A new limited-edition Porsche 911 Club Coupe celebrates the world’s largest club for enthusiasts of the German marque.
With the Porsche Club of America reaching its 70th anniversary in 2025, PCA members will be first in the queue to purchase a new 911 Club Coupe.
Based on the 911 Carrera T, which comes as standard with a manual transmission, just 70 examples of the Club Coupe will be made. Each car has bespoke features developed by Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur.
This is the third time Porsche has created a 911 Club Coupe for the PCA. The tradition dates back to the organization’s 50th anniversary in 2005.
A true blue sports car
The PCA was founded in 1955 by Bill Sholar. In tribute, his name is used for the unique blue color found on the 911 Club Coupe.
Porsche Paint-to-Sample Sholar Blue metallic is described as an alternative take on the Club Blue of the 2015 car. The chosen shade evolved from discussions between Style Porsche, Exclusive Manufaktur and the PCA.
Subtle red detailing is used for the front SportDesign aero kit fascia, with the same color on the slats covering the engine bay. A set of RS Spyder alloy wheels combine Satin Black paint with Brilliant Silver accents.
The Club Coupe logo on the doors is detailed in Brilliant Silver, as is the rear “911” decal. A special “PCA 70 Year” grille badge is added to the engine cover as a finishing touch.
Commemorating 70 years of passion
Opening the door of the 911 Club Coupe reveals custom PCA illuminated door sills, along with a “PCA 70 Year” logo projected onto the floor. The same logo appears on the center console, with “Club Coupe” script on the dashboard.
Although the interior is upholstered in black leather, Speed Blue and Guards Red stitching are used throughout. For those who want the full retro experience, an optional equipment package adds bold blue and red PCA tartan seat inserts.
Club Coupe customers can purchase a commemorative Porsche Design Chronograph 1 – 911 Club Coupe watch, too. Part of its mechanical movement is designed to mimic the 911’s alloy wheels.
The first example of the 911 Club Coupe will be raffled, then the remaining 69 cars will be made available to PCA members in the United States and Canada. Porsche expects to deliver the first completed cars in spring 2026.
Aston Martin has revealed the new Vantage S, ahead of its public debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. The British company promises the most driver-focused version of its V8 supercar to date.
Following the recently announced DBX S SUV, the Vantage S continues the use of an ‘S’ suffix to denote Aston Martin’s high-performance models.
Given the substantial 30 percent hike in power Aston Martin gave the latest Vantage in 2024, its engineers had a smaller margin to play with when creating the S.
As such, the 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 is tuned to deliver a modest 15hp increase. Total output rises to 680hp, combined with 590lb ft of torque.
Pushing the V8 to its limit
The new Vantage S also has a recalibrated launch control system that cuts its 0-62mph time to 3.4 seconds – 0.1 seconds quicker than the standard car. Top speed remains unchanged at 204mph.
Aston Martin has altered the engine mapping, which results in quicker acceleration at speed, along with a sharper throttle response depending on the drive mode selected.
Retuned Bilstein DTX adaptive dampers are claimed to improve the car’s cornering poise without sacrificing ride comfort.
Bespoke suspension settings, and even revised mounts for the eight-speed automatic gearbox, reflect the detailed tweaks made to the Vantage S.
Standing out from the crowd
Marking out the Vantage S out from its standard sibling are new centrally mounted carbon fibre bonnet blades. Hand-made brass ‘S’ badges are found on the front wings, offered in a bright or dark chrome finish.
A bespoke rear spoiler and revised front splitter create an additional 67kg of downforce at top speed. Buyers can add 21-inch Y-Spoke alloy wheels, which are finished in satin black with red details.
There are also plenty of unique touches inside the Vantage S, including a blend of Alcantara and ‘Accelerate’ leather upholstery. Embroidered ‘S’ logos feature on the seats, with the same emblem appearing on the sill covers.
Satin carbon fibre trim is included as standard, with customers able to choose a red or silver anodised finish for the central rotary controller. Their chosen colour is matched on the seatbelts, too.
Ready for a Goodwood debut
Aston Martin has yet to confirm prices for the Vantage S, but orders for both the coupe and roadster can be placed now. The first completed cars are due for delivery by the end of 2025.
Aston Martin CEO, Adrian Hallmark, said: “For many decades the illustrious Vantage nameplate has stood for the very best in performance, excitement and driving thrills. Those qualities were very much at the forefront when the new Vantage was launched to global acclaim last year. Exceeding those qualities was the challenge and motivation behind the new Vantage S. The result is a new benchmark in the front-engined ultra-luxury sports car sector.”
