The Alpine A290 Electric Hot Hatch Is Reasonably Light And Has Its Own Driving Minigames

The current crop of electric performance cars is massively impressive, but also so quick and so hefty that many are difficult to enjoy on public roads. So, how do we fix this? Here’s one potential answer. This is the Alpine A290, a widebody hot hatch based on the reborn electric Renault 5, and it looks to be an absolute screamer not because it’s massively powerful, but because it’s in the right weight class.

Part of the problem with electric performance cars is that batteries are heavy, and when it comes to handling, weight is the enemy of fun. Sure, the Ford Mustang Mach-E may be an absolute piss missile in a straight line, but chuck it into a corner, and you’re suddenly extremely aware that it weighs more than Lake Michigan. Sure, you can technically throw enough spring rate and rubber at any problem and generate respectable numbers, but numbers don’t always equal joie de vivre, and Alpine seems to know that.

As such, the Alpine A290 weighs in at just 3,260 pounds, and with 215 horsepower on tap in GT Performance and GTS trims, the A290 can be ordered with a power-to-weight ratio slightly better than a MKV Volkswagen Golf GTI. The result is a claimed zero-to-62 mph time of 6.4 seconds, which is bang-on perfect for a hot hatch. Sure, that’s not Hyundai Elantra N quick, but a time like that is still plenty quick enough without getting into serious trouble in the real world.

Of course, hot hatchbacks are just as much about chassis hardware as they are about zesty acceleration, so the Alpine A290 pairs MacPherson strut front suspension with a multilink arrangement in the back, the latter of which should offer more sophisticated handling than the beam axle setups so popular in small hatchbacks. Add in four-piston Brembo front calipers to help bring the A290 to a halt and three different uniquely tuned Michelin Pilot Sport tires to choose from including grippy Pilot Sport S 5s and cold weather Alpin 5 winter tires, and this little electric hot hatch promises to take up the gauntlet of a lift-off oversteer lineage.

So what tradeoffs is Alpine making to get the curb weight of its electric hot hatch below 3,300 pounds? Well, it’s obviously front-wheel-drive, but the big one is the 52 kWh battery pack, good for a WLTP range of 236 miles. That certainly doesn’t make the Alpine A290 the longest-range EV out there, but it should still be usable. Likewise, peak DC fast charging of 100 kW isn’t phenomenal, but it’s plenty enough to get the job done. Oh, and top speed is the other tradeoff, a mere 105 mph. Still, how often will you be V-maxing this thing?

It’s built for corners rather than pure straight-line performance, as seen by the presence of a g-meter and lap timer in the infotainment. Oh, and then there are the built-in challenges, which work a bit like Gran Turismo license tests in real life. Should you find yourself on a closed course, data drawn from in-car sensors can gamify the high-performance driving experience, which then scores you so you can boast about your prowess. At the same time, Alpine claims to have challenges that can be taken up on the open road to “teach anticipation in driving.” Neat.

Speaking of in-car tech, the Alpine A290 features a nine-speaker sound system by French firm Devialet. If this system advertised at 615 watts is anything like the brand’s Phantom I loudspeaker, it won’t be the best for critical listening, but it should feature surprising bass, which would be perfect for the stereotypical hot hatch soundtrack of UK Garage, drum and bass, and tech house.

Will the Alpine A290 come to America? It’s unlikely, but stranger things have happened. Surfing a wave of F1 notoriety, the French brand is looking at entering the U.S. market in 2027, and although the real cash cow will be an incoming SUV, the A290 wouldn’t be a bad entry point for the brand. For now, the hot hatch isn’t dying in the face of electrification, it’s just getting weirder than we ever anticipated, and we’re excited for that.

(Photo credits: Alpine)

Support our mission of championing car culture by becoming an Official Autopian Member.

• The Tiny, Aggro Alpine A290_ß Concept Is What The Future Of Electric Performance Cars Should Be

• The Alpine A110 San Remo 73 Is A 300-Horsepower Love Letter To Rally Domination

• The Zagato AGTZ Twin Tail Is A European Sports Car With A Detachable Butt

• Here’s All The Details About The New Renault 5 E-Tech And Yes It Has A Baguette Holder

• The Abarth 500e Turns The Loudest Italian Hot Hatch Whisper Quiet

Got a hot tip? Send it to us here. Or check out the stories on our homepage.