical issues. Very quick on boost but the nose would get noticeably and disconcertingly light at motorway speeds. I think the interior was designed by Gandini (?) and it does have a nasty, disappointing plastic feel to it . Compared to similar cars of this era 911, 968 etc., which I've also owned, it's a charismatic alternative, but the Porsches would always get you home unlike the Alpine.... Another great video !

That sounds really sweet 😁 Excellent choice Jack!

Being in the US, I've never even seen one. I hope to just see one some day. Very interesting. We got the Delorean here witch is kind of the same thing. Thank you.

Nice exhaust setup, sounds like a right beast!

I own a GTA Turbo and most have a category status due to lack of some parts especially body parts i.e. rear lights etc

Yay !, amazing cars. I used to have a GTA 2.5 V6 Turbo, slightly tuned to about 220bhp. Given the light weight it was really fast with superb handling.

Great test drive Jack, always thought an underrated car. I was a RAC patrol in the 80's, working in a posh part of London and was sent out to a Renault Alpine on the morning after the great October storm of 1987. A tree had come down and completely squashed it. I felt for the owner as nothing could be done for days as the storm had ruined any chance of anything being done quickly.

So much cooler and lovelier than a DeLorean. A reminder of the time when Renault was dominating races.

mR 27,youve outdone yourself and before long the rest of the online community will catch on and then subs will skyrocket ,such a beautiful car filmed in a gorgeous setting 10/10

Thank you for this video! Fun facts about this car: 1. It was driven by the main antagonist in El Dorado! 2. They had an awesome Desert Raid buggy version!

Gave it a LIKE 2 seconds into the video. Thanks for making it!

I think Noble got the most of the PRV boat anchor. I loved these cars when they were current. They looked unique.

My extra firm High School French teacher would approve your effort. Not sure why or even when I saw my 1st but I have been an Alpine fan for decades. I have 2 RC cars with Alpine A110 bodies and will continue to enjoy those.

This in A610 Turbo form I think is an absolute stunner... and I've just realised that Clarkson absolutely obliterated one...

Love it! Sounds much better than my father- in-law's Renault 9 AT.... Same speedo problem, must be a 1985 thing.

I own one in the States, and it turns heads wherever it goes.

Hello Jack, Great to see a French super car on your channel. Certainly a car ahead of it's time! How about a video on the Venturi Atlantique? Very rare in the uk yet, very understated. Great channel by the way.

A lot of things spoke against this car: 1. the lackluster PRV V6, even with turbo-charging. 2. the placement of the engine, with much of its weight behind the rear wheels, Porsche style (which gave it rather "interesting handling", as Jeremy Clarkson put it). 3. it was seen as a niche car from a car manufacturer that "only did common cars", something many commonly popular car manufacturers ran into when launching more daring designs.

Sounds similar to the 2.2 audi 5cyl, I love it, I seen a red one being driven by a absolute lunatic back in the 90's and I've been a fan of them ever since.

That's (as usual) a spot on review. Let it settle and use the mid-range is exactly how to do it. As a continental express they just chomp high speed autobahn miles. I have had two of those. The second was a daily driver for 18 years, it had the full leather and aircon when I bought it with only 5k miles on the clock. I'd have another in a heatbeat (but with two Alpines already I'd be pushing my luck!). It was and still is one of the best cars I have driven. Buying one now would need much care, although mine was utterly reliable it would be very easy to buy a lot of trouble.

One of the problems faced by the GTA was the Ford Capri V6 2.8i/280, which offered similar performance to the non-turbo GTA and more practicality for a much lower price. And was great fun to drive and cheap to maintain.

Your pronunciation of GTA in french was perfect 👌🏻

I like the PRV roar. A bit like the old Dodge V6, with the unusual 90° angle and the odd firing order. But who wonders, both were born as a V8 and basically had 2 cylinders cut out.

That turbine noise, yes. Also the French make such beautiful cars.

Always loved these. Here's an extra obscure fact: the sleazy businesses man Ken Masters in the 1980s TV series Howard's Way drove one. This is so of it's time, but somehow still achingly cool. Love your vids Jack 😎

It sounds awesome , and the turbo sounds futuristic.

Best sounding prv I’ve ever heard.

I was born in 76 and I loved a310. Unique design. A french way for sportcars... with no future.

Silly solution but the turbo lag could possibly be slightly mitigated by having a smaller turbo? You might lose some power at the top end as result of downsizing but the acceleration and throttle response will be there. Not that it makes much sense to downsize anyway as this car is built for the track. I love that spooling noise though! This car has won my heart!

My father was a Renault fan for decades. I drove many of the earlier road cars, not stunning performance wise but always handled well (the 16TS rolled into corners but hung on with it's Michelins). The 15 & 17 certainly were ahead of their time in styling. Always loved the 310 which was rallied in Europe.

Well for starters it sounds exactly like an 18 wheeler so that does help. Plus the steering wheel is on the wrong side of the car (I hear you Birts want your steering wheel on the passenger side, though I can't fathom why, next thing you'll tell me is that you also enjoy driving on the wrong side of the road as well, maybe it's the lack of sunshine that's doing it) I think it's a fantastic looking car, though I may be in the minority on that. The long, low roofline that tapers slowly off in the rear is seriously sexy. It was fairly quick for it's time too, but I can't imagine it's very nimble. It's probably stable at speed due to the wheelbase but that also makes it loathe to change directions.

I've been driving a 3.2 V6 Alfa Romeo GT for the last few weeks which feels like a pretty quick car with a lot of torque. This car with a similar sized engine, fiberglass body and a turbo must be a bit of a weapon.

Great to see this car featured. I owned two back in the day.

I remember CAR Magazine pitching this up against the Esprit Turbo and the 911 Turbo. Of course, the 911 ran away with it but some years later its natural evolution - the A610 - was in Performance Car's CotY and won it outright. Still didn't sell well. Some cars are just too weird to be successful...

Said it once, I'll say it again. These are a way better bet than a 911. A smart choice...

"There's enough room for my head" I almost expected to see a bust of his head on the passenger seat.

Of the coupés of the 80s and early 90s , in my opinion, id say this is probably THE best looking. So well proportioned and classy. Never understood why they didn't sell. The later lemans special editions were stunningly beautiful in that lovely metallic blue

What a 😯 at 7:03 .... Jack switched to mute mode... and was wondering, will I stop and start discussing with those petrolhead ?

What a cool car. And that exhaust note! Turbo and compressor engined cars are generally better driving cars than high revving naturally aspirated power plants. The latter seems to wear and break much quicker due to the higher stresses to get them to deliver. Except for maybe Japanese engines.