SPY PICS: 2024 Alpine A290 scurries across the snow
Upcoming electric hot hatch looks a lot like the cool concept, with the added bonus of rear doorsOur spy photographers have snapped a camouflaged prototype Alpine A290 winter testing in Sweden and looking remarkably like the original Beta concept shown in May last year.
Derived from the upcoming Renault 5 electric hatch, the hotter Alpine version will up the performance ante with a significantly more powerful motor, unique sports suspension set-up and a raft of unique cosmetic touches.
The model can essentially be viewed as the battery-electric successor to the old Renault Clio RS, which did battle with the original Ford Fiesta ST, Volkswagen Polo GTI and Abarth 695.
The Renault 5 relationship is clear for all to see and simultaneously heralds the biggest difference between the prototype and the concept: the presence of rear doors.
Another major change is the conventional seating layout in place of the Beta’s race-centric central set-up – you can also bet the pews will be sporty buckets and not the frankly ridiculous fixed racing bucket.
Features consistent with the concept, meantime, include the square-theme alloy wheels, angry body kit, widened tracks, extended arches and some sort of fixed roof spoiler.
The single-motor powertrain will drive the front wheels only and develop about 160kW, which should combine with a circa-1500kg kerb weight to offer a projected 0-100km/h acceleration time of six seconds or thereabouts.
Competition for the A290 is actually pretty light on at the moment, with the main real antagonist set to be the MINI Cooper SE JCW, plus perhaps the smaller Abarth 500e and bigger 600e at a push.
Volkswagen is working on an electric Mk9 Golf GTI, but that will compete in the segment above (with the 600e, Cupra Born and ID.3 GTX) and we’re yet to hear of any compact electric Hyundai N-cars or Kia GTs on the way.
The A290 nameplate has been secured for use in Australia, along with the bigger A390 that’s set to be derived from the recently-launched Renault Megane E-Tech small electric SUV, so we can look forward to a pair of new front-drive (old-school) electric hot hatches in the coming years.
Related: New 2024 Renault 5 EV bares all in leaked patent images
Related: 2024 Alpine A290 Beta electric hot hatch revealed
Related: 2024 Alpine A290 Beta electric hot hatch teased
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