The Alpine Alpenglow

Société des Automobiles Alpine SAS (also known as Alpine) is a French manufacturer of sports and racing automobiles that was founded in 1955 by Jean Rédélé. Throughout its history, Alpine has been closely associated with Renault and was eventually acquired by the French multinational in 1973, writes Oliver Taylor.
 

Alpenglow is an optical phenomenon where a horizontal reddish-orange glow appears on mountains just after sunset or before sunrise. In the automotive industry, it could very well represent the dawn of a new sustainable age, with the introduction of a revolutionary vehicle that could change the face of driving. The Alpine Alpenglow is an advanced hydrogen-powered concept vehicle unveiled that was revealed on 13th October 2022 and demonstrates a long-term commitment to sustainability. Where the primary models are concerned, the ‘Hy’ stands for hydrogen, while the number refers to the amount of cylinders in the vehicle’s engine.

The main difference between the Alpine Alpenglow Hy4 and Hy6 are their engines and performance, with the Alpenglow Hy4 reaching approximately 168 mph (270 km/h) and the Alpenglow Hy6 capable of exceeding 205 mph (330 km/h). Described by Alpine as a ‘rolling lab designed as a racing car’, the latest Alpine Alpenglow Hy6 model possesses a 3.5 litre V6 twin-turbocharged hydrogen combustion engine, producing a staggering 740HP at 9,000RPM redline. The engine burns hydrogen directly and this is stored in three 2.1Kg high-pressure hydrogen tanks instead of using a fuel cell, making it a ‘hot-running’ engine that emits only water vapour from the exhaust pipes. Two of the tanks are located in the side pods, and the third is behind the cockpit. All three are kept in ventilated compartments, isolated from the passenger area to ensure safety.

SUSTAINABLE, WITHOUT COMPROMISE
These attributes mean better aerodynamics with all of the excitement we love about motorsport driving, bringing sustainability to the forefront- without compromising on performance. As a result, this technology offers precise application of power with reduced cooling requirements and minimal greenhouse gas emissions. The Hy6 engine took approximately two years to develop from scratch by engineers at Viry-Châtillon, who focused on handling the unique challenges of hydrogen combustion. The engine has been fine-tuned to burn hydrogen with a combustion chamber that favours turbulent movements to ensure a homogenous mixture of hydrogen and air, eliminating the problematic pre-ignition that hydrogen is prone to.

Naturally, hydrogen burns very differently from gasoline, banging and popping across a wider range than usual. Because of this, the engineering team created a special system that reduces pressure from 700 bars to 200 bars- and then reduces it even further before it is injected into the combustion chamber. Oreca is the technical partner who also contributed to the design of the engine, which incorporates features such as an aluminium block, a dry sump and direct injection to run at high RPMs. Construction features a crankshaft with crankpins that are offset by 20° and cylinder heads that are made from cast aluminium, with an optimised cooling circuit.

A BEAUTIFUL AESTHETIC
The accentuated design of the Alpenglow enables an outstanding aerodynamic performance with flowing surfaces optimising air flow, very long and tapered rear wings, and sculpted lines that reflect the hallmarks of future Alpine models. Moreover, the selection of colours and materials is evocative of natural elements like water, ice, water vapour, wind, and the lighting signature displays the different levels of the internal combustion motor. Alpine designed the elytra-shaped doors to allow as much entry space as possible, and you are able to slide over the side pods before settling into one of the futuristic, adjustable blue bucket seats. These have been upholstered in a reactive fabric that changes colour in the light, shimmering with metallic and blue effects, while the driver-focused interior also includes materials like carbon fibre, aluminium and Alcantara.

The transparent rear bonnet of the Hy6 represents the perfect fusion between mechanics and aesthetics, revealing technical prowess and magnified engineering through refined design. The back of the car is five meters long, two meters wide and less than one meter high. Its elongated taillights and translucent wing compliment each other beautifully, with the rear glowing blue as the vehicle is turned on and in motion. The dashboard is modelled on an aircraft’s wing, with a geometric steering wheel that is inspired by LMP1 racing cars. The base of the wheel has two selectors for the control of built-in functions such as track control and regenerative braking, while the overtake button provides an additional thrust in momentum. In addition, paddle gear shifters are transparent and backlit. This contributes to the weightlessness in the lean interior and creates a high-performance driving experience.

There is a prism-shaped ignition key completing a pyramid shape when inserted in the centre of the steering wheel. The sound when the Alpenglow revs along the road is glorious. Make no mistake- this futuristic liquid hydrogen powertrain vehicle is as stylish as they come.

A GROUNDBREAKING STEP FORWARD
The Alpenglow sends power to the rear wheels through a 6-speed sequential transmission, while the vehicle offers the same driving pleasure of an Alpine car on both closed circuits and the open road. The ‘cosmic dust’ design of the headlights of the Alpenglow are intended to evoke the appearance of a car that has ‘traveled through space’, and are a key element of the new design that Alpine are using to convey their vision for the future. The custom designed alloy wheels are designed to mimic the appearance of snowflakes with little icicles at their centre. They transport us to the mountains and are an integral part of Alpine’s identity. The wheels also feature a structure and gradient that evoke speed even when stationary, and were designed to complement the bespoke Michelin tires. The fin running along the top of the vehicle also glows, fading from pink to blue, which represents the colours of the Alps. The stream of light begins at the front, symbolising a comet entering the atmosphere, and works its way back, where it turns various shades of blue. This is the visual manifestation of ‘Alpenglow’ - the luminous phenomenon in which a horizontal streak of reddish-orange light appears on the mountains of the Alps.

The Alpine Alpenglow looks like it could represent the future of motorsport, embodying the brand’s revival in terms of design and technology. Its hydrogen-powered engine combines environmental innovation with a unique flair and is an ingenious feat which can reduce your carbon footprint, while simultaneously providing a solution that anticipates changes in future emissions regulations. Could we see a future with Formula-1 cars screaming down the road burning hydrogen instead of fossil fuels? We certainly hope so! Alpine have demonstrated that we no longer have to choose between performance and sustainability, They have given us a glimpse into a future where clean-emissions racing and road automobiles are a reality and the Alpenglow prototype is evidence that hydrogen combustion is ready to emerge at the forefront of sustainable motoring. While most other car manufacturers are racing towards the mass production of electric vehicles, Alpine may have just figured out how to keep the soul of racing alive while going green. The Alpenglow Hy6 automobile made its UK debut at the 2025 Goodwood Festival of Speed, sounding much like a traditional endurance prototype. The exhilarating roar of a combustion engine which remains environmentally conscious in a stylish supercar, is certainly a winning combination and a step in the right direction.   EG