Alpine A290: first electric Alpine is a Renault 5 trained to 220 hp

Highlights Alpine A290

• Hot version of Renault 5: 180 or 220 hp
• First electric Alpine ever
• Significantly modified on the outside, inside and under the skin

The A110 has been the only model that Alpine has had on the menu for years. The delivery range is now supplemented with this Alpine A290. Unlike the A110, this is not a coupe with blown petrol engines, but a hot hatchback that is only available with electric powertrains. The technical basis of the A290 is clear. It is a visually and technically adapted version of the brand new electric Renault 5 by Alpine!

It is absolutely no surprise that Alpine is launching its own sporty version of the Renault 5. More than a year ago, the concept car called the A290_β already looked ahead to a well-trained R5. What does the 290 part of the name stand for? Not for the power. The ‘2’ indicates the size and positioning of the hot-blooded electric hatchback in Alpine’s range. According to Alpine, the ’90’ part points to the fact that it is a lifestylemodel, Sovany Ang from Product Performance at Alpine previously explained to us.

Alpine A290

Up to 220 hp

What the Alpine A290 has to offer? Let’s start with the powertrains. The Alpine A290 will be available in two power variants. The first of these, with 180 hp and 300 Nm, is already stronger than the currently strongest (150 hp) engine version of the Renault 5. The 180 hp electric motor is in the ‘basic version’ of the A290 and in the GT Premium version. Above this, Alpine parks a 220 hp and 300 Nm strong engine version that is available in combination with the GT Performance and GTS versions. The most powerful A290 zooms from a standstill to a speed of 100 km/h in 6.4 seconds. Alpine Torque Control ensures that the 300 Nm are transferred properly to the wheels. Alpine does not mention a top speed, nor an acceleration time for the 180 hp version. The vehicle weight is 1,479 kilos, making the Alpine almost 50 kilos heavier than a 150 hp Renault 5.

Both the 180 hp and the 220 hp Alpine A290 have a 52 kWh battery in the bottom. The smaller 40 kWh package with which the Renault 5 will be available at a later stage will ignore its sporty nose. The Alpine A290 squeezes a maximum of 380 kilometers from the 52-kWh battery. The milder R5s can travel a maximum of 410 kilometers with that battery and therefore have a greater range, but that is of course no surprise given the large alloy and the more sporty character of the A290. The Alpine A290 can charge quickly, just like the Renault 5 with the 52 kWh battery, with a maximum of 100 kW. Naturally, just like the Renault 5, the A290 has V2L technology and software and hardware that – which is of little use at the moment – makes Vehicle to Grid (V2G) discharging possible, thanks to the AmpR Small platform.

Tighter

The Alpine A290 is more than just a Renault 5 with more powerful electric motors. For example, the track width of the compact Alpine is 6 centimeters wider than that of the Renault 5 on which it is based. Multi-link rear suspension is available, just like on the Renault 5, but Alpine does give the A290 specific anti-roll bars, a firmer suspension and not only a more direct response when pressing the power pedal, but also differently adjusted braking. The brakes themselves on the A290 come from Brembo. Using a button on the steering wheel you can choose from one of four driving modes: Save, Normal, Sport and Personal. Not only can you adjust the level of power steering and throttle response, but the ambient lighting and the (artificial) sound that the Alpine Drive Sound system makes can also be adjusted to taste. If you want to throw the Alpine A290 around without limits, you can switch off the stability control for extra stomping freedom.

Alpine A290

Expanded and fully equipped

It should come as no surprise that the A290 looks like a dressed up Renault 5 from the outside. Yet there are striking differences. For example, the basic shape of the headlights is no different than that of the Renault 5, but the design of the headlights is new. They have an X-shaped light signature. The LED elements of the Renault 5, placed low in the bumper, are missing on the Alpine A290. Instead, we find two square, somewhat historically responsible lighting elements slightly below the headlights and more towards the center. They also have an X signature. The entire front bumper is also different from that of the Renault 5. It has much larger cooling openings and the whole has simply sportier lines.

The Alpine A290 has large side skirts compared to the original. To prevent the wheels from running against the wheel arch edges due to the larger track width, the wheel arches have been considerably widened. This makes the A290, with its width of 1.77 meters, 5 centimeters wider than the Renault 5. The modified bumper makes the A290 3.99 meters long, 7 centimeters longer than the original. Of course you will not find a Renault logo or 5 badges on the back of the A290. The brand name Alpine is written in the center of the buttocks, with the model name slightly below it. At the bottom of the rear we find a completely unique rear bumper with a diffuser, as well as a vertical air deflector at the rear screens. A larger rear spoiler is missing, but the A290 does have a spoiler edge above the brand name in the tailgate that the Renault 5 does not have. The Alpine A290 comes standard with 19-inch wheels, behind which red or blue brake calipers are hidden.

No new model without a special introductory version and so the Alpine A290 will also get one. It is called Première Edition and is limited to 1,955 copies. That circulation refers to the year in which Alpine was founded.

Alpine A290

Interior

Although the interior of the Alpine A290 looks strikingly similar to that of the Renault 5 at first glance, there are still differences. Of course, the basis is the same and the decoration has been adjusted to emphasize the sporty genes of the A290, but there is more. Just look at the door panels. They are slightly different than those of the R5. Also striking: the large selector lever to choose the direction of travel that you find on the steering column in the Renault 5, you will not find in the A290. Instead, you choose the direction of travel using the three buttons housed in the center tunnel.

The Alpine A290 has a three-spoke steering wheel that is flattened at the bottom and, like the center tunnel, is covered with nappa leather. On the left side you will find a dial with which you set the degree of recovery. The R5 doesn’t have that either. On the right side of the steering wheel is the driving mode selector, above it a small red ‘Overtake’ button that makes the full 220 hp of the strongest engine version available. If you push the power pedal of the strongest Alpine to the bottom, you also have full power. A touch of F1 inspiration in the A290. Like the Renault 5, the Alpine A290 has a 10.1-inch infotainment screen and a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster. The layout of the displays has also been adjusted. Sports seats? They are also present. Also striking: the entire interior of the A290 is finished in blue.

Alpine Telemetrics increases the gadget content of the Alpine A290. It provides, among other things, information about the G-forces that apply to the A290 and provides information about the temperature of the engine, tires and brakes and keeps track of lap times on the circuit. It also offers real Challenges, according to Alpine, “a series of tests of the driver’s agility, strength and endurance, in a video game-like approach and in increasing levels”. Go ahead.

Prices for the Alpine A290 are not yet available, but you can count on it being a lot more expensive than the electric Renault 5.