Renault and Caterham have announced that they are to create a 50/50 partnership to create future sports cars. The collaboration will also revive the iconic Alpine brand, of which Caterham will have a 50 per cent ownership.

Alpine will be based at the Dieppe plant, the company's historic factory since its construction in 1969. Overseeing it all will be Bernard Olivier, a man who has held prominent positions within Renault and Renaultsport since 1977. Olivier recently became Vice President of Transformation at Renault in January 2011.

Both manufacturers will bring their own areas of expertise to the table. Renault has been involved in the racing world since 1899, has won the highest number of titles in Formula 1 in the last 35 years, and continues to be the world's largest creator of single-seaters. This experience will be coupled with Caterham's basic principles - a lightweight body, a powerful engine, and razor-sharp handling with little or no creature comforts or driver aids to get in the way.

"I have not felt as excited about a new venture since I launched AirAsia in 2001," comments Tan Sri Tony Fernandez, Caterham Group Chairman. "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".

Carlos Ghosn, Chairman and CEO of Renault said, "This partnership with Caterham embodies a longstanding ambition: the creation of a sports car with the Alpine DNA."

With the partnership set to begin work in January 2013; a new benchmark in lightweight, stylish sports cars could be here soon. Watch this space...

James Giddings - 6 Nov 2012