● Up to 217bhp from e-motor ● Significant chassis upgrades
Jordan Katsianis Jordan_Katsianis@autovia.co.uk
THE next step in Alpine’s modern era has been revealed in the form of an all-electric hot hatchback with concept-car looks and a feisty front-wheel-drive chassis. Called the A290, the new MINI JCW rival shares much of its technical underpinnings with the Renault 5, but Alpine has swapped that car’s electric motor for a more potent unit that is available in two states of tune, offering 178bhp and 217bhp.
This is fed from a 52kWh battery pack that Alpine says is good for up to 235 miles of range, which is only just down on the equivalent Renault 5 with the same battery. Peak charging speeds are capped at 100kW on a rapid charger, and it’ll top up from 10-80 per cent in around 30 minutes.
The fastest A290 is rated at 0-62mph in an impressive 6.4 seconds – something aided by the model’s comparatively light kerbweight of 1,479kg, which is 200kg less than an equivalent MINI Cooper SE.
Alpine has gone to some extensive lengths in the development of the A290’s chassis. This includes the use of a new front cradle for the electric motor, plus comprehensively redesigned suspension that supports a 60mm-wider track.
Some of that extra width comes from the 19-inch wheels, but most is due to the suspension, which has revised knuckles, plus new spring and damper rates. It also features stiffer anti-roll bars, and the same clever hydraulic bump-stops that were introduced in the Renault Sport Megane.
As with all modern EVs, there are various drive modes to choose between, with a further Boost mode that is activated via a button on the steering wheel. With this control held down, the A290 is able to produce its maximum power and torque on a more aggressive throttle map, which gives the feeling of more performance regardless of the pedal position.
There’s also adjustable regeneration for the brakes, which can be actively tweaked via a rotary switch on the steering wheel. Except for the base model, all A290s feature a set of 320mm front brake discs with four-piston Brembo calipers, the same as those found on most A110 derivatives.
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