Mirai

Make
Toyota
Segment
Sedan

As we inch closer to electrification, a handful of manufacturers have resisted the urge to fully commit to battery-powered vehicles. Porsche offers the Taycan in multiple body styles and has an electric Macan in the pipeline, but it's also working on synthetic fuels which have the potential to prolong the life of ICE vehicles. Toyota also has a range of EVs planned, but also refuses to give up on alternatives. For example, it offers the hydrogen-powered Mirai in the state of California. What's more, the Japanese brand is also working together with Yamaha to develop a hydrogen-powered V8 engine. But it seems French sports car brand Alpine is also joining the fray. Teased by the European Institute of Design (IED), the dramatic-looking supercar, known as the A4810, is a concept car styled by the institution's transportation design students, in collaboration with Alpine.

Powered by a hydrogen powertrain, the A4810 is said to represent the "extreme sportiness of the future, more technological and more sustainable." While not much can be seen in the teaser, the futuristic Alpine looks sleek and low-slung, almost like a modern-day Le Mans Prototype racer.

The front end is particularly striking, sporting the brand's signature quad headlight treatment, as seen on the current A110 sports coupe.

Alpine's parent company, Renault, also recently provided us with a glimpse of its latest hydrogen-powered concept. As with the A4810, the images don't give away too much of the design, but there are hints of the Megane E-Tech, pictured below, in the front end. The French carmaker says the concept "embodies the decarbonization trajectory of the Group and the Renault brand as well as their progress of circular economy, recycled and recyclable materials."

The design collaboration between Alpine and the IED suggests Alpine may be leaning toward hydrogen power for future models. The brand has already said the A110 successor will be all-electric and has teased the battery-powered SUV seen below, known as the GT X-Over. While the Turin-based IED has said the A4810 will be hydrogen-fueled, it has shared no further details on the powertrain or, indeed, whether the design concept is slated for future production.

In January, the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance announced it will be investing $26 billion into electrification, intending to introduce 35 new electric vehicles by 2030. Seeing as Alpine falls under the Renault umbrella, it's possible that one of those 35 EVs could very well be a hydrogen-powered supercar. If it doesn't make it into production, we can at least expect to see the design cues adopted by future Alpine models. The full reveal is set to take place on March 18, where we'll finally be able to get a better look.