We haven't stopped swooning over the reborn Alpine A110 sports car since it was revealed at this year's Geneva Motor Show, even if we're still seething about Alpine's reluctance to bring it to America. Fact is, the lightweight sports car caters to a niche market, so to broaden the appeal of the brand Alpine is already considering adding a second car to its line-up before the A110 has even arrived in showrooms. Insiders have informed AutoExpress that an SUV will be joining the Alpine family to appeal to the mass market and help fund the A110 sports car.

Previewed in exclusive images on AutoExpress, the unnamed SUV's styling is heavily inspired by the A110. It will be positioned as a rival to the Porsche Macan, and is expected to go on sale in 2019. To compete against the Macan and Alfa Romeo Stelvio, the Alpine SUV will be getting a cabin upgrade compared to its sports car counterpart, with bucket seats and a possible choice of two or three-seat bench in the rear. While Alpine has access to a wealth of platforms provided by Renault Nissan, the SUV will be offered in rear- and all-wheel drive, so it's possible Alpine's architecture could be sourced by Mercedes-Benz or Infiniti.

Initially, the Alpine SUV expected to be powered by Renault's 1.8-liter turbocharged four-cylinder gas engine rumored to produce around 300-hp in the new Meganne RS hot hatch. Larger units could follow later, but Alpine bosses have hinted at using hybrid or fully electric technology in the future. Like the A110 sports car, Alpine will use weight-saving measures to ensure the SUV is the lightest in its class, while four-wheel steering will make it more agile in the corners. Alpine's decision to enter the lucrative SUV market is hardly surprising, especially given the success that Porsche has had with its best-selling Macan.

Likewise, Lamborghini will be launching the Urus later this year, and even Ferrari is cashing in on the SUV surge. Like it or not, a premium SUV is what could put the Alpine name back on the map.