ALPINE A290

The hot hatch is alive and well, and living in France. On both road and track, there's much to savour`

- MATT PRIOR

I think I might have said that the hot hatchback had returned when the Abarth 500e landed. May I amend my view? This is the Alpine A290, and now I feel like the hot hatch is back.

The A290, the sporty variant of the Renault 5, will go on sale in the UK next March. It's compact, at 3.99m long and 1.52m high, albeit 1.82m wide across the body. Overhangs are relatively compact too, with a 2.53m wheelbase.

There will be two power options, 178bhp and 217bhp, but mechanically they're identical and less than 1500kg. There's a 52kWh battery. Prices will come in January but the meat of the range will be mid-£30ks.

The A290 has borderline retro styling including a bonnet reminiscent of the original 5, beneath which lies the motor and associated gubbins, with a single reduction gear and front-wheel drive through an open differential.

Suspension is mechanically close to the Renault 5's, with front struts and a multi-link rear. The Alpine gets bespoke springs and dampers, of course, but also anti-roll bars, hydraulic bump stops and a lighter, aluminium front subframe, which positions the motor differently to the 5's.

The A290 weighs 1479kg-pretty good for an EV - distributed 57% front, 43% rear. All A290s wear 19in alloys with bespoke 225/40 R19 Michelin Pilot Sport S5 tyres. There are different wheel designs but no size change: just the right dimensions as specified by the engineers. Fair play.