For those who want to see the car before placing an order, the new Aston Martin will make its dynamic debut at this week’s Goodwood Festival of Speed. Visitors can watch the new Vantage S deploy all 680hp as it tackles the legendary Goodwood hill climb course.
A substantial number of motorists in the UK are worried about the supposed danger of washing an electric car.
Car care specialist Autoglym commissioned a survey of 1,000 British drivers to better understand their knowledge of EV ownership.
This included posing a question about a common EV urban myth: ‘If I were to wash an electric car, I fear there might be a risk of receiving an electric shock.’
More than a fifth (21 percent) of those surveyed agreed with the statement, believing that it is possible to get an electric shock simply from washing an EV.
Londoners are most concerned
Younger drivers were more likely to believe there was a risk of an electric shock when washing an electric car. Some 40 percent of those aged 18 to 24 agreed with the statement.
In contrast, just eight percent of respondents aged between 55 to 64 were worried about the risk of electrocution.
Drivers in London were more likely to believe that EVs posed a danger when being washed, with close to half (45 percent) under the impression it was a real risk.
Welsh motorists were at the other end of the scale. Only seven percent were concerned at the prospect of cleaning an electric car.
An ancient urban myth
In response to the Autoglym survey, motoring journalist and campaigner Quentin Willson, commented: “Getting a shock when cleaning an EV is a very old myth and completely false. Car makers rigorously test battery EVs for safety and perform special water soak tests to make sure all high voltage components are insulated and consumers are always protected.”
To provide further reassurance, Lee Irving, technical training manager at Autoglym, added: “We know that the world of EVs can be a mystery to some, but making sure that the misconceptions are rectified is extremely important. Especially as we’re all being encouraged to make the switch to this new form of clean mobility.
“While we recommend owners avoid flooding an EV’s charging port with water, cleaning one is no more dangerous than cleaning a petrol- or diesel-powered vehicle.”
Where drivers are still unsure, Autoglym recommends consulting the owner’s manual for specific guidance on safely washing an EV.
New research reveals more than half of motorists are driving an older car than they were in 2020.
Almost one in four say it’s because they can’t afford a newer vehicle. And 18 per cent add they feel used cars have become more expensive.
Official figures back this up, with the average age of a car on British roads now standing at 9.5 years – up from 8.0 years just five years ago. Nearly 45 percent of UK-registered cars are more than 10 years old.
Lower income, higher prices
The figures were revealed in the latest Startline Used Car Tracker. Paul Burgess, CEO of Startline Motor Finance, said economic factors have driven the situation.
“New car shortages around the time of the pandemic mean the stock supply in the used sector is lower than envisaged, pushing up prices. Also, household budgets have been under considerable pressure thanks to the period of high inflation.
“As a result, many people just can’t afford to change their car – and those that do often have less money to spend and are shopping in a market where prices are higher than was the norm pre-pandemic.”
Older cars are more reliable
Instead of buying a replacement car, one in 10 motorists say they are spending more money keeping their existing car on the road, while a further nine percent say it breaks down more often.
However, 21 per cent reveal their car has actually stayed reliable – and 12 per cent reckon that modern cars are more resilient.
“It is fortunate that at a time when people are driving older vehicles,” said Burgess, “build quality also seems to have improved.”
This week’s Goodwood Festival of Speed will celebrate the 60-year career of Gordon Murray CBE. From his early days at the Brabham F1 team to establishing his own car company, Murray is one of the motoring world’s greatest innovators.
Born in South Africa, the young Murray designed, built and raced his own ‘IGM-Ford’ sports car. He was subsequently hired by Bernie Ecclestone at Braham, where he helped Nelson Piquet win two Drivers’ World Championships and developed the revolutionary BT46B ‘fan car’. A move to McLaren in 1987 yielded more F1 success – not least the all-conquering MP4/4, which won 15 out of 16 races during the 1988 season.
In 1992, Murray realised his vision for the ultimate road car: the McLaren F1. Still regarded as a high watermark for supercars, it went on to spawn the Le Mans-winning F1 GTR. Twenty five years later, the F1 also inspired the T.50: the first car from Gordon Murray Automotive.
