Alpine A290 to be revealed on 13 June 2024

[k_m]

Hmm... 1.5 tons, 180/218 Hp, 285/300 Nm, front-wheel drive, 0-100 km/h in 7.4/6.4 s, 160/170 km/h top speed... that's not even R5 Turbo performance, and that car is 45 years old.
I was hoping for a dualmotor and all-wheel drive to differ the A290 from the R5 Electric. But only a slightly sportier look .. that's rather disappointing.

[Terminator X]

Disappointed by the weight, I assumed that somehow they could keep the lightweight ethos going.

TX.

[bcr5784]

Terminator X said:

Disappointed by the weight, I assumed that somehow they could keep the lightweight ethos going.

TX.

Ye canna defy the laws of physics, Jim - at least, not without defying the laws of economics. To get the weight down they would have had to go down the i3 route - with the consequential effect on price or profitability. I assume the hit on profitabliity was acceptable on the A110 to get the brand established - not something that can be sustained long term.

[7en]

k_m said:

Hmm... 1.5 tons, 180/218 Hp, 285/300 Nm, front-wheel drive, 0-100 km/h in 7.4/6.4 s, 160/170 km/h top speed... that's not even R5 Turbo performance, and that car is 45 years old.
I was hoping for a dualmotor and all-wheel drive to differ the A290 from the R5 Electric. But only a slightly sportier look .. that's rather disappointing.

Apart from a sportier look it has a different motor with an aluminium subframe, aluminium knuckles, different dampers, springs, brakes, tyres.

I think a 270bhp AWD is on the cards but probably a couple of years away at least.

As for the weight, it's around 200kgs lighter than the equivalent Mini.

Edited by 7en on Thursday 13th June 21:02

[PinkTornado]

Horrible looking chunky thing...those front X lights are awful, too. Poor Jonny has got a LOT of bad comments on his YT for this one!

[a110au]

bcr5784 said:

Ye canna defy the laws of physics, Jim - at least, not without defying the laws of economics. To get the weight down they would have had to go down the i3 route - with the consequential effect on price or profitability. I assume the hit on profitabliity was acceptable on the A110 to get the brand established - not something that can be sustained long term.

the i3 weighs 1345kg and had skinny tires and rather pathetic range. It isn't economics at work as much as battery wh/kg physics.

[bcr5784]

a110au said:

the i3 weighs 1345kg and had skinny tires and rather pathetic range. It isn't economics at work as much as battery wh/kg physics.

The last version of the i3 had 42KWH batteries - not that much smaller than A290 (52kwh) so I don't think the real world range would be that vastly different given the lighter weight and lower rolling resistance.

[Whaleblue]

Good static review here:

https://youtu.be/SwzrpubBHW8?si=lfrLInAhJ0EZVYbS

Edit - better one here:

https://youtu.be/G7cCBBAA3cc?si=4CEFV4ojlKj19xZ-

Edited by Whaleblue on Tuesday 18th June 16:18

[MrB.]

Was a the "secret" reveal in Paris before the official launch and did a video for one of my channels, and was also at the Le Mans reveal. I get that people are disappointed when looking numbers, but I have every hope that this will drive brilliantly. The weight and power and similar to a Golf GTI, so no, it won't be Tesla fats, but I do't think that is the answer. How it handles and performs on the road will be key, and having talked to the Alpine engineers and designers, they know that they have to come up with the goods for the brand or else their loyal fans won't buy it. I'd hold judgement until we have driven it. There was a lot of talk of the placement of weight, the suspension being quite unique for this class of car and even Michelin who have developed 3 different tyres for it. This all looks positive to me. And the new MINI Electric and Abarth 500E are pretty decent steers too, so Alpine will be keen to snaffle some customers from there.

On another note, I drove to Le Mans and back in an A110S. Can I just say that anyone who owns one of these is an exceptionally lucky person. What a car! First proper drive in an A110 and I am blown away.

[Portti]

MrB. said:

... I'd hold judgement until we have driven it. ...

Interesting information MrB, thanks! Do you have any idea when journalists will be able to drive the A290?

[MrB.]

Portti said:

Interesting information MrB, thanks! Do you have any idea when journalists will be able to drive the A290?

I haven’t had any formal communication about drives, but it will be last quarter of 2024 as a best guess. Standard R5 I think is in for September, so Alpine should follow that.

[Whaleblue]

MrB. said:

…I get that people are disappointed when looking numbers, but I have every hope that this will drive brilliantly. The weight and power and similar to a Golf GTI, …How it handles and performs on the road will be key, and having talked to the Alpine engineers and designers, they know that they have to come up with the goods for the brand or else their loyal fans won't buy it. I'd hold judgement until we have driven it…

I had little interest until I saw the two videos I linked.

I’m now interested in a test drive when they are here, even though in truth unlikely to switch from the Seat Ateca we bought only two years ago, never say never.

Edited by Whaleblue on Saturday 22 June 21:49

[bcr5784]

The problem for me - as a hottish hatch - is the width. It's wider than a Golf (or A110 for that matter). I know cars are all getting wider, but in the case of the A290 (and to a slightly less extent on the R5) much of the width is bulging wheelarches which contribute little to interior space. You expect a hot hatch to be fun on a B road, but width detracts from that.

There are very very few cars - ICE or electric that are now sensibly narrow. The Fiat 500 is one of that tiny group - and flawed whatever type of motive power it has.

Edited by bcr5784 on Sunday 23 June 10:04