While Renault and Alpine continue their close collaboration, the two French manufacturers simultaneously unveil the new generation Renault 5 and the Alpine A290. Rather similar, these two cousins nevertheless offer two very different worlds. The Alpine spirit and sportiness are undeniably present in this A290, the brand's first 100% electric.

Alpine A290 and Renault R5 new generation

After its successful return to the market thanks to the new generation of Alpine A110, the manufacturer from Dieppe is banking on a completely new engine and is making a major shift towards electric. The brand remains faithful to its three pillars, namely performance, agility and lightness, and unveils a “hot hatches” in the tradition of small compact sports cars. The first model of the brand's “100% electric Dream Garage”, this A290 makes it possible to open the brand to a wider audience. Muscular in appearance, its dimensions remain very compact with less than 4 m in length, 1.82 m in width and only 1.52 m in height. These dimensions and the work on design and aerodynamics give it an agile spirit, typical of Alpine design.

Alpine A290 “Alpine Vision Blue” - front panel

The light signature is refined, with four projectors featuring cross patterns, a reminder of rally cars. Its look is defined by wide fenders, side skirts with a fine body-colored border, a black lacquered body and wings as well as a large diffuser on the rear shield. A French flag is available as an option on the rear pillar, while two rim models are available. The Iconic model, recalling the rims of the Alpine A310, and the Snowflake model, more directly linked to the origins of the Alpine name. A limited first edition series of 1955 copies will be produced, inspired by the A290_ß show-car, with contrasting white and black, gray or blue hues.

Alpine A290_ß “Nival White”

Although design is important, the highlight of this A290 remains its electric engine, a first full-scale test for the French brand. Depending on the trim level, the engine is offered in two power levels. The GT and GT Premium versions have 180 horsepower, while the GT Performance and GTS versions offer 220 horsepower. Since the torque of an electric motor is instantaneous, 300 Nm propel the A290 without delay, making it possible to reach 100 km/h in 6.4 seconds. An Overtake control is added to the steering wheel, releasing 220 horsepower over a short period of time.

Phantom view A290

A few functions are added to fill the potential lack of sensation compared to internal combustion engines, in particular with the creation of acoustic feedback accompanying driving and mechanical stress. Whether we like it or not, we can ask ourselves the question of the value of this kind of function, since a speaker cannot match the soft noise of a combustion engine. Conclusions will be drawn for Alpine after the first sales of its A290, which will in particular make it possible to properly prepare future models, namely a C-Crossover GT and the new A110, according to the announcements of Philippe Krief, CEO of the brand. To be continued.