I visited GMA’s newly constructed factory, where CEO Phillip Lee gave me a guided tour. We discussed plans for Goodwood, the GMA story so far and what is next for Britain’s most exclusive and exciting car manufacturer. One thing is certain: after six decades of pushing boundaries in automotive design and engineering, Gordon Murray doesn’t plan to retire anytime soon.
It’s the featured marque at Goodwood Festival of Speed
As the featured marque at Goodwood Festival of Speed 2025, the cars of Gordon Murray will be displayed on the enormous sculpture positioned in front of Goodwood House. “Having the central feature will make me so proud,” said Phillip Lee. “Our statue will be very different to any that have come before. We’re very keen to talk about the history of the brand, and of Gordon himself.”
All will be revealed later this week, but expect to see a mixture of road and racing cars that reflect Murray’s long and distinguished career – including at least one vehicle from Gordon Murray Automotive. GMA supercars will also be doing timed runs up the Goodwood hillclimb, if you want to hear what a naturally aspirated V12 screaming to 12,100rpm sounds like. And take it from me, you absolutely do.
The GMA T.50 reimagined the McLaren F1
Gordon Murray Automotive’s opening salvo was the T.50, a modern reimagining of the epochal McLaren F1. Unflinchingly analogue and driver-focused, it emulates the F1’s three-seat layout, V12 engine, manual gearbox and lightweight ethos.
The entire 100-car T.50 production run sold out in 48 hours, despite a price tag of £2.8 million. Yet the car’s gestation was far from smooth, as Lee recalls: “The GMA T.50 was due to be announced in March 2020: exactly when the first wave of Covid hit the UK. The whole car ended up being designed in people’s living rooms using CAD and networking on Teams. Without face-to-face interaction, it was a very difficult project.”
When we visited GMA’s new Highams Park facility in Windlesham, Surrey – located close to the former Longcross test track, where the McLaren F1 was shaken down – there were 18 examples of the 663hp, 226mph T.50 left to assemble. The site will then gear up for production of the track-only T.50s Niki Lauda, followed by the T.33 and T.33 Spider.
A new GMA T.33 Sport is coming soon
The T.33 is the second rung in the GMA range. Less extreme than the T.50, it only has two seats and no downforce-generating rear fan. Nonetheless, a 615hp version of the same free-breathing Cosworth V12, combined with a dry weight of around 1,100kg, make it a serious supercar.
Gordon Murray Automotive revealed the targa-topped T.33 Spider in 2023, priced at £1.8 million, and all 100 cars swiftly sold out. Now a third model, the T.33 Sport, is almost ready – and tantalisingly hidden beneath a cover when I visit GMA HQ. The car pictured here is one of the T.33 development mules, known internally as ‘James’.
Lee’s original plan was to reveal the T.33 Sport at the Festival of Speed, but uncertainty over US trade tariffs has delayed its introduction. Instead, key customers will be invited to a “soft launch” later this year, followed by a public debut “most likely in 2026”. Fulfilling the promise of its name, Lee says the Sport offers a “much sportier setup” but is “still very much a road car”. We predict more downforce, less weight and potentially more power – albeit not enough to eclipse the flagship T.50.
CEO Phillip Lee was employee number one
Gordon Murray hired Phillip Lee in 2019, making him the first employee (and CEO) of his nascent car company. “Joining Gordon was a chance to start from the ground up and work with my childhood hero,” explains Lee. “I can remember watching the McLaren F1 review on Top Gear and excitedly showing it to my dad. I was obsessed even then, and I have followed Gordon’s career ever since.”
Before starting at GMA, Lee travelled the world working for a plastics supplier, then returned to the UK in 2015 to launch the LEVC TX – the current, hybrid-powered iteration of the London taxi. LEVC’s parent company, Chinese automotive giant Geely, then tasked Lee with buying Lotus. He joined the business as CFO, then became the interim CEO. And it was at Lotus that Lee finally met his childhood hero.
“Gordon had a sketch of what would eventually become the T.50, and asked me what was needed to turn it into a proper business. Gordon Murray Design, as the company was back then, had done a lot of prototyping work, but not a full model programme. I produced a report, which he read carefully and then pushed back across the table at me, saying ‘Phil, I want you to do this’. I thought about it for all of three seconds.”
Lee has done the school run in a T.50
Some car company bosses are accountants, others are diehard petrolheads. Phillip Lee is both. So when opportunities arise to get behind the wheel of a GMA supercar, he jumps at them.
