FIRST LOOK: Alpine A290. Is the faster 5 all we hoped it would be? | Electrifying

#alpinea290 #alpine #electriccars

At Electrifying, we couldn’t think of a car which excites us more than the electric Renault 5. But then we saw this - the Alpine A290. It’s like a 5 which has been to the gym. Now – finally! – I got to go and have a look around the final production car, so read on to find out if it’s as good as we’ve been hoping.

​The Alpine A290 is an electric hot hatch that’s based on the same platform as the Renault 5, but which has been heavily modified to make it a properly fun car; an electric hatchback for all the car enthusiasts among us. As you’d expect of Alpine – this is a performance brand, after all. It is to Renault what Abarth is to Fiat, although Alpine also produces bespoke models of its own, and this is its first electric car.

With a 52kWh battery, and range expected to be almost 240 miles, the A290 has better range than the Abarth 500e, and a very similar range to the Mini Electric. It’s also offered with a couple of powertrain options: the entry-level Alpine A290 GT gets 180bhp and 285nm of torque, while the GT Performance and GTS models get 220bhp and 300nm.

Alpine hasn’t confirmed pricing for the A290 but expect it to cost from around £35,000- to £40,000, which is a similar price to the Mini and Abarth 500. Full LED headlights, heated sports seats, adaptive cruise control, front and rear parking sensors and a reversing camera are all included as standard. The GT Premium adds a contrast roof, Alpine Blue brake callipers, leather interior and upgraded audio, while the GT Performance gets the more powerful engine, Michelin Pilot Sport tyres, red brake callipers and Alpine Telemetrics for tracking your lap times. The range-topping GTS gets all of that, plus bespoke ‘Snowflake’ wheels. A limited edition A290 GTS Premiere Edition will get a couple of bespoke race-inspired liveries, and only 1955 examples will be produced.

Join Nicola as she checks out the Alpine A290 for the first time. Has Alpine built a winner? Let us know in the comments below.

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[FormulaWhine]

This is brilliant. I love that Renault / Alpine are keeping the hatch alive when others (looking at you, Ford) are ditching hatchbacks for bigger, less efficient SUV and crossover models.

[neilhaslam]

What a great addition to our ‘Swift-EV’ options. Mini, Abarth, now Alpine….some great options. This may be my new favourite.

[urbanstrencan]

Finally here proper small hothach, can't wait to see it on the road 🤟❤

[swecreations]

Don't know what the people thinking this is "too slow" is talking about. That's not the point of hot hatches! They're supposed to handle well and be lightweight, which this one is much better at!

[sevensixtysteve]

Awesome looking thing - all the appeal of the Abarth 500e but sounds like it has a bit more range. Blows Mini out of the water and I would take this over that car all day long.

[Tram-]

It looks cute. Like it's smiling.

[andrewmontague]

I love it nearly as much as your podcast Nicola 😂
Can’t wait to drive one!! 👌🏼

[mortenlaursen]

Going to be my first EV, if I can get one!!

[VidPS]

Does the OV button make the car go to 11?

[alistairl]

What an exciting release - look forward to seeing it in the metal. Is this a likely competitor to the ID.GTi when that arrives sometime in the next century sorry decade....?

I'm possibly too tall for this though :(

[jasongood]

Love it. Love the move away from the SUV/crossover big car feel to something more petite. And love the colour. UK insurance will be…interesting.

[remiou]

Je suis d'accord. Définitivement d'accord.

[Finglebat]

I think it sounds a little like the Speeders in Return of the Jedi... I like it

[TheJs]

I like hearing EVs having an boost, especially for reasons to pass by slow vehicles on the freeway. I don't mind the electronic sounds.

[rastislavvarga]

I want my MeganE to be Alpine version! I mean not 220hp obviously, cause I have it, but additional 50hp and torque would be nice. Now, I know its a FWD so maybe more power is not possible, but maybe there is a way to keep traction with higher performace… wider wheels?

[Jawlf]

Hopefully we can turn off the noise. The car is interesting having a slightly smaller battery to reduce weight and make it more fun to drive. Looks are pretty good and is definately worthy of the "hot hatch" label.

[KewpielovesU]

hope the driving sounds can be turned off (once it takes off)

[Flyingtwiglet]

Looks great. Not sure about the “electric hot hatch noise” though. It sounds like my washing machine building up to its 1600 spin. Does it have a frunk that’ll clean your smalls? 😂

[LeiChat]

What impact does a 1 of X limited edition have on insurance premiums? If only we didn't have to worry about those annual costs. Pleased to see they kept the rear doors. Definitely rate this over the Mini Cooper, even at 38k Euros. On the launch event today they said RHD won't be available till 2025. If they get 1955 LHD orders, might we miss out? 😢

[G-Man]

Is it driven by its front or rear wheels? The Megane is front wheel, but the Renault A110 is a rear wheel drive.