Five spice

AS YOU MAY HAVE GUESSED, THE Alpine A290 is the hot version of the new Renault 5. So it’s big on the retro touches: the ‘X’ motif spotlights, the creases in the bodywork that evoke the air intakes of the old mid-engined Renault 5 Turbo.

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Under that ‘wheel at each cornerstance, there’s a 52kWh battery mounted low in the usual ‘skateboard’ chassis fashion. It powers a front-mounted motor which offers 180bhp in the standard version or 220bhp in the GTS model, with up to 221lb ft.

With 1,479kg to tug along, it’s a quick car, but far from an EV drag race champion. Alpine says you can expect 0–62mph in 6.4 seconds when deploying launch control, so it’s quick in a ‘we miss the Fiesta ST too’ kinda way.

The engineers have cooked up something called Alpine Torque Technology (ATT) to maximise oomph without wheelspin or traction control spoiling your getaway. Good they didn’t call it Alpine Responsive Swift Electrics.

Meanwhile, the factory insists it’s been working hard on brake pedal feel and the cornering. New front and rear anti-roll bars and bespoke suspension settings with rally-style hydraulic bump stops have been enlisted, and we’re promised “the rear axle is sufficiently mobile when lifting off the accelerator on winding stretches of road”.