Photo: Alpine
Previewed last year by the A290_β (A290 'beta'), this new Alpine is the new entry-level model in the range and the first member of the electric Dream Garage – and the company promises a new GT compact crossover SUV plus the all-new A110 will soon follow.
As promised, Alpine pulled the wraps off the A290 on June 13, just before the start of this year's edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans – this new model is obviously the performance-oriented version of the Renault 5 E-Tech, but it doesn't feature the reported 270-hp powertrain. As a comparison, the new Lancia Ypsilon HF, the first all-electric Lancia to bear the iconic HF mark, has 237 horsepower sent to the front wheels via the front-mounted electric motor, up from 154 horsepower in the standard configuration.
The Renault 5 E-Tech, meanwhile, offers two power levels – a 90 kW (121 hp) version with 40 kW and a more powerful 110 kW (148 hp) variant with a better 52 kWh battery pack. Back to the Alpina A290, the company believes it may become the definitive urban sports car for the novel EV lifestyle and features the Renault Group's new Ampere electric platform, bi-directional V2G charging, a sporty design, plus localized production in France, Alpine's home – assembly is done at the Manufacture in Douai, within ElectriCity. In contrast, the electric motor is built at the Megafactory in Cleon.
Even the battery pack will be produced in France starting next year, and the Alpine A290 rides on the AmpR Small platform with urban car dimensions: 3,990 mm in length, 1,820 mm in width, 1,520 mm in height, and a 2,530 mm wheelbase. Thanks to the double x-shaped motif of the front light clusters, it will also be easy to recognize. From the side and rear, meanwhile, it's more or less easy to recognize as a Renault 5 E-Tech – kind of the same way Abarth emulates Fiat's 500.
Of course, Alpine glows its sporty design throughout – there are standard 19-inch wheels in two exclusive styles, an optional French flag on the C-pillar, an aerodynamic body kit that even includes a small ducktail spoiler even though we are dealing with a hatchback body style, and more. There are also Racing Red or Alpine Blue Brembo brake calipers, Deep Black, Nival White, and Matte Tornado Grey as body colors, plus an all-new Alpine Vision Blue shade.
Inside, the A290 is bathed in Deep Blue tones but still has space for five persons onboard and a 326-liter trunk capacity. The flat-bottom sports steering wheel is dressed in Nappa leather. At the same time, the bucket seats are upholstered in environmentally friendly materials or Deep Blue and Eevee Grey Nappa leather for the GT Premium and GTS variants. Under the hood, the electric motor develops 220 horsepower, enough to reach 100 kph (62 mph) in 6.4 seconds because the car weighs 1,479 kg. However, you're getting access to that stable only when selecting the GT Performance and GTS models; the base and GT Premium trims have to make do with 180 hp.
Last but not least, this is another EV with a 'fake' soundtrack. Alpine has teamed up with Devialet, a French acoustic engineering company, to send the newly minted Alpine Drive Sound through a custom amplifier and then through the nine-loudspeaker premium audio system. The battery pack is the higher 52-kWh version from Renault 5 E-Tech, of course, enabling an estimated WLTP range of up to 380 km (236 miles) and 110-kW DC fast charging rates for a 15 to 80% SoC (state-of-charge) in half an hour. Meanwhile, the onboard charger is good for up to 11 kW for a full recharge in three hours and 20 minutes.
In addition to the GT, GTS, GT Premium, and GT Performance variants, Alpine also proposes a limited-edition initial offering called A290 GTS Premiere Edition with just 1,955 examples up for grabs. These include, in turn, three versions: Beta, La Grise, and La Bleue.
The Renault 5 E-Tech, meanwhile, offers two power levels – a 90 kW (121 hp) version with 40 kW and a more powerful 110 kW (148 hp) variant with a better 52 kWh battery pack. Back to the Alpina A290, the company believes it may become the definitive urban sports car for the novel EV lifestyle and features the Renault Group's new Ampere electric platform, bi-directional V2G charging, a sporty design, plus localized production in France, Alpine's home – assembly is done at the Manufacture in Douai, within ElectriCity. In contrast, the electric motor is built at the Megafactory in Cleon.
Even the battery pack will be produced in France starting next year, and the Alpine A290 rides on the AmpR Small platform with urban car dimensions: 3,990 mm in length, 1,820 mm in width, 1,520 mm in height, and a 2,530 mm wheelbase. Thanks to the double x-shaped motif of the front light clusters, it will also be easy to recognize. From the side and rear, meanwhile, it's more or less easy to recognize as a Renault 5 E-Tech – kind of the same way Abarth emulates Fiat's 500.
Of course, Alpine glows its sporty design throughout – there are standard 19-inch wheels in two exclusive styles, an optional French flag on the C-pillar, an aerodynamic body kit that even includes a small ducktail spoiler even though we are dealing with a hatchback body style, and more. There are also Racing Red or Alpine Blue Brembo brake calipers, Deep Black, Nival White, and Matte Tornado Grey as body colors, plus an all-new Alpine Vision Blue shade.
Inside, the A290 is bathed in Deep Blue tones but still has space for five persons onboard and a 326-liter trunk capacity. The flat-bottom sports steering wheel is dressed in Nappa leather. At the same time, the bucket seats are upholstered in environmentally friendly materials or Deep Blue and Eevee Grey Nappa leather for the GT Premium and GTS variants. Under the hood, the electric motor develops 220 horsepower, enough to reach 100 kph (62 mph) in 6.4 seconds because the car weighs 1,479 kg. However, you're getting access to that stable only when selecting the GT Performance and GTS models; the base and GT Premium trims have to make do with 180 hp.
Last but not least, this is another EV with a 'fake' soundtrack. Alpine has teamed up with Devialet, a French acoustic engineering company, to send the newly minted Alpine Drive Sound through a custom amplifier and then through the nine-loudspeaker premium audio system. The battery pack is the higher 52-kWh version from Renault 5 E-Tech, of course, enabling an estimated WLTP range of up to 380 km (236 miles) and 110-kW DC fast charging rates for a 15 to 80% SoC (state-of-charge) in half an hour. Meanwhile, the onboard charger is good for up to 11 kW for a full recharge in three hours and 20 minutes.
In addition to the GT, GTS, GT Premium, and GT Performance variants, Alpine also proposes a limited-edition initial offering called A290 GTS Premiere Edition with just 1,955 examples up for grabs. These include, in turn, three versions: Beta, La Grise, and La Bleue.
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