Some automakers have long insisted that internal combustion engines are more energy-efficient, such as Toyota, which says it can be achieved by having internal combustion engines burn hydrogen instead of fossil fuels, while Porsche and Lamborghini believe that synthetic fuels may be the answer. Renault's performance brand, Alpine, is part of the hydrogen-powered lineup, and this Alpenglow Hy4 is proof of that.
The Alpenglow Hy4, a spin-off of the Alpenglow Concept, is a prototype being tested with a turbocharged 2.0-litre engine that produces 340 horsepower. The four-cylinder revs at 7000 rpm and draws energy from three hydrogen tanks, each carrying 4.6 pounds of hydrogen at a pressure of 700 bar.
In addition, Alpine is developing a larger engine and a new V6 engine developed entirely in-house for hydrogen applications is on the horizon, while a follow-up version of Alpenglow could be called the Hy6 and will debut in late 2024.
On the other hand, the Alpenglow Hy4 is not a replica of the concept car, as Alpine has tweaked the body design, the car has an improved crash structure that accommodates a two-seater cabin, and hydrogen tanks are embedded in the side cabins. In addition, the new car is also a little taller than before and has a redesigned aerodynamic package. While the Alpenglow Hy4 is a track-specific machine, Alpine thinks the car's powertrain technology makes sense for road cars as well.