Alpine A290 officially teased ahead of June debut

Just days after the incoming Alpine A290 was snapped undergoing development testing, fresh details have emerged about the battery-powered French hot hatch ahead of its launch in June.

The first all-new car to be introduced by Renault’s reborn Alpine brand since 2017, the Alpine A290 is the hot hatch derivative of the soon-to-be-launched Renault 5 that will make its debut at the Geneva motor show on February 26.

Sharing the same AmpR Small platform (formerly known as CMF-BEV), the A290 will measure in at 3990mm long, 1820mm wide and 1520mm high, with a wheelbase of 2530mm, Alpine has confirmed.

Other new details revealed following two years of chassis development include the fitment of 19-inch wheels that will be available in Europe with either Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 winter tyres, Pilot Sport EV tyres or Pilot Sport S5 performance tyres.

All carry ‘A29’ markings that indicate they’re special Michelin tyres featuring a bespoke compound and structure developed in co-operation with Alpine. And all of them are claimed to balance safety, range, comfort, handling, durability and acoustics.

What Alpine hasn’t confirmed is what kind of battery will power the Alpine A290, but it’s expected to be the same 52kWh unit as the Renault 5 – not its smaller 40kWh standard battery pack.

Ensuring it will have what it takes to beat the upcoming Abarth 500e, the Alpine A290 will get the sportscar-maker’s latest torque vectoring system alongside multi-link rear suspension that will be tuned to deliver an engaging drive.

Built at Douai in northern France alongside the Renault 5, the A290 will also feature a more aggressive aero package and sit lower to the ground on wider front and rear wheel tracks.

Looking at the new official images of the hot EV testing in the snow, it’s also possible to make out the X emblem on the fog lights, as well as a different front bumper and an intricate wheel design, all of which suggests the Alpine A290 will retain the look of the 2023 concept.

At the rear, evidence of a small diffuser shows how hard Alpine’s aerodynamicists have worked to ensure the A290 will produce more downforce than the R5 without inducing range-sapping drag.

Inside, we’ve already know the A290 will score a Nappa leather-wrapped steering wheel with a blue button to alter the level of brake regeneration. There will also be a red QV button to deliver maximum power for overtaking.

As far as power goes, it’s been tipped the Alpine A290 will come with a front-mounted electric motor that could produce as much as 160kW.

There’s no word yet on what range the electric hot hatch with come with, but the combination of a more powerful motor, larger tyres and more extreme suspension and aero set-up make it unlikely to cover 400km between top-ups.

The A290 nameplate has already been secured for use in Australia so it seems certain the Alpine A290 will be offered here alongside the Renault 4, potentially by the end of this year.

There’s no word on pricing yet but it’s thought the smallest Alpine model yet will be positioned between the Abarth 500e ($58,900 plus on-road costs) and the more expensive new MINI Cooper SE, suggesting a base price of more than $60,000.

For everything you auto know about EVs, listen to carsales' Watts Under the Bonnet: the electric car podcast

Join the conversation at our Facebook page
Or email us at editor@carsales.com.au