Renault’s high-performance brand Alpine has unveiled the new A290 electric hot hatchback, as the manufacturer aims to expand its offering beyond sports coupes. A rival for the Abarth 500e and Mini Cooper SE, the new model shares much with the new Renault 5 E-Tech hatchback, except it comes with more power, a more muscular look and a focus on driving.
Finally more Alpine models to choose from?
Having been reborn in 2017 with the introduction of the A110, Alpine says the A290 is the first step on its path to offering customers more choice. Over the coming years, the brand wants to offer a wider range of vehicles, with the A290 set to be followed by an equally high-performance electric SUV and an updated version of the A110 coupe in the not-too-distant future.
For now, though, the A290 is the headline attraction, offering a more performance-orientated take on the Renault 5. The performance makeover includes more muscular bodywork, which makes room for a 60mm wider track than the Renault, as well as some aerodynamic additions. There’s an air intake in the bumper, while wider side skirts, a rear diffuser and the shape of the rear lights all have an impact.
Yet despite the focus on aerodynamics, Alpine is also paying tribute to its rally heritage with the four-light nose with X-graphics in the daytime running lights, designed to evoke images of Alpine’s old rally cars.
Alpine is also offering the A290 with a choice of two different alloy wheel designs, with the standard 19-inch ‘Iconic’ alloys intended to reference the old Alpine A310, while similarly-sized ‘Snowflake’ wheels are also available in homage to the brand’s roots on Alpine roads. Whichever you choose, they will shroud a set of Brembo brake callipers that are the same as those seen on the Alpine A110.
At launch, customers will get a choice of four body colours, including a new shade of blue designed to provide greater contrast between light and dark areas of the body, while a choice of four liveries will be offered on the limited-edition Premiere Edition models.
What’s the A290’s cabin like?
Alpine prefers to refer to the A290’s cabin as a “cockpit,” with a driver-orientated design that incorporates a 10.25-inch digital instrument display and a 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system angled towards the driver. Customisable and featuring Renault’s latest Google-powered technology, the systems promise much, including full integration of Google Maps and a telemetry function for high-end models, allowing monitoring of lap times and vehicle data. The system can even record video of your laps and provide driver coaching.
More conventional features of the cabin include a conventional five-seat layout and a 326-litre boot, which is much more impressive than that of the Abarth 500e. There is also a sporty steering wheel inspired by the work of the Alpine F1 team, which means it has various buttons and switches on the face, including a rotary dial for tuning the regenerative braking.
Alpine has also fitted seats with reinforced sides to help hold drivers in place, while the upholstery is apparently environmentally friendly, with recycled materials and more sustainable fabrics on board. High-end models will get Nappa leather trim, although it’s sourced in Europe and processed sustainably according to Alpine, using coffee bean pods and plant-based agents in the tanning process.
So it’s just a sporty Renault?
Alpine itself admits comfort was a key consideration in the A290’s development, despite an expectation of sportiness. And while the French company is keen to emphasise the car’s capability, it says it wants the car to offer “accessible sportiness” for owners.
Key to the A290’s sportiness is the powertrain, which is perhaps less potent than some might have hoped. There’s a choice of two electric motors, with a 180hp standard system joined by a more powerful 220hp option, and both are fed by a 52kWh battery pack. Apparently, the A290 can get away with having a comparatively small power output because Alpine has kept the weight below 1.5 tonnes.
As a result, the 180hp A290 will cover up to 380km on a single charge, while the 220hp version is expected to offer a slightly shorter range. Nevertheless, that’s acceptable efficiency considering the power available, which permits a 0-100km/h time of 6.4 seconds in the 220hp version. Such performance might not sound spectacular alongside the MG4 XPower, but it’s a match for more traditional combustion-powered hot hatches such as the Hyundai i20 N.
Straight-line speed is also enhanced by the overtake function, which allows maximum power to be used for up to 10 seconds, while there’s also a launch control system to maximise traction from a standing start. And to provide some aural feedback, Alpine has created a sound system with a choice of characters for the powertrain. The Alternative Sound is designed for day-to-day use, while the Alpine Sound is intentionally sportier.
Sure, but what’s the A290’s range like?
As with most electric cars, the A290 will be measured - at least in part - by its usability, as well as its performance and range. So Alpine has given it a 100kW DC-charging system that allows the battery to be topped up from 15-80 per cent at a suitable public charging point. There’s also a vehicle-to-load (V2L) function that allows the car’s battery to power external devices via a three-pin plug, and a vehicle-to-grid (V2G) function that lets the car feed power back to the grid if necessary to save money on household bills.
On the road, the A290 will come with a selection of driving modes that allow drivers to prioritise sportiness or economy as required, and there are four levels of regenerative braking that allows for further personalisation.
In the sportiest settings, Alpine is promising an impressive experience, thanks to a compact footprint, tailor-made Michelin tyres and bespoke suspension settings. The car has, apparently, been set up to have a sharp, pointy front end for maximum responsiveness, but Alpine has also promised a rear axle that’s “sufficiently mobile when lifting off the accelerator on winding stretches of road.” In other words, expect a dollop of lift-off oversteer.
Sounds dangerous...
Despite the lift-off oversteer, which Alpine promises will still be controllable, safety systems feature prominently in the A290, with 26 driver assistance technologies thrown in. Automatic emergency braking, driver attention monitoring and “emergency lane correction” are all included.
However, Alpine is seemingly aware that these systems will not suit every driver in every situation, so there’s a ‘My Safety Switch’ button that allows drivers to customise the systems they want to activate or deactivate, then save the resulting list as a preset. Although, by law, the systems must be turned on again the next time the car is used, drivers can simply push the My Safety Switch to revert to their favoured settings.
Will there be many versions offered?
At launch, the A290 will be offered in five different forms, with the basic GT sitting at the foot of the range. With 19-inch alloys, LED headlights and heated sports seats, as well as Google-powered navigation tech and a reversing camera, it’s hardly short of kit. Like the GT, the GT Premium will only be available with the 180hp motor, but it adds more features, including a black roof, tinted rear windows and leather upholstery. A premium audio system, wireless phone charging and a heated steering wheel are also included.
Moving further up the range, the GT Performance builds on the GT specification with stickier Michelin Pilot Sport 5 tyres and on-board telemetry, as well as the 220hp motor, while the GTS gets the more powerful motor and combines features of the GT Premium and GT Performance specifications. Finally, there’s a GTS Premiere Edition available initially, offering a choice of four liveries and some extra equipment. However, just 1,955 of those vehicles will be sold worldwide.
Prices are yet to be announced and as yet, the Alpine brand has not officially launched in Ireland.