The Alpine A290 might appear to be one other cynical try and revenue from the glories of yesteryear, however this all-new French scorching hatchback has lots going for it.
Alpine has been a little bit of a one-hit surprise of late, with only one mannequin — albeit in many alternative guises, though the Alpine A110 coupe was discontinued in Australia again in 2021 — to indicate for the eight years because it returned from the automotive wasteland. However now Alpine is attempting to broaden its horizons, and it’s doing so with this: the brand new A290.
An electrical scorching hatchback primarily based on the brand new Renault 5, the A290 is meant to catapult Alpine into the long run, whereas nonetheless paying tribute to the French model’s storied historical past. Whether or not it’s going to attain these shores stays to be seen, however it’s sure to draw some curiosity both means.
To search out out whether or not it’s worthy of highway house in Australia, we headed to the sun-kissed roads of Mallorca, in Spain’s idyllic Balearic Islands, to place the automotive to the take a look at on the highway and the race monitor.
How does the Alpine A290 examine?
View an in depth breakdown of the Alpine A290 towards equally sized automobiles.
Alpine
A290
How a lot does the Alpine A290 price?
Pricing hasn’t been confirmed for the A290 as but, however we all know the Renault 5 on which it’s primarily based begins on the equal of round $40,000 or so.
We additionally know that determine would rise if the Renault have been to come back to Australia, and indications from Alpine in Europe counsel the A290 will command a hefty premium. It isn’t unreasonable to suspect we is likely to be taking a look at a automotive costing $65,000 or extra by the point it’s driving on Aussie asphalt.
What’s the Alpine A290 like on the within?
Just like the Renault 5 from which it inherits a lot, the A290 makes an attempt to stability the fashionable world with nods to the previous, whereas nonetheless offering the know-how and luxurious that clients crave.
To that finish, the Alpine’s cabin is predicated on the identical structure as that of the Renault 5, with two digital screens dominating the dashboard, however the Alpine differentiates itself with some cool supplies and styling, in addition to a few wonderful sports activities seats.
The A290 additionally will get a distinct steering wheel, full with a blue rotary change for the regenerative braking system and a button for driving mode choice, in addition to a shiny purple ‘overtake’ button that gives most energy for 10 seconds.
However, the 2 screens nonetheless dominate proceedings, and the know-how inside these shows is fairly spectacular, with an Android working system derived from cellphones.
Which means the screens are sharp, responsive and intuitive, whereas a number of apps, together with Google Maps, means there’s positively a smartphone really feel to the in-car multimedia. The Alpine additionally will get some neat tech touches, together with a ‘warp velocity’ graphic for the digital instrument cluster once you use full throttle.
Fortunately, regardless of the emphasis on know-how, there’s no over reliance on the touchscreens, with a financial institution of ‘correct’ switches beneath the central show, permitting for straightforward adjustment of the temperature and numerous different options.
Admittedly, the unusual stalk behind the steering wheel that controls multimedia features is a bit odd, however not less than Alpine has saved the gear selector in its rightful place within the centre console (albeit in A110-style three-button type), quite than attempting to pack that in behind the wheel as effectively.
There was a equally pragmatic strategy to the house out there within the A290’s cabin. Rear cabin house is cramped, with little or no room for rear-seat passengers’ ft or knees, and headroom is restricted, too.
However that mentioned, it’s no worse than within the electrical Mini Cooper, and the low-slung driving place is equally effectively judged.
Boot house is satisfactory, too, with noticeably extra capability than the Mini, even when our top-of-the-range mannequin’s posh hi-fi system robs it of about 10 per cent of its complete capability, shrinking the house out there from 326 litres to 300 litres.
And the Alpine backs that inside house up with aggressive cabin high quality. Maybe it isn’t as funky because the Mini’s inside, however it feels a bit extra grown up and it’s equally effectively made, albeit in a barely extra standard means. Sure, the odd little bit of low-cost plastic will be discovered when you look intently, however that’s to be anticipated in a automotive of this measurement.
What’s below the bonnet?
Alpine has solely constructed electrical variations of the A290, and there’s no petrol-powered possibility within the pipeline. Nevertheless, in Europe, not less than, there’s a alternative of two totally different electrical motors, each of that are provided by the identical 52kWh battery and drive the entrance wheels.
Alpine has hinted that an all-wheel drive, twin-motor model is feasible in future, however that it isn’t anticipated any time quickly.
In the intervening time, clients can select between the 130kW and 160kW motors, with the latter offering a notable enchancment in efficiency, on the slight expense of vary.
The place the much less highly effective model will cowl 380km on a cost, the stronger examples lower that to 364km. Charging speeds, in the meantime, are adequate quite than spectacular, with an ultra-rapid charger filling the battery from 15 to 80 per cent in round half an hour.
How does the Alpine A290 drive?
The Renault 5 was already a stable baseline for Alpine to construct on, and Renault’s spin-off efficiency model has finished so with nice success. Not solely does it have extra highly effective motors, however it additionally will get fully totally different suspension and the wheels are 6cm additional aside, whereas the brake calipers are taken from an A110.
As with that sports activities coupe, Alpine has tried to maintain the A290’s weight in verify, and it nonetheless weighs lower than 1500kg.