“I have done more than 6,000 miles in the T.50 now. It’s very usable,” he says, pointing out the roomy side pods for stowing luggage (288 litres in total) and the car’s modest footprint, which is similar to a Porsche Cayman. “I even took my children to school in it.
“Many people don’t understand what it’s like to drive a really lightweight car [997kg without fluids]. The instant torque is incredible – a feeling you only tend to experience in a powerful EV – and revving the engine out to 12,100 rpm is like watching a movie in surround sound. You feel totally at one with the car.”
And while some GMA customers tuck their vehicles away in collections, many are keen to drive and enjoy them. “The average mileage so far is around 2,500 miles a year,” adds Lee. “We had one client who picked up his car on a Friday, then brought it back here for an initial service the following Monday, having covered 700 miles over the weekend.”
You can design your own bespoke supercar
Those who visit the Highams Park factory can also spend time in the customer lounge, complete with its own bar, vinyl jukebox and retro pinball machine, plus some of Murray’s favourite music-inspired art on the walls. It’s a lovely place to sit and ponder the myriad options for your new supercar.
Full size wooden bucks, one with three seats, the other with two, allow customers to tailor their exact driving position for a T.50 or T.33 respectively. There are also leather samples and stacks of paint colour swatches, along with an ‘inspiration book’ of suggested specifications. “Some customers really struggle to make a choice,” says Lee. “But nothing is off the table.”
For those who want (and can afford) to go further, Gordon Murray Automotive offers what it calls ‘commissions’. These combine the mechanicals of a T.50 or T.33 with a body designed by an external coachbuilder – or even by the car’s owner. These will either be one-offs or very limited-run vehicles, along the lines of Ferrari Special Projects (SP) or Rolls-Royce Coachbuild cars. How about an orange T.50 that riffs on the McLaren F1 LM? If my EuroMillions numbers came up…
New ‘Special Vehicles’ are in the pipeline
Beyond individual commissions, GMA also has plans for a range of ‘Special Vehicles’ that will broaden its customer base and allow Gordon Murray’s design genius to flourish.
“Gordon has a lot of cars in his brain that he wants to make in small numbers,” explains Lee. “They won’t wear a GMA badge, though. We have a clear product strategy that stretches all the way to 2040, and fitting a new car into that would be difficult and disruptive. Having Special Vehicles creates a different route to bring these ideas to market. They will be sports cars, and positioned within the luxury sector, but that’s all I can say for now.”
More will be revealed later in 2025, beginning with the new Special Vehicles badge, but expect light weight, clever packaging and driver involvement to remain top of the agenda.
Gordon Murray has very eclectic taste in cars
Those values are also evident in Gordon Murray’s large and very diverse car collection, some of which is displayed at Highams Park. The orange car on the right in this photo, for example, is a lovingly crafted replica of the homebrew IGM-Ford that started it all. Alongside it is a Mark IV Cooper 500, a classic Formula 3 racer that Murray can remember his father working on. And then there’s a 50cc Maserati motorcycle: one of the pedal-equipped ‘buzz bikes’ popular in South Africa during the 1960s.
Also in Gordon Murray’s collection is the world’s only surviving Brabham BT44 F1 car, a Light Car Company Rocket (conceived as a reinvention of the Lotus Seven), a Smart Roadster, a De Tomaso Vallelunga and a Honda S800. A Midas kit car with a mid-mounted Alfa Romeo boxer engine proves Murray isn’t averse to modifying his vehicles, either.
Finally, pictured on the left here is a full-scale model of the GMA T.50s Niki Lauda. Weighing less than 900kg and powered by a 772hp V12, the real thing is the wildest car yet from GMA – and production of the 25 examples starts soon. Beyond that, it will be the T.33 models, including the Sport, and likely the first of the Special Vehicles. And then? Lee remains tight-lipped on future plans. However, like at any moment during the past 60 years, it will be fascinating to see what Gordon Murray does next.
The new Dodge Charger Daytona electric muscle car is facing a recall… due to not being loud enough when driven.
A total of 8,390 examples of the two-door Charger Daytona, covering the 2024 and 2025 model years, have been identified as missing important software.
This is used to control the external amplifier, which generates sound to alert pedestrians when the electric vehicle is moving at low speeds.
The Charger Daytonas affected will require a software update to ensure they comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS).
The sound of silence
The FMVSS rules specify that an electric or hybrid vehicle must emit sound at a certain volume when driving.
