In a move that is sure to delight sports car enthusiasts and fans around the world, Renault and Caterham Group have announced they will come together to develop and build future sports cars. Future cars will have the Alpine DNA running through them and will be built at the Alpine plant in Dieppe, Normandy, in France.
For Carlos Ghosn, Chairman and CEO of Renault:
“This innovative partnership with Caterham embodies a longstanding ambition: the creation of a sports car with the Alpine DNA. It carries both opportunities for the Dieppe plant and the development of its historic expertise.”
For Tan Sri Tony Fernandes, Caterham Group Chairman: “I have not felt as excited about a new venture since I launched AirAsia in 2001 and I want to thank Carlos Ghosn and Carlos Tavares and everyone in our new Renault family for having the belief in Caterham Group to create this partnership. Many people doubted us 11 years ago when we launched our airline and I am sure that there will be doubters again this time, but we will not fail your trust. We know the markets we are going into and, particularly in my playground in Asia, there is a huge opportunity to replicate the AirAsia model and give consumers access to exciting, affordable products that marry our interests in F1 and technology and help make their dreams come true.”
For Carlos Tavares – COO Renault: “Our ambitions of reviving Alpine depended on our ability to find a partner in order to ensure the economic profitability of such an adventure. Right from the start, we wanted to place the Dieppe plant at the heart of the project. Today, through our partnership with Caterham Group, we can enter a new phase: the design of a car that will embody the very essence of Alpine, a vehicle that will rekindle sporting passion once more. It could become a reality within the next three or four years.”
What am I expecting from this marriage of two huge giants of the industry with F1 amongst many other sporting pedigrees? Simply stunning cars. Given just how good the Renaultsport range is, coupled with the genuinely timeless ability of the Caterham Seven, I want to see their developments now!
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