Taycan

Make
Porsche
Segment
Sedan

Alpine, the Renault Group's performance subsidiary, is hoping to return to the United States before the end of the decade, reports MotorTrend. Speaking at the Financial Times Future of the Car Summit, CEO Luca de Meo said Alpine is hoping to launch battery-powered SUV and coupe models, presumably to tackle the Porsche Taycan, Macan EV, and upcoming 718 electric sports cars.

"The US is an opportunity we will be looking at ... and if we find an opportunity it will probably be with the Alpine brand," said de Meo. Alpine recently revealed the stunning A290_ß, an electric hot hatch expected to enter production in 2024. Sadly, this retro-styled performance car - and the compact SUV that will arrive in 2025 - are not destined to reach American shores.

Renault's CEO admitted that these cars are too small for the US market.

"We are looking at bigger cars because we need them to get access to richer markets," added de Meo. The Alpine models destined for our shores will reportedly be similar in size to the Mercedes-Benz C-Class and E-Class, making them considerably larger than any other car from the marque.

This isn't the first time Luca de Meo has said bigger, more luxurious models are essential if Alpine wants to make it big in America. Last year, the CEO suggested that, by 2030, 15% of the manufacturer's sales will come from foreign markets.

In February, de Meo also shared that Alpine is in talks with AutoNation, an automotive retailer based in Florida. This partnership would see the dealer group assist the performance brand in selling vehicles in America. "It's not easy because we are not present in the US, and we have to start from scratch."

Currently, Alpine produces the delightful A110, a sports car that will soon tackle the iconic Pikes Peak hill climb. The coupe is a delight to drive and has won fans over with its crisp handling, superb balance, and riveting performance. Alpine has always focused on lightweight performance cars, so the transition to luxury SUVs and coupes may be challenging.

Even parent company Renault has struggled with penetrating the luxury market in the past; the Safrane, Avantime, and Vel Satis all failed to compete in the bustling premium segment. As such, Alpine will have to work very hard, especially if it plans to introduce a larger electric SUV.

As a reminder, Renault previously sold their vehicles in America via a partnership with American Motors Corporation (AMC). The collaboration didn't last long, and the French automaker left the country in 1987. Renault invested millions into AMC and eventually sold it off to Chrysler. Hopefully, if the brand returns, it will be more successful the second time around.