We just wish Alpine had seen fit to change the plastic paddles behind the wheel they still operate with a flimsy click rather than the satisfying clunk you want from a great metallic paddle-shifter. What remains unchanged is the excellent seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox, which seamlessly fires home changes up and down the gears. ThereРІР‚в„ўs no extra torque, but the power is now spread over a broader rev range the engine still suffers that initial low-down lag, but beyond 2,500rpm the extra power makes itself known, the engine pulling with noticeably more force than before. Now packing 288bhp, the A110 S will cover 0-62mph in 4.4 seconds РІР‚вЂњ 0.1 seconds quicker than the standard model. The overall sensation is of a car thatРІР‚в„ўs more focused and less playful. Where you could provoke the rear end of the standard A110 into playful slides by balancing the throttle with more aggressive steering inputs, this S feels more stable and planted. ThereРІР‚в„ўs less roll during quick changes of direction, and more bite from the front end. The trade-off is a car that corners with more precision and poise than before. Power from the 1.8-litre turbo is up by 39bhp to 288bhp, the brakes are larger and more powerful, and the carРІР‚в„ўs ride has dropped by 4mm, while the springs are 50 per cent firmer and the anti-roll bars twice as stiff. The basic recipe for a car designed to give you a bit more of everything is as youРІР‚в„ўd expect. ItРІР‚в„ўs called the A110 S and this is our first chance to get behind the wheel in the UK. Not quite satisfied, the French firm has developed an even more focused, more powerful version to try and cement its place as an accomplished sports car specialist. The fact itРІР‚в„ўs the current Auto Express Coupe of the Year goes to show you how highly we rate it.

Rarely does a new car from a new (or in this case, revitalised) brand come along and give the established big-hitters a serious run for their money, but the Alpine A110 is one of those cars. However, asking a Р’Р€9,000 premium means youРІР‚в„ўll have to really appreciate its extra focus to want one. That doesnРІР‚в„ўt necessarily make it better than the standard model, but it does give it a character of its own. The Alpine A110 S is a more serious and focused sports car.

Alpine s