Alpine A290 to take the fight to Mini Cooper

New 1479kg electric hot hatch will have up to 215bhp and be priced from £36,000

- SAM PHILLIPS

AIpine has entered 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 clearly marks it out from the Renault 5 on which it is based and emphasises its sporting billing.

The A290 is the same length as the Renault hatch but its track has been increased by 60mm, endowing the muscular A290 with a wider stance in order to appeal to "stylists and performance enthusiasts alike", according to Alpine.

The exterior design contains distinctive details that play into Alpine's motorsport heritage, such as the X-shaped motifs on the spotlights. Wider wings, deep side skirts, chunky 19in alloy wheels and a black rear diffuser round off the A290's rally-inspired look.

The extreme design is backed by a host of extensive technical modifications. The A290 features bespoke suspension, powertrain tech, brakes, tyres and sounds for what Alpine calls a "more emotional driving experience".

Alpine CEO Philippe Krief said the A290 was a "standalone development" but it has been crafted to "remind drivers of the A110" - the sports coupé that has been the brand's sole road car since its 2017 relaunch.

He stressed that the new hatchback will play an important role as a conquest model for Alpine, given its entry-level billing and urban-friendly proportions. "The A290 is the first Alpine you can have in your story, because it's a hatch, it's a city car and it's quite versatile, so it could be the first car of a future Alpine lover," he said.