TEN years ago, only serious petrolheads, motorsport obsessives and French car fanatics would have come across the name Alpine. Now of course, it’s a globally recognised brand with a Formula One team,

£254,200 OTR/£282,000 as tested/£5,077 pcm WHY IT’S HERE: What has a hybrid makeover – and Mulliner buffing – added to the world’s best grand tourer? DRIVER: Ollie Kew IT’S 5AM, AND YOU JOIN ME AT hom

Final journey – off to Manor Park Classics, ...

Year of manufacture 2002 Recorded mileage 18,000 Asking price £275,000 Vendor The Classic Motor Hub, Gloucestershire; 01242 384092; classicmotorhub.com WHEN IT WAS NEW Price £86,000 Max power 381bhp M

FRENCH BRAND ALPINE is best known for making lightweight and agile sports cars. Those are two traits that don’t typically go hand in hand with electric cars, but they’re exactly what the Renault-owned

OV says the big red button on the steering wheel. Overtake. Fireworks graphics explode on the screen and the Alpine lunges forward, feeding every possible electron to its three motors. I’m reluctant t