The upcoming Alpine A290 will make its official debut at the 24 Hours of Le Mans on June 13, marking Alpine’s first foray into an already competitive electric hot hatch market.
The electric hot hatch sector is rapidly expanding, with the Alpine A290 going up against the Abarth 500e, MG4 XPower, Volkswagen ID.3 GTX, and the upcoming electric MINI Cooper JCW.
Based closely on the only recently unveiled and very retro Renault 5 E-Tech, the A290 will be tailored to meet the Alpine sub-brand’s performance ethos with modifications that include a wider track, custom front suspension design, more power, and bigger brakes.
Alpine’s latest teasers reveal the A290 will retain the body shell of the upcoming Renault 5 but with several key design enhancements that reflect its sportier ambition. Notable features include larger front air intakes, wheel designs inspired by the A290_ß concept, and distinctive fog lights featuring an ‘X’ emblem.
The rear design is anticipated to diverge from the Renault 5, featuring a unique bumper and a more prominent diffuser, aligning with Alpine’s statement that the concept’s design cues would closely influence the production model.
Inside, the A290 introduces exclusive elements such as a flat-bottom steering wheel equipped with a blue knob for battery recharge rate adjustments, a red ‘OV’ button for short-term power boosts, and a drive mode selector, emphasizing its performance-focused interior design.
Like the R5 E-Tech, the A290 will be powered by a single electric motor driving the front wheels, incorporating torque-vectoring technology to enhance handling precision and cornering stability.
Alpine hasn’t released technical details, but its new hot hatch is expected to feature a 52kWh battery, similar to the Renault 5, with a likely adjustment (downward) in range to accommodate the vehicle’s performance-oriented nature.
Pricing remains speculative; however, with the Renault 5 positioned to start at around £30,000 in the UK (AU$58K), the Alpine A290, given its sportier characteristics and enhancements, is anticipated to command a higher price point, potentially approaching £40,000 (AU$77K).
Neither model is confirmed for Australia yet, although Renault’s distributor in Australia, Ateco, has been very vocal about its hopes of getting at least the R5 down under. ↗
Ellis Hyde & Auto Daily