Alpine’s Alpenglow is a fully running hydrogen V6 prototype with blue brake lights and the only thing coming out of its exhaust is water

The Alpine Alpenglow prototype hits a 9,000rpm redline to prove that a high-revving hydrogen V6 engine can actually keep the combustion era alive.

This functional machine produces 740bhp and drops nothing but water vapor from its active exhaust system.

We saw this technology in person at the CDE where the car ran at full temperature using its sustainable fuel source.

The mechanical reality beneath the transparent bodywork suggests that the move to clean energy will be much louder and more visceral than many people expected.

Click the star icon next to supercarblondie.com in Google Search to stay ahead of the curve on the latest and greatest supercars, hypercars, and ground-breaking technology

Inside the 740bhp hydrogen heart

Building the 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 engine required the engineering team to address the specific combustion characteristics of hydrogen.

This Alpine Alpenglow powertrain creates 740bhp and allows the car to reach a maximum speed of 205mph.

Unlike standard gasoline, hydrogen burns extremely fast and can cause timing issues if the pressure is not managed.

Alpine added a small pre-chamber and a regulator to handle the gas as it leaves the 700-bar storage tanks.

This setup allows the V6 engine to produce high power while only sending steam out of the exhaust pipes.

The team chose this prototype layout to avoid the massive weight of heavy battery packs.

Because the V6 engine runs hot like a normal car, the Alpine Alpenglow uses standard radiators that do not ruin the aerodynamics.

This keeps the car narrow and light enough to handle properly on a race track.

The three storage tanks sit inside the frame to keep the weight balanced and protected.

Every metal part inside the V6 engine had to be treated to make sure the hydrogen does not make the metal brittle over time.

Saving the V6 engine for racing

Standing next to the second prototype at the CDE reveals details that distinguish this from a typical supercar.

The rear features a completely transparent acrylic spoiler that stays clear even as the V6 engine works hard underneath.

At the wheels, blue brake lights glow to indicate that the hydrogen energy recovery systems are active.

These visual cues serve as a reminder that the Alpine Alpenglow is a mobile laboratory for testing how these fuels react to the heat and stress of high-speed driving.

Alpine is currently running the car through a strict schedule to see how the parts hold up long-term.

Working on this prototype gives the brand data on how hydrogen affects engine wear after miles of use.

The project shows a clear path for internal combustion to stay relevant even as environmental rules get stricter.

This hydrogen V6 engine is a practical solution for fast cars that need to refuel quickly like a normal petrol car.

The Alpine Alpenglow Hy6 is an engineering project that keeps the mechanical feel of a V6 engine in a new era.

By choosing hydrogen, Alpine finds a way to move fast without the downsides of heavy batteries.

This prototype confirms that fast cars do not have to be quiet, and we will likely see this hydrogen tech in future Alpine race cars.

DISCOVER SBX CARS:

The global premium car auction platform powered by Supercar Blondie