The Alpine A290_β may end up being the first hot hatch EV.
Alpine has showcased an upcoming model called the A290_β which looks to be a spiritual successor to the Renault 5 Alpine Turbo, one of the first hot hatches in history. Wouldn’t you know, Renault is actually bringing back the 5 hatch as an electric vehicle and this A290_β could just become the performance-oriented version built on the same Alliance CMF-B EV platform. The powertrain will be built at the Cléon Megafactory while the rest of the vehicle will be put together at Douai’s ElectriCity.
While it’s still not ready for production just yet, the Alpine A290_β is designed with a weird 3-seat configuration and a two electric motors driving the front wheels. The driver seat is right in the centre for the most involving driving experience possible. The A290_β has been cleared for use on tracks to be fine-tuned. And while it is an electric vehicle, Alpine will be fitting these with a hydraulic handbrake for a bit of fun and showmanship.
The exterior design is based on aerodynamics shaped for driving pleasure, and the car includes a variety of features that enhance aerodynamic performance and the driver’s sensations. The car has a unique X-shaped light signature and three-tone rims.
The exclusive tires were purpose-engineered for this model in partnership with Michelin. The body is powdery white, has a textured paint, and contrasts with parts around the base made of rock-like forged carbon. The interior architecture puts the driver in the middle of the action, and the dashboard stretches across the cockpit and outwards onto the wing mirrors.
The Alpine A290_β boasts a minimalist and highly functional cockpit that revolves around the driver’s needs. All the car’s functionalities are on the centerline where the driver sits, with a console built into the roof that provides instant access to various features such as the kill switch, indicators, and light settings.
What sets this show car apart is the absence of screens inside. The driver can focus entirely on driving and racing, thanks to a slender head-up display over the steering wheel that shows the essentials such as speed and battery charge. The driver also has a headset with a display that feeds all the race-related information live, including track conditions, information about other cars, and any flags the officials are waving.The A290_β’s steering wheel is directly inspired by Alpine’s LMP2, A470, and Formula 1 A523 single-seaters.
It has a geometric gamepad-like design with specific functions, including an Overtake button that delivers a 10-second power boost. Other features such as the radio, driving mode selector, ABS settings, and the pit-lane speed-limiting button are also ergonomically built into the steering wheel to provide advanced control.The A290_β’s interior architecture is unique and comes with sophisticated, noble, up-to-the-minute, and long-lasting materials.
The dashboard is clad in environmentally-friendly certified vegetable-tanned leather that has a distinctive and pleasurable feel. The door panels have laser-machined leather to create a variety of contrasts and underline the high-tech upholstery, while tastefully embroidered leather touches ennobling some of the vehicle’s structural components, such as the chassis.
The A290_β will be one of three upcoming all-electric offerings from Alpine. The other two will include a GT crossover and the A110’s successor.
