Alpine A290 hot hatch on the radar for Australia
Renault 5-based electric hot hatch will be the first new-gen Alpine product offered Down UnderThe most hotly anticipated French performance car since the reborn Alpine A110, the A290 electric hot hatch, is firming up for Australia.
The production version of the 2024 Alpine A290 broke cover in June ahead of an expected European release early next year, with two versions set to be offered, packing up to 160kW and weighing in at a reasonable 1479kg.
Speaking to carsales at the Australian launch of the updated Renault Arkana last week, Renault Australia general manager Glen Sealey said the A290 – which can launch from 0-100km/h in 6.4 seconds – was in the crosshairs for Australia.
“We’re working now on A290 and on other products … we want it,” he said.
“But like anything in this market, it’s small. It’s highly regulated with requirements on the rear bench and passenger seat with the airbag switch. And that has to be overcome”.
Powering the A290’s singular drive motor is a 52kWh lithium-ion battery pack thought to provide up to 380km of range, however an official WLTP figure is yet to be published.
The modest-capacity battery can be recharged at up to 100kW when using a DC fast-charger, topping it up from 15 to 80 per cent in around 30 minutes.
Sharing its CMF-B platform with the forthcoming Renault 5 EV, the A290’s independent rear end has been engineered to potentially accommodate a rear motor on future versions which would bestow the currently front-drive compact all-wheel drive and a heap of extra power.
The A290’s local introduction will restore the French performance division’s presence Down Under with more electrified models set to come, according to Sealey.
Alpine has committed to seven new battery-electric models by 2030, including a medium SUV, potentially a four-seat sports coupe and two other SUVs intended to take on the Porsche Macan and Cayenne.
Sealey said there were no plans to reintroduce the current A110 sports car after it was discontinued in Australia in 2021 for not complying with the then-new side-impact Australian Design Rules.
That said, the sub-brand committed to developing a new-generation A110 on a new electric-only platform last year.
Once its own entity under the Groupe Renault umbrella, Alpina has been reimagined as the French marque’s in-house performance division in place of the retired Renault Sport operation.
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