A290
The Alpine A290 is a fully electric sports hatchback launched in 2024 and the first model in the French brand’s new electric generation. It was officially unveiled on June 13, 2024, during the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The five-door compact car uses front-wheel drive and a 52 kWh battery, while its electric motor is offered with either 180 or 220 hp depending on specification. Alpine developed it from the AmpR Small platform also used by the Renault 5 E-Tech, but gave the A290 its own chassis tuning, wider tracks, bodywork and cabin. The result is a small urban car with a more focused sporting character than the standard Renault model. Within the 2024 coverage considered here, the model is identified with a Base variant.
Variants by year
2024
Model summary
Data from the ScanRacer library, organized to compare versions quickly.
Model introduction
The Alpine A290 is a fully electric sports hatchback launched in 2024 and the first model in the French brand’s new electric generation. It was officially unveiled on June 13, 2024, during the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The five-door compact car uses front-wheel drive and a 52 kWh battery, while its electric motor is offered with either 180 or 220 hp depending on specification. Alpine developed it from the AmpR Small platform also used by the Renault 5 E-Tech, but gave the A290 its own chassis tuning, wider tracks, bodywork and cabin. The result is a small urban car with a more focused sporting character than the standard Renault model. Within the 2024 coverage considered here, the model is identified with a Base variant.
History
The A290 story began with the A290_β concept, unveiled by Alpine in Bristol on May 9, 2023. The show car previewed a sporty electric city car and introduced the brand’s planned “Dream Garage”, a strategy intended to expand Alpine beyond the A110. Its name followed Alpine’s naming system: the number 2 refers to the B segment, while 90 identifies the brand’s lifestyle-oriented models. The beta suffix indicated a development stage before the production vehicle. Alpine then continued validation testing, including work in Arctic conditions. A prototype wearing definitive bodywork already displayed the key dimensions of the production car: roughly 3.99 metres long, 1.82 metres wide, 1.52 metres high and with a 2.53-metre wheelbase. The production A290 was unveiled publicly at Le Mans on June 13, 2024. French orders opened on July 30, 2024, with a range comprising GT, GT Premium, GT Performance and GTS versions, alongside a limited Première Édition. The A290 is therefore not a direct evolution of the A110, but a new entry point into Alpine ownership and the brand’s first production electric model.
Generations
The Alpine A290 does not yet have multiple established generations. It entered production for the first time in 2024 and should therefore be treated as a first-generation model rather than as a sequence of technically separate series. The 2023 A290_β concept is its design and development predecessor, but it was not a customer production version of the A290. The production car is based on the Renault Group’s AmpR Small platform and shares broad architectural principles with the Renault 5 E-Tech. Alpine nevertheless gave it a distinct specification, including a wider stance, dedicated suspension tuning, recalibrated steering and braking hardware suited to its sporting role. The 52 kWh battery is mounted beneath the floor, while the electric motor drives the front wheels. All versions announced at launch therefore belong to the same first generation and are mainly separated by power output, equipment and trim level. Within the model-year scope supplied, 2024 is the available reference year and the variant is labelled “Base”. That label should not be read as a separate generation; it identifies the version recorded for that model year.
Key differences
The A290 is closely related to the Renault 5 E-Tech, but it is more than a bodywork change. Alpine gives it a wider, more muscular appearance, with X-shaped lighting elements, dedicated bumpers and styling cues linked to the brand’s competition heritage. Alpine states that its track is 60 mm wider than the Renault 5’s. The most significant differences are found in the engineering. The A290 has its own suspension, steering, braking and motor-control calibration developed by Alpine. It retains front-wheel drive and the 52 kWh battery, but uses more powerful motor outputs than regular Renault 5 versions. The cabin also receives a dedicated centre console and steering wheel, including an “Overtake” button on certain specifications. Exact equipment and performance depend on trim level and market, so the A290 should not be described as mechanically identical to the Renault 5 even though the two cars share a platform family.
Photo recognition
The A290 is first identified by its compact five-door hatchback body and its noticeably wider stance. The front end combines four X-shaped light signatures, a closed grille treatment suited to an electric car and a heavily sculpted bumper. Black exterior elements and contrasting trim reinforce its sporting appearance. In profile, the widened wheel arches, large wheels and short overall body give it a squatter look than the Renault 5 E-Tech. At the rear, the short tailgate, dark lower treatment and horizontal lamps help confirm the model. Some cars feature two-tone paint, Alpine graphics or trim-specific details, so these features are not universal. Inside, the flat-bottomed steering wheel, A110-inspired controls and dedicated centre console are useful identification clues. Distinguishing individual versions requires checking the badges, wheels, seats and equipment, because visual details can vary by market. The safest identification method is to combine the exterior design with the vehicle’s electric powertrain and Alpine-specific cabin controls.
Important versions
At the French launch, the A290 was offered in GT, GT Premium, GT Performance and GTS forms. The GT and GT Premium used the lower power output, rated at 180 hp, while the GT Performance and GTS received the 220 hp motor. All versions used a 52 kWh battery, with WLTP range depending on specification. Alpine also produced a limited Première Édition restricted to 1,955 cars, a reference to 1955, the year Jean Rédélé founded the brand. Names and equipment can vary between countries. For the 2024 model-year scope considered here, the recorded variant is identified as Base.
References
- Alpine A290: orders now being taken and prices for FranceAlpine Global Media
- Alpine A290: official presentation on 13 June 2024Alpine Global Media
- A290_β: Alpine unveils its vision of the electric hot hatch for everyday drivingAlpine Global Media
- Alpine A290: the new electric hot hatch runs for the first time at the arctic circleAlpine Global Media
- 2024 Alpine A290 Is a Slick-Looking 215-HP Electric Hot HatchCar and Driver
- Alpine A290 reviewAuto Express
- https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/march-2025/43/2025-alpine-a290-review-good-yes-fun-no/motorsportmagazine.com
- https://images.cdn.autocar.co.uk/car-review/alpine/a290images.cdn.autocar.co.uk
Frequently asked questions
- What years was the Alpine A290 produced?
- ScanRacer's referenced versions cover 2024.
- How many Alpine A290 examples are documented on ScanRacer?
- 7 published scans from 6 members, with the latest photo added in August 2026.