As the hot hatch version of the upcoming Renault 5 EV, the much anticipated Alpine A290 was finally spotted during testing on public roads. The hot hatch will be distinguished from the R5 thanks to a comprehensively redesigned bodykit, communicating the increased power output and sharper chassis setup that go with the Alpine badge.
Thick camouflage covers every inch of the prototype, but it can’t hide the lowered suspension, deeper bumpers, wide fender add-ons, diffuser, and rear wing, enhancing the sub-compact silhouette of the humble Renault 5. The bigger futuristic wheels mirror the design of the Alpine A290_β concept which debuted in May 2023 as a preview of the upcoming production model.
More: Alpine A110 R Prototype Spied With More Aggressive Aero
Unlike the three-door hatchback concept, the production Alpine A290 will adopt a more practical five-door bodystyle, adding more practicality into the mix and avoiding any unnecessary development costs over the standard R5. The model will also deviate from the concept’s radical three-seater interior, going for a more sensible five-seater layout with sporty touches matching the hot hatch looks.
The first fully electric production model of Alpine will be based on the CMF-BEV architecture and is expected to be available in two power outputs, likely combined with a larger 52 kWh battery pack. A single electric motor is said to produce either 215 hp (160 kW / 218 PS) or 268 hp (200 kW / 273 PS), sending power to the front axle. Alpine engineers put a lot of emphasis on the chassis setup, in order to make the A290 sharper and more fun to drive compared to the Renault 5 which already promises class-leading driving dynamics.
The Alpine A290 is expected to arrive sometime in the second half of 2024, following the earlier debut of the Renault 5 electric supermini. Autocar reports that pricing will start from above £40,000 (€46,500 / $50,000), representing a big step up compared to the sub-€25,000 ($27,000) entry price of its R5 sibling.
