Alpine will not be coming to the United States until 2026. In the meantime, Europeans are in for a treat with the introduction of the new A290. This vehicle competes in a unique segment of electric hot hatchbacks, joining the likes of the Abarth 500e, Volkswagen ID.3 GTX, Cupra Born VZ, and the lesser-known MG4 XPower. Essentially a high-performance version of the reborn Renault 5, Alpine's first electric vehicle aims to make electric cars more fun to drive.
The new Renault 5 already looks great, but the Alpine version adds a bit of aggression to the stylish city car. It features the French brand's signature quad light theme with an "X" motif, reminiscent of old rally cars. Historically, tape was used to protect the lights in case of an accident, helping to keep the shattered glass pieces together and preventing them from scattering on the road.
Compared to the resurrected Renault 5, the more athletic derivative is nearly two inches wider and has larger 19-inch wheels as standard. This is still a diminutive electric vehicle, at just 157.0 inches long, 71.6 inches wide, and 59.8 inches tall. It is slightly longer and lower than the donor car while having a 2.3-inch wider track. For an electric car, it is relatively lightweight, tipping the scales at 3,260 pounds.
Much like the Abarth 500e, the new Alpine A290 is a front-wheel-drive affair. The other electric hot hatches mentioned earlier send power to either the rear wheels or to both axles. Alpine sticks to a single motor mounted at the front and offers the hardware in two states of tune. The base and GT Premium trims make do with 174 horsepower. Step up to the GT Performance or the GTS and the electric motor is dialed to 215 horsepower. With 221 pound-feet of instant torque, the feisty electric vehicle hits 62 miles per hour in 6.4 seconds.
The Alpine A290 will be sold exclusively with a 52.0-kilowatt-hour battery pack offering enough juice for an estimated 236 miles of range. With support for direct current charging at 100 kilowatts, it takes half an hour to charge the battery from 15 to 80 percent. If you are in a hurry, spending 15 minutes at a charging station will be enough for about 93 miles of range.
Alpine has made significant efforts to spice up the cabin compared to the Renault 5. Aside from the body-hugging front seats, the A290 has a flat-bottomed steering wheel and a red button behind the right side of the steering wheel. That "Overtake" button enables maximum performance. On the left side, the blue "Recharge" rotary knob lets you choose the desired recuperation level. The 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster and 10.1-inch touchscreen are shared between the two models, but the A290 uses more exciting graphics.
While Alpine has not disclosed pricing details, it is expected to command a significant premium over the standard Renault 5, which starts at €33,490 in France. Although the A290 will not come to the United States in 2026 when the brand launches here, American consumers can look forward to an electric replacement of the A110 coupe, with a convertible to boot. An SUV will follow in 2027, joined by a swoopy sedan a year later.
#AlpineA290 #ElectricHotHatch #AlpineEV
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6 сен 2024
