Alpine's A290 Electric Hot Hatch Due Soon at 24 Hours of Le Mans

Described as "the first model from the A-arrow brand's Dream Garage" and the one to pave the road for its battery-electric future, the Alpine A290 will be showcased during the endurance race, and the company's CEO, Philippe Krief, and its Design Director, Antony Villain, will be at the event.

Alpine has also released a new teaser image of the upcoming model, with emphasis on its X-shaped front lighting signature. We've also seen some pre-production prototypes, albeit with their bodies wrapped in the usual trippy camouflage, as they were undergoing testing in the frozen north at temperatures below -30C/22F, and it was previewed by a concept car unveiled last year.

It is basically a performance-oriented version of the Renault 5 E-Tech that utilizes the same CMF-B EV platform, which, in turn, will be shared with the Renault 4 E-Tech and the upcoming Nissan Micra EV. Alpine hasn't released the specifications yet, but if the concept car was any indication, it might feature two electric motors mounted at the front.

However, we wouldn't bet on that, as earlier reports have said it might launch with a single motor powering the front axle, which might generate around 270 horsepower. Others have gone as far as stating that the Alpine A290 will launch with a dual-motor setup, with the extra unit driving the rear wheels, and we wouldn't hold our breath for this scenario.

To help it distance itself from its Renault counterpart, which is also a front-wheel drive model, Alpine has likely revised the chassis, bringing the body a hair closer to the road and making it stiffer. An uprated braking system will likely be on deck, too, alongside the revised exterior styling and some interior upgrades that will further separate it from the 5 E-Tech. Fans of the French brand should also look for exclusive paint finishes, bespoke wheels, and special upholstery and trim.

Unfortunately, Alpine hasn't released more juicy details about the upcoming A290 electric hot hatch, as it's trying to keep most aspects a secret until the big date arrives this Thursday. We wouldn't be surprised if they dropped additional teaser images and perhaps more data about it to build up the hype for the model's unveiling, so we will keep an eye open for them. So, are you excited about the new 2024 Alpine A290, and would you want the Alliance to sell it in our market as well?