Alpine, Renault’s sporting sub-brand, has unveiled an all-new concept car that previews its first all-electric road car. The A290B is based on the Renault 5 Concept first seen in 2021, but adds a sporting twist and dramatic new look.

 The first of the three models that will make up Alpine’s ‘Dream Garage’ of electric cars, the A290B has already been signed-off for production and is set to arrive by the end of 2024. The concept gives us the strongest hint yet as to how that car will look, albeit with some key elements still yet to be confirmed. Like the 5 (and the next-generation Nissan Micra), the A290 will be built on Renault and Nissan’s new CMF-B EV platform. Alpine bosses suggest that ‘around 85%’ of the concept’s exterior design will be transferred to the production model, which will come as great news for drivers looking for a true electric hot hatch. 

The A290 has a battery of unquoted capacity that powers a pair of front-mounted electric motors with unspecified outputs. Unlike most concept cars, the A290 has been developed as a one-off performance car and has been fine-tuned on the track. Alpine has even gone to the effort of getting the showcar approved by the FFSA (Fédération Française du Sport Automobile) in order to allow it to be driven on racing circuits.  

The road car will make do with a single electric motor with an expected output of around 215bhp. It’s also likely that the A290 road car will feature the same 52kWh battery pack that is destined for the production version of the Renault 5. Based on previous announcements, the battery pack will be divided into four modules that offer greater energy density than previous designs. This is expected to deliver a weight saving of around 15% over the battery pack fitted to the current Renault Zoe. 

The Alpine’s larger motor means that the A290 is likely to have a wider, sportier track than the Renault 5. At the rear, the production version is expected to feature the same multi-link suspension set-up that underpins the concept car. Although B-segment cars are usually equipped with cheaper-to-produce beam axles, Renault and Alpine’s decision to go with a more sophisticated multi-link set-up suggests the brand is very serious about creating a great car to drive. 

Although Alpine bosses have yet to officially confirm performance figures, they have confirmed that the new motor will be built at Cléon Megafactory in France. Final assembly of the production cars will be carried out at Renault’s flagship ElectriCity factory in Douai, northern France.  

In terms of dimensions, the road car is expected to largely mirror those of the concept which measures 4.05 metres long, 1.85 metres wide and 1.48 metres tall. That would make it just 140mm shorter than the Renault Megane e-Tech and just over 420mm longer than the new Abarth 500e. 

According to Alpine, the A290 concept’s alloy wheels are effectively production spec, too. Expected to be 19-inch diameter on production car (the concept wears 20-inch versions) they combine three colours: Alps Snow matching the body, gloss mineral black and a blue ring around the rim. A square cut-out at the centre pays homage to classic Alpine wheels of the 1970s. Production versions will be fitted with custom-made Michelin tyres with Alpine branding.  

One aspect of the A290 Concept that won’t make production is the interior. Designed for track use, the cabin features a central driving position with two additional racing seats set further back. Dotted around the cockpit are a host of motorsport-themed accessories and gadgets, most of which have been inspired by the brand’s circuit racers. The steering wheel, for example, features elements seen on Alpine’s LMP2, A470 and Formula 1 A523 single-seaters. Its gamepad-like design has a series of specific functions, including a red OV (Overtake) button to deliver a 10-second power boost. 

The cabin also features an FIA-approved roll cage, carbonfibre bucket seats and full race harnesses - all of which are likely to disappear on the road-going production version. That said, Alpine bosses are keen to maintain as much of the brand’s sporting heritage as possible, so expect deeply sculpted sports seats and swathes of Alcantara trim when the production model is finally unveiled later this year.

Alpine has yet to confirm pricing, but has made it clear that the A290 will sit a good distance above the Renault 5 EV. With the Renault expected to start from around £25,000, we’d expect the Alpine to start from between £30-33,000 when sales start late next year.