Excitement is brewing as the highly anticipated Alpine A290, an all-electric hot hatch, is scheduled to be unveiled in June 2024. The A290 promises to deliver a driving experience so delightful, it could earn its own Michelin star upon release.
While the A290-beta concept featured a unique centrally placed driving position and steering wheel, this design, unfortunately, did not make it to the production model. However, the steering wheel of the A290 does incorporate some functionality inspired by Formula 1, offering Overtake, Recharge, and Drive modes at the touch of a button.
Equipped with 19-inch rims wrapped in Michelin-developed tires optimized for electric vehicle performance, the A290 aims to impress. Although specific details about Alpine’s sportier version of the new Renault 5 remain scarce, the prototype of this compact electric car measured nearly four meters in length, just over 1.8 meters in width, and 1.5 meters in height.
Alpine has placed a strong emphasis on driving precision and agility during the extensive final development stages, including testing in the challenging winter conditions of Sweden. Philippe Krief, CEO of Alpine, emphasized the importance of this testing phase, stating, “To fine-tune its development so that it can be effective in all circumstances and all-weather conditions, the winter development stage of the A290 is crucial as it is a completely new car.”
The A290, featuring a striking new camo wrap, has been put through its paces in temperatures as low as -30 degrees Celsius, proving that EV batteries can indeed perform well in winter weather. The true test, however, will come when the A290 is launched in the summer, revealing its full capabilities to eager drivers worldwide.