This is intended to “reduce the number of injuries that result from electric and hybrid vehicle crashes with pedestrians by providing a sound level and sound characteristics necessary for these vehicles to be detected and recognized by pedestrians”.
Based on the recall report submitted by Dodge to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the Charger Daytona models may not emit enough noise to meet the FMVSS requirements.
Owners of the cars will be notified directly by Dodge. They can then schedule a dealership visit to receive the software update.
Bringing the noise
When launching the Charger Daytona EV, Dodge itself made plenty of noise about the electric muscle car’s “Fratzonic Chambered Exhaust”.
Using dual Fratzonic Chamber-loaded passive radiators, combined with a 600-watt amplifier, the electric Charger Daytona is designed to replicate the sound and sensations of a V-8 muscle car.
At launch Matt McAlear, Dodge brand CEO, said: “We know our Dodge enthusiasts want that visceral feel you get when you drive a Dodge muscle car, and the Charger’s new Fratzonic system delivers the adrenaline-pumping spirit that they expect”.
Various settings are available for the fake exhaust, with Drag, Track, and Donut Modes all delivering a louder sound. However, a “Stealth Mode” mutes the Fratzonic system completely.
Ariel has announced the fastest, most extreme Atom yet, celebrating 25 years of this cult British sports car.
The Atom 4RR also becomes the most powerful variant of the lightweight two-seater to date, pushing the limits of road-legal performance.
Developed from the existing Atom 4R, the new 4RR is intended mainly for track use. Production will be capped at 25 examples, with each car built to order.
Hypercar levels of performance
Powering the Atom 4RR is a bespoke version of the turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine found in the Honda Civic Type R.
However, Atom has pushed the engine beyond even the 400hp output of the 4R model, with a host of internal changes and new components.
The result is an incredible 525hp, combined with 407lb ft of torque. In a car weighing less than 700kg, that makes for a power-to-weight ratio similar to a Bugatti Chiron.
A Quaife-supplied six-speed sequential transmission, as found in the Atom 4R, is likely to be fitted, along with adjustable suspension and switchable ABS brakes.
25 years of the Ariel Atom
Ariel has yet to release full performance data, but the ‘regular’ 4R is capable of accelerating from 0-60mph in less than 2.7 seconds. The extra power will shave more time off the 6.5 seconds an Atom 4R needs to hit 100mph, too.
The 4RR marks an impressive 25 years of evolution for the Ariel Atom. The car was first launched in 2000, with a 120hp Rover-supplied engine and a simple tubular chassis.
Now into its fourth generation, the Atom has become vastly more powerful, and gained extra technology, but has remained faithful to the concept of lightweight, skeletal construction.
A finalised technical specification, along with prices for the Atom 4RR, will be confirmed by Ariel later this year.
Motorsport engineering specialist Prodrive has revealed an updated version of its high-end racing simulator.
For those who want the ultimate gaming experience, the Prodrive Racing Simulator has been developed with artisan luxury suppliers.
From leather upholstery supplied by Connolly, to an audio system created by Bang & Olufsen, the new simulator even comes with a bespoke build plaque from Vaughtons.
The result is a video game setup that deserves to be put on display, rather than being hidden away in a spare room.
A luxurious way to go racing
Styled by legendary automotive designer, Ian Callum CBE, the curvaceous shape of the Prodrive Racing Simulator immediately sets it apart.
Its carbon fibre monocoque is now surrounded by a frame made from sixteen layers of beech, capped by a gloss black lacquer. Superyacht builder Pendennis is responsible for the piano-like finish.
Both the external wood and the Connolly leather upholstery for the Cobra racing seat can be personalised to individual specifications.
Included as standard are a 49-inch Dual-QHD 5k-resolution curved monitor, a Precision Sim Engineering LM Pro steering wheel and electrically adjustable pedals. The Assetto Corsa racing game comes pre-installed, too.
Bang & Olufsen HX headphones can be upgraded to Beoplay H100 items, or there is a customised Beosound A9 external speaker.
Ready to race in style
Prodrive co-founder and chairman, David Richards CBE, said: “As we gear up for the British Grand Prix, I’m excited to share our new 2025 racing simulator. The updates are a celebration of the British craftsmanship, technology and motorsport heritage that define Prodrive.
“Every precision-engineered detail has been refined, from the carbon fibre monocoque to the pedal feel. And of course, it is not just a simulator. Wrapped in Ian Callum’s sculptural design, this is a centrepiece that sparks conversation, as well as a truly immersive experience.
