Paris Motor Show: Alpine’s latest Alpenglow V6 Le Mans racer on show
“SLIDE IN TO RACE” denotes the door sill as you slide into the cockpit of Alpine’s new Alpenglow Hy6 – the latest iteration of Renault Group’s hydrogen-combustion-engined race car prototype.
The race car took centre stage at Paris Motor Show 2024 with its own sécurité privée guard.
Whilst it may look a lot like the old Alpenglow, this new version has been extensively redeveloped by the boffins at Alpine.
Placed correctly in the middle is a throaty 3.5-litre V6 (v-twin) biturbo engine, producing 740hp at 7600 rpm (up from 340hp in the brand’s previous 4 pot Hy4 variant).
This is a hydrogen combustion engine – not a fuel cell – so that means you can retain all the eco-credentials, but more importantly; it offers the enthusiast the soundtrack of a prehistoric predator.
The engine also features direct water injection – a fancy emissions feature that takes care of those pesky NOXes.
The power is also correctly delivered to the rear wheels, via a 6 speed sequential ‘box.
The Motorsport industry wants to cut emissions, but one of the major appeals of the sport is the soul, the thrill and the character of the race cars – something you just don’t get with pure EV.
Bruno Famin, VP of Alpine Motorsports said the Alpenglow produces: “a sound to thrill drivers and spectators with its maximum revs at 9,000 rpm.”
There are three high pressure (700 bar) hydrogen tanks storing the fuel in gaseous form – each storing 2.1 kg per tank.
Exterior design of the Alpine Alpenglow
The exterior design and bodywork, of which is made from carbon fibre, has been evolved from the Hy4 through close collaboration between designers and engineers to combine maximum aerodynamic efficiency, with beautiful design concepts.
The previous 4 cylinder variant was demonstrated at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2024, with legendary French racing driver (sorry, footballer) Zinédine Zidane at the helm, who is one of Alpine’s ambassadors.
Currently, legacy rules in motorsport have not yet caught up with innovation. Alpine is paying close attention to the ACO (the motor club who run 24 Hours of Le Mans) and the FIA (the global federation who regulate motorsport)’s plans to authorise the participation of hydrogen-powered cars from 2028 onwards.