Alpine A290 to make dynamic debut at the Festival of Speed
One of the most hotly anticipated electric cars of recent history is set to make its dynamic debut at the 2024 Festival of Speed presented by Mastercard. We talk of course about the Alpine A290, a car that promises to shift perceptions of performance EVs thanks to a fresh and exciting philosophy.
It’ll be making its way up the Hill over the course of the weekend as part of First Glance presented by heycar, which will be the UK public’s first chance to see it in action ahead of an expected launch in 2025.
The A290 is a manifestation of Alpine’s modus operandi which majors on driving dynamics and reducing weight. We already know how good the brand’s only other current road car is; the Alpine A110 remains one of the best pound-for-pound sportscars you can buy, and Alpine has been at pains to reinforce that the A290 has been conceived from the same sheet of paper.
It is of course a derivative of the Renault 5 E-Tech, which will also be on display in Electric Avenue in 2024, but Alpine has taken the basic architecture and run wild. The powertrain is a tweaked version of the one found in the Megane E-Tech: there’s a bespoke alloy motor subframe, multi-link rear suspension, anti-roll bars, and brakes taken from the A110.
Alpine’s aim with this car is to find the perfect balance between sporting performance and ride compliance, a balance that the team behind the A110 absolutely nailed. We’re confident that if anyone can, it’s Alpine.
It’s worth noting that plenty of effort has been put into controlling the A290’s weight, too. It stands at just 1,479kg, which for an EV is pushing the boundaries of what’s currently possible.
We’re certain that this is a car that has been designed with the intention of being enjoyed. We’re looking forward to finding out just how thrilling it is to drive, but in the meantime, we’ll have to make do with watching someone else have all the fun.
First Glance is the home of brand-new cars at the Festival of Speed, offering a great opportunity to take a closer look at the next generation of motoring.
The 2024 Festival of Speed takes place on 11th-14th July. Only Thursday general admission tickets remain, with Friday, Saturday, and Sunday tickets now sold out, although a limited number of hospitality packages for all days are still available. Tickets and packages can be purchased from £70.
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Video: Alpine A290 makes its debut at the Festival of Speed
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