Alpine is a French brand making sporty cars since the 1950s. They are known for their lightweight, agile, and fun-to-drive vehicles that have won many racing championships over the years. Alpine is now part of the Renault Group, and they have recently unveiled their vision of the electric hot hatch for everyday driving: the Alpine A290_β.
The Alpine A290_β is a concept car that showcases the future direction of Alpine’s electric models. It is based on the Renault 5, a compact hatchback that uses the CMF-EV platform, a modular architecture designed for electric vehicles. The Alpine A290_β takes the Megane eVision’s shape and adds some sporty elements to make it more appealing to enthusiasts.
What Makes the Alpine A290_β Special?
The Alpine A290_β is not just a regular electric hatchback with a fancy badge. It has some unique features that make it stand out from the crowd. Here are some of them:
- Performance: The Alpine A290_β has a single electric motor that produces 217 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque. It can accelerate from 0 to 62 mph in less than 7 seconds and reach a top speed of 124 mph. It also has a 50 kWh battery that ranges around 200 miles on a single charge. A fast charger can recharge the battery to 80% in 30 minutes.
- Handling: The Alpine A290_β has a low center of gravity and a rear-wheel drive layout, which improve its stability and agility. It also has a four-wheel steering system that enhances its maneuverability and cornering. The steering system can turn the rear wheels in the opposite direction of the front wheels at low speeds or in the same direction at high speeds, depending on the driving situation. The Alpine A290_β also has a sport mode that sharpens the throttle response, steering feel, and suspension settings.
- Design: The Alpine A290_β has a sleek and modern design that reflects its electric and sporty nature. It has a blue and black color scheme, with some yellow accents to evoke the French flag. It has a large front grille that houses the Alpine logo and some LED lights that create a signature look. It has a coupe-like roofline that gives it a dynamic and elegant profile. It has a spoiler, a diffuser at the rear, and some dual exhaust tips that are purely decorative. It has 19-inch wheels that are wrapped in low-profile tires.
- Technology: The Alpine A290_β has a high-tech, minimalist interior that offers a comfortable, connected driving experience. It has a 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster displays the speed, battery level, driving mode, and other relevant information. It has a 12.3-inch touchscreen that controls the infotainment system, which includes navigation, media, climate, and smartphone integration. It has a head-up display that projects the key data onto the windshield. It has a wireless charging pad for mobile devices. It has a sound system that can simulate the engine noise of a gasoline car or play some ambient music.