Alpine Unveils First Hot-Hatch BEV

Alpine finally unveils its first battery-electric B-segment vehicle, a performance hot-hatchback that focuses more on practicality than trying to take on its gasoline siblings.

The A290 enters the market with 177 hp in its base and GT Premium versions but offers up to 217 hp in both the GT Performance and GTS models. That upper figure is backed up by 221 lb.-ft. (300 Nm) of torque married to a comparatively light hot-hatch curb weight of 3,254 lbs. (1,476 kg) allowing a claimed 0-to-62 mph (100 km/h) sprint time of 6.4 seconds.

Of course, that’s nowhere near its A110 base model’s sprint of 4.6 seconds and curb weight of just 2,426 lbs. (1,100 kg) but still not bad for a practical city runabout. All models feature a 52-kWh battery, an 11-kW on-board charger a 100-kW DC charger and a heat pump.

It’s built on Alpine parent company Renault's BEV-specific AmpR Small platform with practicality coming in the shape of five doors with the capability to seat five occupants in an urban-focused car measuring just 13 ft. (4 m) long, yet with a luggage capacity of 11.51 cu.-ft. (326 L) and a turning circle limited to 33.5 ft. (10.2 m).

Its powertrain features an overtake boost function controlled from the steering wheel by a red button delivering extra power for the time it is pressed up to a maximum of 10 seconds. A recharge time of 30 seconds is required before it can be fully used again. A Formula One-style function, it provides graphic illustration of what’s happening on the instrument screen displaying and the time remaining, while a dynamic animation appears on the central Alpine Telemetrics screen.

Regeneration power can be adjusted from the steering wheel in four levels using a physical recharge button. There’s also launch control for standing-start sprints.

Alpine says the A290 claims a maximum driving range of 236 miles (380 km) while its 100-kW DC fast-charging system enables it to go from 15% to 80% charge in 30 minutes or to recover up to 193 miles (311 km) on the European WLTP rating in 15 minutes. At an AC charging point, its on-board 11-kW charger enables the vehicle to be recharged from 50% to 80% in an hour and 20 minutes, or 43 miles (69 km) WLTP in one hour, or three hours and 20 minutes to recover from 10% to 80% charge.

This charger incorporates a bi-directional function that lets you use vehicle-to-load functions to connect a device via the charging socket. It is also vehicle-to-grid compatible, so customers can save money on charging at home using the Mobilize Power service.

No official market starting price has yet been published but industry insiders believe that, in Europe, it will be priced from €38,000 ($41,000).

Alpine CEO Philippe Krief says: “Our Alpine A290 is the first model of a new electric generation, inaugurating our Dream Garage in the finest possible way. This urban sports car marks the introduction of Alpine to a broader public and resurrects a forgotten category, the hot hatch, so much loved for the driving pleasure it delivers.”