The dashboards of modern cars often look more like giant tablets on wheels. Screens have taken over, pushing physical buttons aside. Many car companies seem to think drivers want everything automated or controlled by voice. Yet, a growing number of drivers miss the feel of an actual button. They want to be in charge of their ride. Alpine, a car maker known for its sporty models, is listening closely to these drivers. They plan to bring back a lot of physical controls, putting drivers back in command.
Car companies usually add more screens to make driving easier. They automate tasks or let you use voice commands. But not every driver wants this super-easy experience. In fact, some drivers want to do more themselves.
Antony Villain, Alpine’s Design Director, shared his thoughts with Autocar. He said, “Of course, there’s this trend of screens everywhere. But honestly, when you want to focus on driving, you don’t really focus on screens.” He believes drivers need instant access to important functions. More than that, they have a special connection with their car. They want to control it, not have a screen control it. “When you buy a sports car, you want to be in control,” Villain explained. “You don’t want the car to start itself. You want to master the car. You want to start the car. You have a ritual.” He summed it up: “It’s not the car driving and controlling you; it’s the other way around.”
Villain spoke to reporters at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. Alpine had just shown off its new A390 SUV there. He confirmed Alpine will make driver involvement a top priority. They will also work to cut down on distractions inside their next-generation cars. “Starting with the future A110, we will enter a new generation of car interiors that will be truly new,” Villain said. “We will keep the core ideas, but we will go further.” He feels the company is building “something truly strong,” and this will show up in all their upcoming cars.
Alpine Puts Drivers Back in Charge
The third-generation A110 is set to arrive next year. It will be an all-electric car. This model will be the very first Alpine to have a completely custom interior. It will not be one borrowed from Renault cars. This new approach will truly show what Alpine stands for. It will favor real, physical buttons over digital ones. This design idea is expected to spread to all future Alpine models.
Current Alpine models, like the A290, show the old way of thinking. The A290 shares many interior parts with the Renault 5. It has a big digital screen for its instrument panel. The A390 is also similar to the Renault Megane E-Tech. Most of its functions are controlled by a 12-inch vertical touchscreen.
Villain admits that these screens are common because “customers want technology with purpose.” But he believes Alpine cars, which are all about the driver, need a different path. They need a more old-school, physical feel. “So, we’ll have many physical buttons mixed with the minimum digital elements,” he stated.
Villain also spoke about the upcoming electric A110. He said it will not have any “retro references,” unlike the current model. The current A110 takes heavy inspiration from the original A110 from the 1960s. Still, the new electric version will keep “all the A110 codes.” This means it will still be easily recognized as a descendant of that classic car. Expect to see its unique square headlights, low-slung shape, and a design that hints at a mid-engine layout, even if it’s electric.