Alpine A120 spy shots

The resurrection of Renault’s Alpine performance sub brand is a step closer with a sports coupe based on the 2016 Alpine Vision Concept spotted in testing.

The mid-engined two-seat A120 contains “80 percent” of the Concept’s DNA and is expected to be revealed at October’s Paris Motor Show.

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This includes the aluminium body work, which mimics the Vision Concept’s low, sleek profile and sculpted sides leading into pronounced rear haunches which narrow to give the illusion of an elongated tail,

Designed to take on the likes of the Porsche 718 Cayman and Lotus Exige, it has a lightweight aluminium chassis containing a mid-mounted 1.8-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol engine delivering around 190kW and taking it from 0-100km/h in 4.5 seconds – about half a second quicker than the standard Caymans.

It also has the same, centrally-located single exhaust pipe favoured over twin exhausts to help keep weight down.

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The interior is also set to be based on the Concept, with an eclectic mix of surfaces including leather, fabric, aluminium and carbon fibre to give the car a modern yet retro feel.

The doors get black leather trim with contrasting white stitching, while the quilted bucket seats are accompanied by race-inspired harness seatbelts.

The instrument panel comprising a customisable TFT display, is flanked by sporty carbon fibre.

The steering wheel is trimmed in thick black leather, framed by the automatic gearbox’s shift paddles.

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The buttons and air vents are backlit in Alpine Blue.

The A120 is expected to go on sale in Europe in the latter part of 2017.

The launch will include a special Premiere Edition restricted to1955 cars, in reference to the year when Alpine founder Jean Rédélé first established the brand, which Renault subsequently purchased in 1973.

Last year the company expressed “strong interest” in the Alpine brand, and the outlook of it coming here is deemed “extremely promising” with a probable release not long after European-market launch.

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Wheels has contacted Renault Australia for an update.