ALPINE A290_β: ELECTRIFYING THE COMPACT SPORTS CAR FUTURE
The Alpine A290 beta is a compact electric sports car concept that signals a bold new era for the French performance brand, blending rally-bred DNA with fully electric power on the CMF-B EV platform shared with the Renault 5. Unveiled in May 2023, the A290_beta previews a production model scheduled to launch from Alpine's ElectriCity plant in Douai, with Chief Designer Raphael Linari confirming that roughly 85 percent of the exterior design carries over to the production version.
What is the Alpine A290 beta electric concept?
The A290_beta sits in the B-segment hot hatch category, a space Alpine intends to redefine with an all-electric powertrain. While Alpine has not disclosed final performance figures, the concept uses twin front-mounted electric motors and positions the driver's seat on the centreline, a layout borrowed from single-seat racing cars. The result is a compact machine that feels purpose-built from the ground up rather than adapted from an existing platform.
Design language: rallying heritage meets EV future
Twin spotlights at the front deliberately reference Alpine's rallying heritage from the 1970s, while forged carbon fiber covers the front splitter, side skirts, widened wheel arches, rear diffuser, and rear light accents to keep weight in check. The square-shaped aerodynamic discs are a direct nod to the brand's motorsport past. The exterior is finished in "Alpine White" with touches of the French tricolore, reinforcing the racing DNA that has defined the marque since the A110.
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Interior: retrofuturism and driver focus
Inside the A290_beta, the cabin blends retrofuturism with focused sports car ergonomics. An angular LED-adorned interior pairs with bucket seats and a flat-bottomed steering wheel to create an immersive driving environment. The layout prioritises the driver without sacrificing the two rear passenger positions set slightly behind and to either side, much like an LMP prototype in street clothing.
What comes next for the Alpine A290?
Production of the A290 is set to begin at Alpine's dedicated ElectriCity complex in Douai, France, the same facility that builds the Renault 5 E-Tech electric. The electric motor will also be manufactured domestically at the Cléon Megafactory. The final production car is expected to compete directly with the Volkswagen Polo GTI and Hyundai i20 N in the performance compact segment, but with a fully electric powertrain rather than a turbocharged combustion engine. For more information, see the official Alpine media release and the detailed analysis by Motor Authority.
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Photo: Alpine
