Alpine, the performance division of the French automaker Renault, has unveiled its first electric vehicle called the A290. The Alpine A290 is a sportier version of the all-electric Renault 5, which made its debut at this year's Geneva Motor Show. The all-new Renault 5, undoubtedly, is a good-looking city hatchback, but for those seeking an aggressive look, the A290 offers the company's signature quad lighting arrangement with X-shaped graphics, bearing a striking resemblance to the rally cars. The front bumper with a wide air intake, too, adds to the overall aggressive styling, while there is a ducktail spoiler at the rear for aerodynamics.
The Alpine A290 has a dual-tone body with a black-coloured roof and hood, highlighted by a thin red line in the centre. In comparison to the new Renault 5, the A290 comes standard with larger 19-inch wheels. It measures 3,988mm in length, 1,819mm in width, and 1,519mm in height, making it 68mm longer, 49mm wider, and 19mm taller than the Renault 5. It weighs 1,479kg.
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Alpine A290: Powertrain
Powering the Alpine A290 is a 52kWh battery pack with a 380km range (WLTP). The battery sends power to a front-mounted electric motor offering two power versions. The entry-level GT and GT Premium variants churn out 172bhp, while the GT Performance and the GTS make 212bhp. Using 300Nm of peak torque, the most powerful versions of the electric hot hatch can accelerate from 0 to 100km/h in 6.4 seconds.
Coming to the charging capabilities, the 52kWh battery supports a 100kW DC charger, which takes 30 minutes to charge the battery from 15 to 80 per cent.
Alpine A290: Suspension, Brakes
Like the Renault 5, the Alpine A290 uses a bespoke suspension setup with hydraulic bump stops, in turn offering a combination of agility and comfort. The braking hardware comprises front Brembo brakes with four-piston red/blue callipers, derived from the gas-powered A110 sports car. Also present are four driving modes: Save, Normal, Sport, and Perso. The fourth one is an individual mode enabling the driver to adjust the throttle response, fake engine noise, steering assistance, and ambient lighting.
Alpine A290: Features
Inside, the Alpine A290 features a Formula 1-inspired three-spoke, flat-bottomed steering wheel with a host of aluminium buttons, including a red 'Overtake' button for maximum performance and a 'Recharge' knob for regenerative braking. Behind the steering wheel is a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, along with a 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system (with Apple CarPlay).
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Other bits include body-hugging front seats, as well as metallic pedals and footrests. Moreover, the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) can be completely turned off on the A290.
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