Renault brings back the Alpine brand with a rear-engine, RWD sports car

Renault is reviving the Alpine brand with the Alpine A110-50 concept, a rear-engine, rear-wheel drive sports car that purportedly makes 400-horsepower from a Nissan-sourced VQ V-6. Commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Alpine "Berlinette" A110 (which earned its fame as rally car champion in the WRC during the 70s), the new machine is based on a tube-framed Renault Megane Trophy and takes its quirky styling cues from the Renault DeZir concept. Ahead of its official unveiling at Monaco Grand Prix this weekend, the company has released images and a teaser video.

Alpine was originally an independent French car manufacturer until Renault acquired the company in 1973. After its last model, the Alpine A610, Renault mulled bringing back the badge in 2007, but postponed its plans due to the global recession that soon followed. There's no word yet whether a production version of the A110-50 is in the works.