2024 Alpine A290 electric hot hatch revealed
The Alpine A290 is the brand’s first electric car and is one of three new electric models being launched by the French firm. Here’s everything you need to know including the price, specs and rele...
On sale 2024 | Price from £35,000 (est)
When Oleksandr Usyk beat former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua in a boxing match in 2021, it completely shook up the sport – and Alpine hopes to do the same with the world of electric cars with its first electrified model, the Alpine A290.
Previewed in concept form, the A290 ‘electric hot hatch’ is based on the upcoming Renault 5. While the concept is powered by two electric motors, the prtoduction version is expected to have a single front motor producing around 215bhp and allowing for a 0-60mph time of 6.9sec. Those are similar numbers to its main rival, the Abarth 500e.
Although no battery details have been confirmed, the A290 should be able to travel at least 200 miles on a single charge – further than the 160 miles the 500e is expected to offer.
Styling-wise, the A290 features a muscular-looking body with X-shaped LED lights at the front and distinctive vertical rear lights. Other features include large air intakes on the front bumper to help improve the car’s aerodynamics, plus 19in wheels.
Inside, the A290 concept is motorsport inspired, with a three-seat configuration and heavily bolstered race seats. The driver’s seat is in the middle like the McLaren F1 supercar’s, with a passenger seat on each side behind it. However, the production car is likely to have a more conventional five-seat layout.
Elsewhere, it’s fairly minimalistic, with no infotainment screens inside the car. There is, however, a head-up display that projects important information such as speed and battery levels into the driver’s line of vision.
The A290 will be one of three cars in Alpine’s line-up designed to push the French brand into the mainstream market. The other two models are the next-generation Alpine A110 sports car and a performance SUV called the GT X-Over. Both are expected to go on sale in 2025.
Full pricing is yet to be announced, but we expect the A290 to cost around £35,000 when it goes on sale next year. That’s on par with the Abarth 500e, which costs from £34,195.
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