No person would name it a light-weight, however it isn’t precisely a heifer, both, particularly when it comes to battery-electric automobiles. And since a lot of the weight sits largely down below the ground, the A290 has a reasonably low centre of gravity.
Low weight and a low centre of gravity is a match made in heaven, and it ensures the Alpine feels agile and responsive in corners. Sure, there’s a little bit of physique roll, however the steering is sharp and there’s plenty of grip from the bespoke Michelin tyres, which makes it nice enjoyable on a decent, twisting mountain highway.
In a straight line and on the exit of corners, the wheel twitches in your palms because it’s twisted by the torque from the motor, and however not less than meaning there’s loads of energy to play with.
The 160kW output of the GTS we examined means it’s significantly sooner than the Renault 5 on which it’s primarily based, and the electrical motor signifies that acceleration will be relentless.
However Alpine has tuned the motor so the facility builds, as it could in a petrol-powered automotive, so accessing the utmost energy with out stamping on the accelerator requires use of the ‘overtake’ button that delivers full energy for 10 seconds at virtually any pedal place.
You can even change the system’s behaviour with the drive mode selector or the regenerative braking settings, each of which will be discovered on the steering wheel.
The previous lets you alter the accelerator pedal response, whereas the latter modifications the power with which the automotive ‘engine’ brakes, slowing the automotive all the way down to feed energy again into the battery.
Talking of braking, the A290’s upgraded brakes are massively efficient, and handle to stability the calls for of regeneration and bodily stopping energy impressively effectively. Typically, EV brakes can really feel a bit inconsistent, however the A290’s really feel reliable and highly effective it doesn’t matter what. It’s extremely confidence-inspiring.
But for all this sportiness, the A290 nonetheless feels at house round city. It’s nice for nipping out and in of site visitors, and it nonetheless rides surprisingly effectively contemplating its sporting intent.
It isn’t precisely tender, however it’s extra supple than you would possibly anticipate from a sporty small automotive, and it rounds off the bumps fairly effectively. And regardless of the stickiness of the Michelin tyres, it isn’t that noisy on the highway.
What do you get?
European clients get a alternative of 4 totally different variations of the A290, plus a special-edition variant provided from launch.
Issues kick off with the fundamental GT mannequin, which has a 130kW motor, and comes with 19-inch alloy wheels, tinted rear home windows, and heated sports activities seats, in addition to adaptive cruise management, LED headlights and Michelin Pilot Sport EV tyres.
That base model is joined by the GT Premium grade, which provides extra luxurious touches, together with leather-based upholstery, an upmarket sound system and a contrasting black roof, plus blue brake calipers, wi-fi telephone charging and electrically folding door mirrors.
Alternatively, European clients can select a sportier GT Efficiency variant that comes with the extra highly effective 160kW motor, particular Michelin Pilot Sport 5 tyres and purple brake calipers, in addition to Alpine telemetry know-how.
However the vary is topped by the GTS, which has the identical 160kW motor however combines the tools of the GT Premium and GT Efficiency fashions, in addition to including a particular snowflake alloy wheel design. And the special-edition GTS Premiere Version fashions — of which simply 1955 can be made — add a alternative of 4 sporty liveries to the GTS specification.
Alpine A290 highlights:
Alpine physique kit10.1-inch Android-powered touchscreenSports seats19-inch wheelsLED headlightsDrive mode selectorReversing camera10-inch digital instrument displayWireless Apple CarPlay and Android AutoClimate controlGoogle Maps satellite tv for pc navigation
Is the Alpine A290 protected?
Neither the Alpine A290 nor the Renault 5 have been crash-tested by ANCAP or Euro NCAP as but, however the Renault model tends to carry out effectively in such checks — not less than lately.
And the automotive is full of security options, lots of which will be customised to the driving force’s style utilizing the My Security Swap on the dashboard, which basically gives a shortcut to the popular settings each time you get within the automotive.
Customary security tools contains:
Driver consideration monitoringAutomatic emergency brakingSafe passenger exitSemi-autonomous parking assistLane departure warningAdaptive cruise management
How a lot does the Alpine A290 price to run?
Whether it is offered right here, the Alpine A290 would possible be coated by Renault Australia’s five-year car guarantee and an eight-year battery guarantee.
Renault quotes a WLTP driving vary of 380km for the 52kWh battery pack and 130kW motor, and one thing within the area of 325km must be achievable. Go for the 160kW motor, nonetheless, and the vary will fall barely, albeit not by a lot.
We examined the extra highly effective automotive and managed vitality consumption of round 18kWh/100km, even when driving in a considerably spirited vogue. For these with entry to house charging, the A290 will show a really cheap means of getting loads of enjoyable.
CarExpert’s Tackle the Alpine A290
The axing of the A110 a number of years in the past noticed Alpine withdraw from the Australian auto market, however hopefully the brand new A290 will convey it again.
Like the brand new Renault 5 on which it’s primarily based, the A290 has a way of retro enjoyable that offers it actual allure, even when the idea of a performance-orientated electrical hatchback is just not essentially more likely to discover a lot favour in Australia, not less than for now.
That mentioned, the A290 has lots to commend it, from its muscular seems to be to its bountiful agility, and whereas it’s going to all the time be a distinct segment alternative, that doesn’t imply there gained’t be a spot for it.
Click on the pictures for the total gallery
MORE: Every part Alpine A290
