A long-time TFL fan spotted a car we don’t see in the U.S….yet.

Last year, Renault Group CEO Luca de Meo shared the news that Alpine, Renault’s sports car sub-brand, could actually make its way to the U.S. by way of an import deal with AutoNation. In late June 2023, de Meo announced the “Renaultlution plan,” in which Alpine would gear up for a major growth phase in it would compete in this year’s World Endurance Championship, compete in Formula 1 and expand its market presence within the decade. After Alpine builds enough revenue to reach a targeted break-even point by 2026, it’s eyeing to expand into new regions including America, according to the company’s official statement.

While we haven’t heard much since last summer, long-time TFL Studios viewer and fan Roger spotted these three cars on manufacturer plates in Findlay, Ohio — a sign that Renault’s plan is on track to launch the Alpine A110 in the near future.

For those who aren’t steeped in this sports car’s history, here’s a primer. After a four-decade hiatus, Renault Group revived the Alpine name (pronounced Al-peen, with a short ‘e’) as a sub-brand with the debut of the A110 coupe in 2017. It’s a mid-engined model powered by a Nissan-derived 1.8-liter, turbocharged four-cylinder engine putting out 252 horspepower (or 188 kW, if you prefer metric) and 236 lb-ft (320 N-m) of torque. The rear-wheel drive A110 comes with a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission.

In 2022, Alpine launched a hotter version called the A110 S, which bumped up the output to 300 horsepower (224 kW) and 251 lb-ft (320 N-m) of torque. That may not sound like a huge amount of grunt for Americans used to 700-plus horsepower muscle cars, but the A110 weighs less than 2,500 pounds. As a result, that sort of power can still propel this sports car from 0-60 in around 3.9 seconds on its way to a top speed of 177 mph.

Like so many other automakers, Alpine also has grander plans beyond the current, gas-powered sports car. It aims to broaden its lineup by introducing new electric models (yes, including SUVs) later in the decade, so it’s in a fighting position against contemporary rivals in the space when it does launch in other global markets. We also first saw an A290 electric hot hatch last summer, though it’s unclear whether that would make its way over to the U.S. behind the A110’s arrival, provided we do actually see them at AutoNation dealers (or through some other retail channel) in 2026.

Still, if you’ve been looking for a light and nimble sports car alternative, it appears there’s a decently solid chance you’ll be able to shop for an Alpine before you know it.