What would Jean Rédélé think of the Alpine A290?

With the launch of the A290, Alpine enters a new era, that of electric sportiness with a pointed A.

Alpine is a unique exception in the automotive landscape. A brand born in 1955 in Dieppe at the initiative of a Renault dealer named Jean Rédélé. Note, Rédélé is not just a car salesperson. A graduate of HEC and the youngest Renault dealer in France, he is primarily a car and competition enthusiast who does not hesitate to push the limits behind the wheel of his 4CV. It is in the twists of the Alpine passes that he will imagine the car of his dreams. A car that is slender, elegant, and light. He named his brand Alpine in homage to the mountains he dreamed of conquering while driving a car that came to life in 1962, the A110.

From Monte Carlo to Le Mans, Jean Rédélé and Alpine would write some of the most beautiful pages in the history of French automotive. One day when General de Gaulle asked him what Alpine was for, Rédélé gave this obvious answer: “To proudly raise the colors of France, my General.” But all the passion in the world cannot fight against economic realities, and Rédélé was forced to sell part of his company to Renault in 1973 before relinquishing it in 1978 with the promise that his dearly beloved employees would be protected for 15 years. In 1995, the last A610 rolled out of the Dieppe workshops, and Alpine disappeared. On August 10, 2007, Jean Rédélé passed away without having seen his brand reborn, and surely without having imagined that it could one day produce an electric car.

A new hope

It took the determination of men like Carlos Tavares and Bernard Ollivier to resurrect Alpine in 2012 against the wishes of Renault’s CEO Carlos Ghosn. Five years later, the next-generation A110 is born, and on Thursday, June 13, 2024, the A290 projects Alpine into the future. There is no doubt that the visionary Jean Rédélé would have liked to be part of his brand’s transition to electric. Only the weight of the A290 could have put him off, as he was an absolute advocate for lightness in the service of efficiency.

The Alpine A290 inaugurates the 100% electric Dream Garage from Alpine and will soon be joined by a GT SUV and the new A110. Rather than developing a new car, the French manufacturer took to heart one of Jean Rédélé’s mantras, “Inventive Frugality,” by reproducing a recipe that is half a century old. In 1976, Renault showcased the R5 Alpine, a Renault 5 equipped with sporty bumpers, wide rims, sports seats, specific decor, and of course, a supercharged engine. The A290 is based on the fully electric Renault 5 E-Tech but adopts a true sporting philosophy with an optimized powertrain, a very aggressive body kit, and a customized interior. All elements that contributed to the success of the new A110.

The engine of the A290 draws inspiration from the approach that Jean Rédélé took with his boosted 4CV, transformed into the A106. Depending on the trim level, the engine of the Alpine A290 is offered in two power levels: 180 hp in the GT and GT Premium versions, 220 hp in GT Performance and GTS. This allows it to reach from 0 to 100 km/h in 7 and 6 seconds respectively, thanks to a contained weight of 1,479 kg. An Overtake function controlled via a physical red button (named OV) delivers the maximum power of 220 hp instantly. The A290 also offers a launch control function that can be activated with a very simple procedure. During the resulting acceleration, a spectacular specific animation is displayed on the instrumentation screen.

The list of elements that contribute to the muscular expression of this body is long: wide fenders, side skirts incorporating a thin body-colored trim that sharpens them, 19-inch wheels, aluminum or anodized blue roof trim, black shark fin antenna, gloss black window surrounds and fenders, the strong line animating the rear doors, and finally, the diffuser of the rear bumper. No bad taste tuning, but a quest for aerodynamic efficiency.

True to the Alpine spirit

The engine of the A290 is derived from the higher segment, mirroring the approach Jean Rédélé took with his boosted 4CV transformed into the A106. Here, based on the AmpR Small platform, the development has been envisioned according to the historic Alpine style: changing the engine, adding unique technologies with exclusive suspensions, brakes, tires, and dedicated torque management, and naturally, the talent of Alpine engineers for the tuning. This offers performance among the best in the segment, with a 0 to 100 km/h time of 6.4 s, up to 220 hp and 300 Nm of torque, and a contained weight of 1,479 kg. Nevertheless, comfort and practicality are preserved in this 3.99 m five-door, five-seat city car with a spacious 326 l trunk and a turning radius limited to 10.20 m. As a result, it achieves the greatest imaginable versatility in the B segment, with thrilling sensations suitable for daily use. Thus, history repeats itself in the electric era.

Inside, sport takes center stage in a typical Alpine atmosphere with the choice of a Deep Blue tone. The driver-oriented cockpit and its passenger-side display where the name of the car is illuminated are complemented by adjustable ambient lighting. The exclusive three-spoke sport steering wheel, which is flat-bottomed and includes a center point, is covered in Nappa leather. It features various buttons, made of aluminum, inspired by the world of Formula 1, with on the left the RCH (for Recharge) rotary button for adjusting the level of regeneration, on the right the selection of different driving modes, and above, the OV (for Overtake) button, immediately identifiable by its red color.

Essential elements of a sports car, the seats are equipped with side bolsters for added support. In the first trim levels, they come with a covering of grained coated fabric (15% recycled plastic and hemp fiber) combined with a 100% recycled fabric, deep blue with contrasting silice grey stitching and an A-point logo electro-welded on the upper part of the backrest. The dashboard, the sides of the center console, and the door panels are padded with grained coated fabric. In the high-end GT Premium and GTS versions, a Nappa leather upholstery in Deep Blue and Gray Eevee covers the seats, dashboard, and door panels. Alpine appears embossed on the leather of the headrests, and A290 is embroidered in the center of the backrest emblem.

A Daily more than just a touring car

The Alpine A290 comes standard with a 52 kWh battery, giving it a WLTP range of approximately 380 km. Like its A-point predecessors, it is more of a curve devourer than a long-distance runner. The 100 kW DC fast charging allows it to go from 15 to 80% charge in 30 minutes or recover up to 150 km WLTP in 15 minutes. On an AC charger, its onboard charger of 11 kW allows for 50 to 80% charging in 1 hour and 20 minutes or 3 hours and 20 minutes to go from 10 to 80% charge. This charger includes a bidirectional function enabling V2L (vehicle-to-load) capabilities to connect a device via the charging port.

As with the A110, a limited First Edition of 1,955 units will be offered at launch in four versions: First Edition in Deep Black, Beta in Snow White, La Bleue in Alpine Vision Blue, La Grise in Mat Tornado Gray.