France’s Epic Hot Hatch That’s Too Good For America

French sportscar marque Alpine has revealed its first-ever hot hatch, the A290. Based on the funky Renault 5, this all-electric performer is Alpine’s first battery-powered production car and will soon be joined by a string of sporty EVs. While Alpine has plans to expand into North America, the A290 won’t be offered in the United States. Let’s take a look at what we’re missing.

Designed to rival the Abarth 500e and the newly introduced ID.3 GTX, the stylish Alpine is available in two states of tune. The base model and GT Premium produce 180 hp, while the GT Performance and GTS have 220 hp and 221 lb-ft of torque. The top-spec models can sprint from 0-62 mph in 6.4 seconds, which is on par with the ID.3 GTX. The base A290 hits 62 mph in 7.4 seconds. This impressive performance is partly down to the relatively light (for an EV) curb weight. The hot hatch weighs just 3,260 lbs – less than the current Golf GTI.

Strong Performance, Decent Range

The A290 has four drive modes: Save, Normal, Sport, and Personal. A single electric motor channels power to the front axle and gleans energy from a 52 kWh battery. Alpine says the little hatch has a WTLP-estimated range of 236 miles. That’s slightly lower than the new Renault 5 E-Tech, which has a 249-mile range but far less impressive sporting credentials. The DC fast-charging system allows for charging speeds of up to 100 kW, which means the battery can recover 93 miles in 15 minutes and charge from 15-80% in half an hour. The charger is also vehicle-to-load and vehicle-to-grid compatible.

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Of course, an Alpine has never been about straight-line performance. The A290 has been tuned to be a dynamic delight with excellent handling and cornering capabilities. For a start, engineers redesigned the suspension to accommodate a wider track. At the same time, the rear multi-link setup, extremely rare in this segment, contributes to greater stability and more responsive steering. The suspension system also benefits from hydraulic bump stops and bespoke anti-roll bars at the front and rear.

Motorsport-Inspired Overtaking Function

Alpine has fitted the front axle with four-piston Brembo brakes (borrowed from the A110 sports car) for superior stopping power. Adjustable regenerative braking is also part of the package. The A290 has a rather neat feature called the Overtake function. Pressing a red button on the steering wheel unleashes extra power for up to 10 seconds, with a recharge period of 30 seconds required before it can be used again. After 15 seconds, the boost function can be used for five seconds, a feature inspired by motorsport. The automaker worked closely with Michelin to create three tires for use on the A290:

• Pilot Sport EV: a sporty summer tire that prioritizes efficiency, grip, and range.
• Pilot Sport S5: this high-performance tire was designed to exploit the handling potential of the electric hot hatch on wet and dry roads.
• Pilot Alpine 5: a winter tire that increases grip in wet, snowy, and cold climates.

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The Alpine’s styling is a high point. The A290 looks like a proper hot hatch, with a wide stance and aggressive design details. The front fascia sports retro-inspired lighting resembling the foglamps found on ’80s performance and racing cars. An X-shaped motif calls back to old rally cars and has a unique welcome animation that comes to life as the owner approaches the vehicle. This can also be found in the headlights.

Exquisite Retro-Inspired Styling

Flared wheel arches accommodate the 2.36-inch wider track, lending the hot hatch a more muscular look. Round back, you’ll find a prominent diffuser, which avoids looking garish. Overall, the A290 is an excellent tribute to the iconic Renault 5 Turbo. 19-inch wheels are standard fitment, and customers can choose from various exterior finishes. Deep Black, Matte Tornado Gray, and Nival White paintwork are available. At launch, a Premiere Edition (limited to 1,955 units) will be offered in four different trims, namely Beta, La Bleue, La Grise, and Premiere Edition.

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The cabin is awash with stylish detailing and unusual finishes in typical French fashion. The center console and 10.1-inch infotainment screen are angled towards the driver, who sits in front of a flat-bottomed three-spoke steering wheel. The supportive front seats have different upholstery finishes depending on the trim. Cheaper models receive eco-friendly grain-coated fabric combined with a 100% recycled fabric in dark blue. The top-spec GT Premium and GTS receive Nappa leather on the seats, dashboard, and door panels, which is unusual for a car in this class. Alpine says the leather is responsibly sourced and processed.

Pricing And Availability

All models receive heated front seats, a Nappa-leather trimmed steering wheel, LED headlights, adaptive cruise control, and wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto. Moving up the range, you’ll find a premium sound system, heated steering wheel, wireless phone charger, and more in the GT Premium. GT Performance models receive their own sporty touches, such as red-painted brake calipers and the Michelin Pilot Sport 5 tires. The GTS gets the best of both worlds from the GT models. Pricing is yet to be confirmed. Sadly, the A290 is not coming to America, but we expect it to be priced around $40,000 in overseas markets.