Secretly, most keen drivers yearn for the days when driving was a real pleasure. Well, a while back the French legend that is the Alpine sports car was resurrected as the A110 and it was an instant hit. It’s a real driver’s car and now there’s a fully electric variant, the A290 which itself is based on the new mainstream Renault 5 EV but the similarity ends there. This is the hot hatch for the electric urban driver.
Not a sports car in the conventional sense, this compact saloon nevertheless is imbued with true Alpine DNA. This new electric vehicle (EV) is perfectly aligned with the famous brand’s three pillars of automotive wisdom: An exhilarating driving experience, it’s lightweight, and delivers plenty of French savoir-faire. This sporting car is the new entry point into the Alpine world and inaugurates Alpine’s 100% electric ‘Dream Garage’ where it will soon be joined by the Sport Fastback A390 and the new A110. More on those models in due course.
The A290 incorporates all the best driving sensations experienced at the wheel of the A110 parcelled into an urban sports car. It’s compact and agile, offering easy-to-use high performance while guaranteeing comfortable everyday use.
The Sporting Exterior
The A290 has distinct Alpine features, first and foremost being its unique lighting signature, recognisable from afar and comprising four headlamps, as on all Alpine models. In this case, they feature X-shaped motifs (reminiscent of rally cars) and automatically display a welcome sequence when the ‘hands-free’ card is detected as the owner approaches.
The list of elements that contribute to the bodywork’s bold expression is extensive: the wide wings, the side skirts which incorporate a subtle body-coloured edging for a sharper look, the roof edge in aluminium or anodised blue finishing, the black shark fin antenna, the wing logos, the black lacquered bodywork and wings, the distinctive line on the rear doors and, finally and breathlessly, the diffuser on the rear bumper.
At the front, the Alpine name is apparent, and a typical ‘snowflake’ motif is integrated into the exclusive sports bumper. At every stage of the design process aerodynamics have been taken into account, which is particularly important when maximising electric range. Pursuing maximum efficiency influenced the shape of the air intake in the bumper to create a beneficial air flow, as well as the wide side skirts, the diffuser, the fins and the shape of the rear lights. No huge rally rear wings here; the Alpine A290 does not incorporate an oversized spoiler that would disrupt the rear airflow, but rather a ‘duck-tail’ at the tailgate to underline its sportiness.
The standard 19 inch alloy wheels come in two exclusive designs. The ‘Snowflake’ wheels hark back to the origins of the Alpine name and are available in gloss black, semi-diamond black or diamond black finishes. A blue background behind the Alpine logo on the wheels is available as an option. The ‘Brembo 4-piston monobloc’ front brake callipers with Alpine branding are the same as those on the A110. The front and rear callipers are available in ‘Brut Grey’, ‘Racing Red’ or ‘Alpine Blue’. There’s a choice of colourways for the bodywork too.
Interior Atmosphere
The exclusive three-spoke sports steering wheel, with a flattened mid-point, is covered in Nappa leather. Highly sculpted and modern, it is designed with accentuated stitching to underline its sporty character and a wide steering wheel hoop for better grip. It includes several specific aluminium buttons inspired by the world of Formula 1, with the ‘RCH’ (for ‘Recharge’) rotary knob on the left, to set the regeneration level, the various driving modes on the right, and the immediately recognisable red ‘OV’ (for Overtake) button above. The steering wheel also includes controls for the driving aids, telephone, voice assistant and instrument display mode.
There is also a bespoke audio control pod. A sports pedal and footrest complete the ergonomics of the A290’s sporty driving position. The 10.1 inch central screen is angled towards the driver, and the physical air conditioning controls can be adjusted without taking your eyes off the road. The high centre console between the two seats is inspired by the A110’s iconic design and incorporates the ‘RND’ (reverse/neutral/drive) transmission controls. Every detail of this area has been carefully considered, with the car’s name embossed on the central armrest, Alpine ‘Snowflake’ grain on the key slot, and the console upholstered in top-of-the-range Nappa leather.
The seats, a fundamental component of any sports car, are meticulously designed. They offer lateral reinforcement for extra support without compromising on everyday comfort. They come as heated seats for all models in the range and are upholstered in environmentally friendly materials. In the entry-level trims, the seats are upholstered in a grained coated fabric (15% recycled plastic and hemp fibre) combined with a deep blue 100% recycled fabric with silica grey contrast stitching and an arrow-shaped ‘A’ logo in the upper section of the backrest.
The dashboard, the sides of the centre console and the door panels are padded with a grained-coated fabric. In the top-of-the-range GT Premium and GTS versions, the seats, dashboard, and door panels are upholstered in ‘Deep Blue’ and ‘Evee Grey’ Nappa leather. Alpine is embossed on the leather headrests, and A290 is embroidered in the centre of the backrest medallion. This Nappa leather is sourced in Europe and processed sustainably.
The Drive
This is a front-drive car that uses the ‘AmpR Small all-electric platform’ which offers considerable advantages when designing a sports car, say the company. This platform optimises weight distribution (only 57% of the weight is on the front axle) and lowers the centre of gravity. The battery contributes to the car’s rigidity, and its positioning maximises interior space. The skateboard-style architecture and smaller ‘engine’ mean that the front end is compact. Naturally, this provides a favourable playing field to achieve ideal balance with a short wheelbase offering greater liveliness. At the same time, the wide tracks enhance stability and allow for the use of larger tyres.
Depending on trim level, the Alpine A290 motor is offered in two power outputs: 180hp (equivalent) for the GT and GT Premium versions, and 220hp (equivalent) for GT Performance and GTS. The result is one of the best-performing cars in the small EV segment, with a 0-100 km/h time of 6.4 seconds and 300 Nm of torque for the GT Performance and GTS versions.
However, it’s not just an electric skateboard; comfort and practicality are preserved in this 5-door, 5-seater hot hatch, which measures just 3.99 metres long, has a generous boot capacity of 326 litres and a turning radius limited to 10.20 metres. The result is the highest agility with thrilling sensations in everyday use. A bespoke ‘engine’ subframe was created to improve the positioning, contribute to the vehicle’s handling and provide optimum filtration.
Its all-aluminium design and the choice of battery size help to keep the A290’s weight at 1,479 kg, a particularly competitive figure.
The A290’s 26 driver assistance system items (ADAS) include driver attention monitoring, automatic emergency braking when reversing, forward and rearward detection with emergency lane correction and safe occupant exit. A new ‘My Safety Switch’ button, located on the left-hand side of the steering wheel, allows drivers to select their ADAS setting preferences in a single gesture, choosing, for example, whether to switch ADAS on or off, the level of intervention and the presence of audible alerts. In addition, an adaptive cruise control system with a stop-go function and a lane departure function to allow two wheel vehicles, for example, to pass, are standard features.
Alpine & MHH International
Your writer has driven the Alpine A110 sports car extensively on test and it is an old-school delight. With this pedigree, this new EV should do the same without frightening the horses. Quiet, efficient and plenty fast enough; it’s a new sporting electric vehicle choice. You can see the MHH International current Alpine stock right here.
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