Renault Sport axed, replaced by Alpine

French car-maker Renault has confirmed that the famed Renault Sport performance brand has officially been axed in favour of a new all-electric assault to fall under the Alpine banner.

The news draws the curtain on a legendary RS hot hatch line dating back to 1976, and hangs a question mark over the future of the long-running Renault Megane RS and Clio RS.

Will they be rebadged as Alpine models or disappear altogether?

Reports say the Renault Megane RS will be retired once the current model – which includes the Nurburgring front-wheel drive record-holder, the Renault Megane RS Trophy-R – comes to the end of its lifecycle.

On a local level, Alpine has offered a solitary model – the slow-selling Alpine A110 – since 2017.

Alpine said in January that three all-new electrified models would initially comprise the car-maker’s next-generation line-up, leaving room for potentially more variants.

At least one of those will be co-developed with Lotus after the pair confirmed they would join forces to “study a number of areas of co-operation, including the joint development of an EV sports car”.

Just as BMW and Toyota joined forces to create the latest BMW Z4 and Toyota Supra, and then shared key vehicle technology for EVs and hybrids, Lotus and (Renault-owned) Alpine are expected to extend their co-operation beyond the one sports car.

The new Alpine ‘business unit’ combines Alpine, Renault Sport and Renault’s motorsport operation into one entity. For Formula 1 fans, the writing has been on the wall since Renault’s Formula 1 team was rebranded to Alpine for the 2021 season.

Alpine chief executive Laurent Rossi said the move was a strategic one aimed at making Alpine profitable by 2025.

“As part of the reorganisation of the Renault Group by brand, it is essential that the various entities that make up the business unit bear the Alpine name and embody the values and ambitions of the brand,” he said.

“Alpine aims to be a premium sports brand at the forefront of innovation and technology. Alpine Cars with its expertise and experience in sports vehicles is a master card in achieving our goals.”

The news comes days after Renault announced plans to become the “greenest brand” in Europe by 2030, with nine out of 10 cars sold featuring an electric drivetrain.

Renault Sport models have historically resonated strongly with Australian enthusiasts, with our market often in the top five for volume globally.

In February, Groupe Renault confirmed Sydney-based RVDA, a subsidiary of the Balverona Group owned by Neville Crichton, who also imports LDV, RAM and Maserati vehicles, as its new independent Australian distributor, effective April 1.