Will Belgium charge up for Alpine’s new hot hatch A290?

Alpine has officially launched the A290, an electric hot hatch that ventures into more practical territory. In many respects, this car can be regarded as the modern successor to the famous Renault R5 Turbo. It is also in an emission-free guise, which is a first for the brand.

Alpine unveiled its fully electric hot hatch car, the A290, during the 24 Hours of Le Mans earlier this year. This is a symbolic move for this compact, sporty city car that embodies a new chapter for the French marque, renowned for its rich racing heritage and iconic models.

After making its mark with the combustion-engined A110, the revived brand is entering a new era of battery power, aligning the move with more functional concepts. Next to the five-seater A290, there’s also room for SUVs in Alpine’s modern showroom.

Qualifying for the Flemish EV incentive

The new model is the sporty alternative to the Renault R5 E-Tech and a competitor to the Abarth 500e and Ioniq 5 N. As the market for hot hatches has collapsed over CO2 regulations, these electric alternatives aim to restore what’s been lost.

Pre-orders for the Alpine A290 began in July in Belgium. However, the waiting period is now officially over, as the brand has officially launched the car, accompanied by test drives. The base model, the A290 GT with 180 hp, starts at 38,700 euro.

This pricing qualifies the car for the 5,000 euro government incentive for electric vehicles in the Flanders region—at least for quick deciders, as the new government announced cutting the incentive on November 23rd, 2024.

The better-equipped GT Premium and the more powerful GT Performance are priced at 41,900 euros and 41,700 euros, respectively. The top-tier A290 GTS is available for 44,700 euros.

Limited Première Edtion

Alpine introduced a limited series of 1,955 units to commemorate the launch, the ‘Première Édition,’ honoring the brand’s founding year. Based on the GTS, this special edition features unique design elements and exclusive equipment, starting at 46,200 euros.

According to Renault, the Alpine A290 aims to blend the exhilarating experience of the classic A110 – which the brand hit bull’s eye – with the advantages of electric propulsion in a smaller package.

Fitted for daily commutes

Measuring 3,990 mm in length, 1,820 mm in width, and 1,520 mm in height, the A290 still offers an agile and dynamic driving experience but aims at urban settlers. You can read more about it here.