· The world premiere of the Alpine Alpenglow Hy4, a concept car with a hydrogen-powered internal combustion engine that will excite motorsport enthusiasts, took place.
· The first ready-to-drive version of the Alpine Alpenglow (Hy4) concept car, which will take part in the track for the first time with the TotalEnergies 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps endurance racing on May 11, was unveiled at the Spa-Francorchamps Circuit in Belgium on May 10, 2024. Alpenglow will also be in demo runs at the 92nd edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans on June 15-16, 2024.
· The Alpenglow Hy4 reveals the thrill of the sound of an internal combustion engine with the harmony of performance and sustainability on a racetrack. Besides, the expression ‘Hy’ in its name represents hydrogen, and the number ‘4’ refers to four cylinders.
· Alpine reconciles environmental innovation and performance with hydrogen-powered internal combustion engine technology. This technology offers a new approach to decarbonizing motorsports.
Alpine unveiled its Alpenglow Hy4 concept car, presented at the 2022 Paris Motor Show for the first time, through the Spa-Francorchamps Circuit in Belgium on May 10, 2024. The Alpenglow Hy4A, a true manifestation of Alpine's innovative design and sustainable solutions, embodies the brand's ongoing research on hydrogen-powered internal combustion engines for sports cars, with high-performance potential both on the road and on the tracks, in line with the brand's ambitious decarbonization goals.
The Alpine Alpenglow Hy4 is not only a concept car but a genuine rolling lab designed as a racing car with its carbon monocoque body and turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine that produces 340 hp.
Exterior Design
Alpine Alpenglow was produced as a seminal concept car for the designs of the brand's future models. With a redesigned crash box and enlarged interior to accommodate two seats, it is even better proportioned and has a function-oriented design. The design also retains the locations of the hydrogen tanks in the side pods and behind the cockpit. The model was designed to have a track width of 2.10 meters, a width of 2.15 meters, a length of 5.20 meters, and a height of 1.10 meters. Through these dimensions, it also establishes a visual connection with the Alpine A424 competing in the prestigious Hypercar category of the World Endurance Championship (WEC).
The front of the hydrogen-powered Alpenglow was designed to evoke the sensation of a comet coming from outer space. The “cosmic dust” light particles in the four front lights and magenta-colored dorsal contour portray the comet's speed and penetration into the atmosphere. The tread highlight turns blue when it reaches the back of the concept, and the vertical lights next to the vertical titanium exhaust pipes symbolize the hydrogen and water vapor emitted by the internal combustion engine.
The aerodynamic features of the concept are an integral part of the design, reflecting the harmonious dialogue between engineering and design. A vast air inlet was created by redesigning the front splitter in the compromise between speed and downforce. The new NACA air intakes are integrated to cool the oil and water radiators, while the rear diffuser has been redesigned for greater aerodynamic efficiency.
Every design element, from the wheel rims that evoke speed even when stationary, to the bespoke tires produced by Michelin, whose graphics are compatible with the design of the rims, has been thought out to the finest detail. The carbon body, centerboard panel, and snorkel evoke the mineral world of the mountains as a typical Alpine element. The technical parts, which are visible from the outside, the air intake open to the cockpit, and the accent of the light triangle that energizes the concept's styling even further, also give a glimpse of the onboard ambiance.
Interior
The elytra-shaped door opening mechanism is designed to free up as much space as possible, facilitating access to the cockpit. The driver and passenger can reach the curved seats by sliding over the side pods, which slope towards the cockpit.
The triangle at the front of the cockpit creates a typical Alpine feature evoking mountains while providing certain visual functions for the driver. It can give warning and direction information, and it can change color just like in a video game in real-time to provide information about the lateral G level, engine speed, or travel speed.
The dash panel has an aircraft wing-shaped section and a partially concealed magenta tubular crossbar. Materials such as carbon fiber, aluminum, and Alcantara decorated with 3D-printed motifs refer to the world of sports cars. There's also a magenta-coloured starter button, control buttons taken from the Alpine A110, and a racing steering wheel sourced directly from Alpine's racing cars. The carbon coating applied to the tanks on the sides reflects their shapes. Furthermore, the hydrogen-powered ready-to-drive version of the Alpine Alpenglow was integrated with dedicated spaces to place mini-action cameras to record the sound and footage of laps around the track.
Hydrogen power: 340 hp that roars
The hydrogen-powered rolling lab Alpine Alpenglow is designed like a racing car with an LMP3 carbon chassis. Under the carbon bonnet of the Alpine Alpenglow Hy4 is a 2.0-litre in-line 4-cylinder turbocharged engine producing 340 bhp (250 kW). It is fuelled by H2 dihydrogen with direct injection at 40 bar pressure and water injection to reduce NOx emissions and can reach a maximum speed of 270 km/h.
Numerous measures have been taken in Alpenglow's design to maximize safety. Composite cylinders under 700 bar are Regulation 134 (European type-approval standard for the safety of hydrogen-powered vehicles) certified. Valves are installed for quick evacuation in case of fire, hydrogen sensors provide constant monitoring, and a meticulous start-up procedure is in place with numerous controls. A color-coded system alerts the driver and emergency services according to the degree of urgency of each incident.
In the new concept model, Alpine has opted for a hydrogen-powered internal combustion engine to offer together the feeling the engine gives the driver and the engine sound ideally suited to Alpine's racing philosophy. This engine type provides significant advantages such as power production, excellent efficiency under heavy loads, and reduced cooling requirements. This environmentally friendly system keeps CO2 emissions remarkably low and does not produce soot, CO, or unburnt hydrocarbons. Thus, NOx emissions can be reduced to levels unattainable for fossil fuel engines.
Alpine Racing is paying close attention to changes in racing regulations and mentioning that the ACO will allow hydrogen-powered cars as of the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2027. There is speculation that Formula 1 engines may switch to hydrogen by 2031.
Alpine Alpenglow Hy4 will meet over 70,000 spectators by taking part in the TotalEnergies 6 Hours Spa-Francorchamps Endurance Race (FIA WEC) on May 11, 2024, after being unveiled within the confines of the circuit on May 10. It will be the perfect opportunity to show motorsport enthusiasts how a hydrogen-powered internal combustion engine perpetuates the sounds and vibrancy that are the most exciting aspects of a racing car. The Alpine Alpenglow Hy4 will also demonstrate its strength at the 92nd edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans on June 14-15, 2024.
