Throughout its history, Alpine have been known for combustion engined sports coupés, but that changes today with the introduction of this: the Alpine A290. Based on the Renault 5 and borrowing many components from its bigger brother, the globally-renowned A110, the A290 is the first EV hot hatch to hit the market with more than just a few styling changes relative to its standard room-temperature hatchback sibling, unlike JCW and Abarth’s current offerings.
With prices expected to start at 38,000 euros, the A290 can be had in a range of trims, with either 180 or 220 horsepower, all of which use the same 52kWh battery and a beefier electric motor from the Renault Megane E-Tech. Other mechanical highlights include hydraulic bump stops borrowed from the A110, a unique front subframe, engine mounts, and added anti-roll bars. Of course, Alpine has established itself as a maker of lightweight wonders with the A110, and while by no means a featherweight itself, the A290 is relatively light by EV standards at 1,479kg. Spec the faster variant, and 0-62 is dispatched in a respectable 6.4 seconds, while top speed sits at 105 mph. These are decent numbers, but nothing that will worry Civic Type R or Mercedes A45 owners any time soon.
Visually, Alpine have managed to translate many of the A290 Beta concept car’s design highlights into the production version, with the understandable exception of the centre seating position. The A290’s bodykit accommodates its 60mm wider track, while the rally style foglights and headlights feature four ‘X’ motifs meant to evoke the taped headlights found on rallying Alpines of the past. If the A290 has caught your eye, the fastest of early adopters can nab one of 1,955 Premiere Editions, each fully equipped and featuring a unique livery. So, would you sample Alpine’s cutting-edge hot hatch, or rather savour their fabulous A110?
