Alpine A290: Pardon My French, But This Electric Hot Hatch is Magnifique!
Image Credit: Alpine.
Sacrebleu! Alpine, the French automaker known for its sporty pedigree, has whipped up a delectable little electric hot hatch that's got my gears grinding in anticipation. They call it the A290, and it's a zesty little number with styling that's as sharp as a freshly baked baguette.
The A290 has a compact, squat silhouette that screams "rally car" with its X-shaped auxiliary lights and a subtle ducktail spoiler. It's a car that looks like it's ready to tackle both city streets and winding country roads with equal aplomb.
Image Credit: Alpine.
Now, let's talk about what's under the "bonnet" as those fancy French folks call it. There's a front-mounted electric motor that, depending on the trim level, churns out up to 215 horses and 221 pound-feet of torque. That's enough to send this little hatchback scooting from 0 to 62 mph in a brisk 6.4 seconds, with a top speed that'll make your beret fly off.
But hold your "chevaux," because there's a catch. This French fancy won't be making its way across the pond to American shores. Yes, it's a Europe-only affair for now, which is a shame because this car seems like it would be an absolute hoot to drive.
Image Credit: Alpine.
Let's not let that dampen our spirits. The A290 is still a car worth celebrating. It comes packed with goodies like Brembo brakes for stopping power, a multilink rear suspension for agile handling, and even a special "Overtake" button that unleashes maximum power for those moments when you need to pass that slowpoke in front of you.
Inside, it's a blend of practicality and sportiness. There's a digital gauge cluster that displays all the essential information, a 10.1-inch touchscreen for infotainment, and a steering wheel that looks like it was plucked straight out of a Formula 1 car. Oh, and did I mention the "Recharge" knob for adjusting regenerative braking? It's the little details that make this car so charming.
Image Credit: Alpine.
The A290 comes equipped with a 52.0-kWh battery pack, which should provide enough juice for around 236 miles of driving. It's not the highest range we've seen in an electric car, but let's be honest, this car is designed for spirited driving, not cross-country road trips.
All in all, the Alpine A290 is a tantalizing taste of what the future of electric hot hatches could be. It's got style, performance, and a certain je ne sais quoi that's sure to turn heads wherever it goes. While it's a shame that it won't be gracing American roads anytime soon, I have a feeling that this won't be the last we hear from Alpine.
But, what about the price? Well… you really want to sit down for this one. Alpine was supposed to confirm the pricing during the official launch event, but apparently after the initial feedback from press, they got spooked. The plan was to launch the A290 at around €38,000 (that’s just over $40,000). That’s a lot of money for a base model, and the GTS version with the most powerful motor and all the luxury goodies would have cost around €43,000 or even more. Let’s hope Alpine will change its mind about pricing, otherwise the A290 will be as unique on European roads as snow in southern Spain.
If you happen to be lucky enough to find yourself in Europe, do yourself a favor and try to get behind the wheel of this electrifying little French hatchback. It's an experience that's sure to leave you saying "ooh la la!"
