Renault’s Alpine teases electric hot hatch concept, showroom version due 2024
The revamped performance-car division of Renault has teased a concept intended to preview its first electric car, a hot hatch in the Ford Fiesta ST and Renault Clio RS class.
French sports-car maker Alpine has previewed a concept of its first new model after it replaced Renault Sport as the performance-car division of Renault, an electric pint-sized hot hatch.
Known as the A290_β (beta) in concept form, the new Alpine will be a high-performance version of the upcoming, reborn Renault 5 electric city hatch, and a spiritual successor to the petrol Renault Clio RS.
The production version – expected to be simply badged Alpine A290 – is due next year, ahead of four more electric Alpines due by 2028, comprising a new A110 sports car and three SUVs.
The Australian distributor for Renault has expressed interest in the new Alpine electric cars – and the standard Renault 5 electric hatch – from 2025.
MORE: Renault’s Alpine performance brand plans largest electric cars yet, global expansion
Alpine has released teaser images of the A290 Beta concept ahead of its planned unveiling next Wednesday, 10 May at 6:30am AEST, previewing substantial styling upgrades over the standard ‘R5’.
There’s a larger rear spoiler, what appears to be a bonnet vent, and a larger front bumper with a new take on Alpine’s traditional four-light signature, comprising two additional LED driving lights with X-shaped patterns, and X-shaped LED headlight signatures different to the regular Renault 5.
Renault executives have confirmed to UK media the Alpine hot hatch will be powered by a 160kW electric motor driving the front wheels, derived from larger Renault electric cars.
The motor has previously been estimated to deliver a 0-100km/h acceleration time of six seconds, while the standard Renault 5 – set to use a 100kW motor – is promised to offer up to 400km of claimed driving range.
These performance metrics are quicker than the Alpine’s petrol-powered Ford Fiesta ST, Hyundai i20 N and defunct Renault Clio RS class peers, which use circa-150kW turbo engines for 6.5 to 7.0-second 0-100km/h claimed times.
Alpine says its traditional one-letter, three-number naming structure will continue into the electric era.
After the initial A, the first number will represent the size of the car (2 for the A290, paving the way for much larger models), while the last two numbers will refer to the type of vehicle: 90 for the brand’s hatchbacks and SUVs, dubbed its “lifestyle” vehicles, or 10 for its dedicated sports cars.
The beta symbol “refers to the beta test used in the software world, the test version, just before the final version,” Alpine says in its media release.
Stay tuned to Drive for the global unveiling of the Alpine A290 Beta concept when it is unveiled at this link on 10 May 2023 at 6:30am AEST.
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