Alpine’s electric hot hatch snapped testing ahead of unveiling

Renault’s performance spin-off brand Alpine has been hard at work putting the final touches on its first fully electric hot hatch, the A290, in the lead-up to the model’s reveal later this year.

To ensure everything is up to scratch, the French carmaker put its latest corner carver up against some of the most challenging conditions our planet can throw at a car in the Arctic Circle, Sweden in particular.

It’s there that the A290 proved its worth against temperatures as low as -30 degrees Celcius while earning its drifting credentials on the ice.

If you’ve been following the development of the A290, or like playing spot the difference, you’ll no doubt be aware that this car is based on the platform as the Renault 5 EV, another model which is set to be revealed this year. Alpine says it’ll pull the covers off of its electric hot hatch in June 2024 which means the R5’s reveal should come sometime sooner.

Both models are expected to look similar, but in the case of the Alpine, it’ll follow a more sporty direction inspired by the A290_β (A290 beta) show car we first saw in May last year. Compared to the Renault, the A290 boasts a few key differences such as a quad lighting arrangement with cross-shaped signatures, a more aggressive front bumper, and plumpier arches.

Inside, the steering wheel features an overtake button, a recharge button, and a drive mode selector, each of which has been inspired by the same functions found on Alpine’s Formula 1 car.

Little has been mentioned regarding the electric hot hatch’s technical specifications, but we do know how big it’ll be, with the car measuring 3990mm long, 1820mm wide, and 1520mm tall, with a wheelbase of 2530mm.

The A290 will come with a selection of tyres for its 19-inch wheels, including the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 for winter, as well as a choice of Pilot Sport EV or Pilot Sport S5 tyres for summer.