French performance brand's first EV is a warmed up Renault 5, aiming to prove EVs can be fun to drive
Alpine has launched into its electric era with the A290 hot hatch, which majors on performance, agility and lightness. The Renault-owned brand’s debut EV preserves the spirit of last year’s outlandish Beta concept, with a wide-reaching design makeover that marks it out obviously from the Renault 5 upon which it is based and emphasises its sporting billing.
Asked if the A290 could spawn other derivatives, as the A110 has done, ex-Ferrari and Alfa Romeo engineer Krief said the electric hatchback would evolve in a similar way, but he stopped short of confirming an R-badged dual-motor performance model. The 215bhp front motor is carried over from the Renault Mégane E-Tech and tuned by Alpine to produce more torque. The range-topping model develops 221lb ft for a Cooper SE-baiting 0-62mph time of 6.4sec.
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