It bears an air of resemblance to the new 100% electric R5. Yes, but it’s an Alpine. “This new car was not developed as a star vehicle of the past, but it is true, it is close to the R5,” concedes Antony Villain, Alpine design director, letting his gaze slide over the bodywork at the deep blue, the manufacturer’s signature color. The A290, the new 100% electric sports city car from the brand founded in 1955 by pilot Jean Rédélé (and which belongs to the Renault group), was unveiled this Thursday in its world premiere at Le Mans (Sarthe), 48 hours before the famous 24 Hours on June 15 and 16.
The A290 also multiplies the nods to the icon, the A110. “We thought of the A290 as an ultra-compact version of the A110,” summarizes Antony Villain. In the cockpit of the A290, a screen serves as an instrument panel, which displays battery level and speed indications in a pyramid shape and not circularly, as on other cars.
The steering wheel provides a direct link with Formula 1. A physical red “OV” button, for “overtake”, that is to say “overtaking”, offers a power boost for ten seconds, then recharges for thirty seconds, while another button modulates the level of regenerative braking, which allows part of the energy to be recovered .
Agility, power, endurance
Installed on the dashboard screen, an exclusive application, Alpine Telemetrics, has been developed to provide sportiness. It provides access to three main categories of services: live data (driving data), coaching (advice on sports driving) and challenges (a series of challenges based on three themes: agility, power, endurance). This application will regularly provide access to new content.
On the wheel side, a snowflake appears on the 19-inch rims and specific tires have been developed in partnership with Michelin. Finally, an audio system was specially designed in partnership with the French acoustic engineering company Devialet. It delivers premium sound through nine speakers.
The A290 is 3.99 m long, has 5 doors and 5 seats. It is a “compact, comfortable and agile car in the city”, promises the brand, praising “performance at the best level of vehicles of this size”. The Alpine A290 is equipped as standard with a 52 kWh battery, which gives it a range of around 380 km. “Without loss of power, even when the battery capacity drops,” insists the brand. In its high versions, the A290 accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 6.4 seconds, which places it at the best level in its category.
Made in Douai, in the North
The new arrival will be manufactured in Douai, in the North, and not in Dieppe, in the historic Seine-Maritime factory, which will already welcome on its lines the future Alpine crossover, also 100% electric. The Alpine A290 will be offered from 38,000 euros and therefore eligible for the ecological bonus. Depending on the equipment levels, however, the price will rise, but it should remain below 47,000 euros, the threshold for eligibility for the ecological bonus.
What is the roar of an electric sports car? Alpine is not the only high-end brand to have asked the question. Maserati, among others, has also been there. “The sound bases were extracted from vibro-acoustic measurements during the development phase of the electric motor,” says Marc Ninet, Alpine audio expert. We extracted the harmonics that interested us in order to offer a more immersive experience. »
At the arrival ? “An interior sound generated with two propositions,” he continues. One oriented towards the sensation of power, the other more chiselled, oriented towards the sensation of lightness, agility, dynamism. In both cases, the sound of the engine provides useful information that allows you to keep your eyes on the road. » What if your child sleeps in the back? Don’t worry, you can mute the sound. The electric car is then perfectly silent.
The A290 has been revealed but for the rest, you will still have to be patient. Orders are scheduled to open at the end of the year, with first deliveries planned for 2025.
