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First Drive Alpine A 290: This is How Hot Hatch Goes Electric!

When we saw the first photos and price lists of the A290, we thought: Quite a lot of money for a souped-up Renault 5. But the Alpine A290 actually drives quite differently!

Narrow winding roads are the favorite playground of the Alpine A290 GTS. | Photo: G. Soller
Narrow winding roads are the favorite playground of the Alpine A290 GTS. | Photo: G. Soller
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Allegedly, only forty percent of all parts are shared by the A290 with the Renault 5. Most apparently, the bodywork, but modifications have already been made here: Widened and stiffened the chassis and steering, but EXACTLY on point! The Alpine A290 steers super directly, but just so direct that it doesn't appear nervous, and it springs and dampens super firmly but just enough so that it doesn't become an uncomfortable board. In other words: It indeed drives quite differently from the Renault from which it descends!

Under the front hood, up to 160 kW are now enjoyable, which only get out of hand when accelerating aggressively. Then the specially mixed, baked in Germany(!) Michelin Pilot Sport S5 scrape a bit on the street, and it pulls hard on the steering wheel, but the grip only gives way very late! Then the A290 briefly continues straight ahead but can be wonderfully turned in by releasing the accelerator pedal before the rear swings out too far. If you disable the ESP, it has much more freedom.

According to Alpine A290 Product Leader & Performance VP Technical Assistant Charlie Biardeau, himself an avowed car aficionado, saving one kilogram on unsprung masses corresponds to up to seven kilograms(!) that must be saved on the "sprung masses". In his opinion, an Alpine must always drive and feel "light". This will also apply prospectively to the A390 and the next electric A110.

Borrowing from Formula 1

The most annoying driving assistants can all be switched off at the push of a button, similar to the R5, but otherwise, there are also differences in operation. From Formula 1, they "adopted" the blue recuperation rotary switch and the red boost lever – although you can also whip together the 160 horses temporarily via kickdown. Then the E-machine rumbles artificially amplified, but still original, because: The sound played is from the real electric motor and was artificially but not kitschily acoustically amplified.

Speaking of acoustics: We also had the expensive 615-watt Devialet sound system with eight speakers plus subwoofer on board, and it can do much more than the system in the R5: crystal clear sounds, great surround – Alpine has taken another step upward here! Much like the interior, which also feels noticeably more premium than in the R5, albeit not in the cramped rear, where you sit in the same black hard plastic desert as in the gene donor.

The prices currently start (30.10.2024) at 38,700 euros

The prices start at 38,700 euros or currently 496 euros leasing rate per month for the GT, our GTS 220 starts at 44,700 euros or 573 euros in leasing. A lot of money for a thankfully still under 1.5-ton lightweight speed dwarf, which in the case of the 220 reaches 100 km/h in just 6.4 seconds, but is limited to 170 km/h.

In return, you get an all-in package including a heat pump, leather steering wheel, decent sound, and alloy wheels. The dimensions were kept in check: It is slightly longer at 3.99 meters, a bit wider at 1.82 meters, and actually a bit higher than the R5 due to the larger wheels, while the Biardeau is actually already a bit too much of everything, but flaps, as well as larger wheels and brakes, do require a bit more car...

Nevertheless, it remains economical: Despite the wildest excesses and daring overtaking maneuvers on narrow Mallorcan roads, we stayed below the 20 kWh mark with 19.4 kWh/100 km net. Well, gross that's more like 21.5 kWh/100 km, but it could be much more economical, though also less fun – and the small first electric Alpine isn't really made for that!

What does this mean?

Wow – we are surprised, which isn't so easy today: The transformation from the Renault 5 to the Alpine A290 has been very well achieved and has actually made a different car out of the base. Mini and others: Brace yourselves! The Alpine is definitely worth its premium. Still, it should be cheaper and charge faster too (100 kW isn't soooo fast), but: The approach is right and the difference is IMMEDIATELY noticeable! Before you add some mid-range whatever to the fleet…if the need for space and budget allows it….better Alpine!

Translated automatically from German.
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