“Whether you are taking on friends and family, or sharpening your skills for next weekend’s race, you’re tapping directly into Prodrive’s four decades of global motorsport success.”
Pricing for the updated Racing Simulator has not yet been confirmed by Prodrive, but the previous version cost £40,000.
Prodrive displayed its Racing Simulator at Bang & Olufsen of Mayfair in the lead-up to the British Grand Prix. A special concierge can be contacted for those ready to enjoy the most luxurious gaming experience.
Four out of five motorists expect a government U-turn over plans to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel cars from 2030.
The research by Auto Trader for its Road to 2030 Report also reveals a flatlining demand for electric cars.
So far this year, the EV share of new car enquiries on the platform ‘is stuck at 18 percent‘.
This mirrors year-to-date new car registrations of electric cars which, despite a strong performance in June, are sat below 20 percent.
Based on the current trajectory, Auto Trader predicts EVs will reach just 45 per cent of all new car sales by 2030. That’s significantly short of the 80 percent Zero Emissions Vehicle Mandate – and the 2030 ban on regular, non-hybrid petrol and diesel cars.
Even a doubling of the current rate of growth of EV sales wouldn’t be enough to meet the 2030 target.
Used car threat to new EV sales?
Auto Trader is also warning of a surprise threat to new electric car sales coming from used electric cars – enquiries for which have grown over 90 percent in just two years.
Used electric cars generate a staggering 15 times the number of sales enquiries on Auto Trader as new EVs.
So many buyers bypassing the new market could leave EV sales below even the 28 percent ZEV Mandate target for 2025, never mind 80 percent by 2030.
Steep depreciation means used EVs are now as affordable as comparable petrol cars – overcoming the affordability issue that Auto Trader says is the biggest barrier to EV adoption.
More than half of motorists say affordability is their biggest concern around electric cars. Almost 80 percent intend to spend less than £20,000 on their next car, while just 7.6 percent expect to spend £30,000 or more.
There are just 33 new EVs on sale for £30,000 or less, compared to 108 petrol and diesel cars.
‘Need to act now’
“There is genuine concern that 80 percent of consumers doubt the government can meet its 2030 goal of banning new petrol and diesel vehicle sales,” said Auto Trader commercial director, Ian Plummer.
“While the availability of affordable new and used EVs is increasing, and the £1.4 billion recently committed by the government to support the transition is promising, it may take time for these improvements to reach and reassure the wider public.
“The issue has always been affordability and new electric models coming to market under £20,000 should help to close the gap between electric sales and transition targets.
“But this new analysis questions if that will be enough – there’s plenty for the industry and government to do now to set us up for success.”
Alpine has revealed its first electric car designed for use in customer motorsport. The new A290 Rallye elevates the electric hot hatchback to a new level, and will be built by the French marque’s competition department in Dieppe.
Built to meet current rallying regulations, the A290 Rallye will initially be offered for use in a single-model challenge series in France.
However, Alpine says the car is eligible to enter other local rally competitions, allowing amateur teams to explore its electric potential.
An authentic EV rally car
The Rallye retains the same 220hp electric motor as the regular A290 road car, but comes with a ZF limited-slip differential to help channel torque to the front wheels.
ALP Racing shock absorbers give the Rallye a lower stance on 18-inch Evo Corse alloy wheels. Michelin Pilot Sport tyres are also fitted as standard.
The brakes are upgraded, with six-piston monoblock front calipers gripping 350mm discs. There is also a hydraulic handbrake, intended to let the A290 Rallye slide around the tightest of hairpins.
Alpine says the A290 Rallye will use a ‘new innovative system’ to emit a sound that correlates with the car’s speed, noting that ‘noise is an integral part’ of the rallying experience.
Dynamic debut at Goodwood
For safety, the A290 Rallye has a welded-in roll cage, along with Sabelt bucket seats. There is also a roof vent to keep the driver and co-driver cool.
Prices for an assembled and painted A290 Rallye will start from €59,990 (£51,930) excluding VAT.
For those taking part in dedicated Alpine events, a special section of the rally paddock will be made available, with dedicated charging stations for the Rallye’s 52kWh battery. Alpine aims to use environmentally friendly charging where possible.
The A290 Rallye will make its dynamic debut at next week’s 2025 Goodwood Festival of Speed, which takes place from 10-13 July. As part of the event, Alpine will also celebrate its 70th anniversary with special displays of new and classic models.
