For over two years, Alpine’s A290 has undergone numerous challenges to ensure it completes its comprehensive development and fine-tuning program in time for its scheduled release in June 2024. This marks the official unveiling of the Renault 5 EV.
So, what exactly is the Alpine 290? Well, Alpine, the renowned maker of high-performance cars from France, has collaborated with Renault on this project. Renault has long sought to revive the essence of the Renault 5 with a modern twist for the electric vehicle era.
However, bringing this vision to life has been no easy task. The Renault 5 EV was initially announced in early 2021, and production has yet to begin. It is poised to inherit the mantle of the affordable EV story from the popular Renault Zoe, based on the CMF-B EV platform. Alongside its standard variant, it will also feature a high-performance version, serving as the spiritual successor to the Renault 5 Alpine.
The electric hot hatch, previewed by the Alpine A290_β (beta), may adopt the name A290 upon its market release, though this is yet to be confirmed. Recently, the latest glimpse of the Alpine A290 comes from the Arctic Circle, where the final stages of its development program are underway.
Alpine has announced that the A290 is set to debut in June 2024. Philippe Krief, Alpine’s CEO, explains that the A290 is currently undergoing rigorous testing in the extreme conditions of Lapland, Sweden, to refine its handling and agility, qualities deeply rooted in Alpine’s DNA.
Testing includes evaluating various equipment such as heating, defogging, defrosting, and ESC performance on snow. The prototype showcased during the marketing event features subtle camouflage changes from previous spy shots, including an ‘A-Arrow’ logo on the roof and the Alpine Blue color scheme.
Moreover, the prototype unveiled in Lapland represents the final version, featuring official dimensions and bodywork: 3,990 mm long, 1,820 mm wide, 1,520 mm tall, with a wheelbase of 2,530 mm.
Alpine also introduces an exclusive Alpine sport steering wheel in Nappa leather, equipped with three functions inspired by Alpine’s Formula 1 steering wheels: OV (Overtake), RCH (Recharge), and Drive modes. Michelin has developed special ‘A29’ markings for this model, offering three tire options: Pilot Alpin 5 (winter), Pilot Sport EV (energy efficiency), and Pilot Sport S5 (summer performance).
