Alpine A290 v Alpine A110 – car pictures of the week
In the latest issue of evo, we benchmark Alpine’s new electric hot hatch against its brilliant A110 sports car – these are our favourite shots
Can an electric car really share DNA with the fabulous, pure, lightweight Alpine A110? The French brand certainly thinks so, and has drawn inspiration from its mid-engined sports car to mould how its new, battery-powered A290 hot hatch drives.
In the latest issue of evo, we explore how successful that exercise has been by driving the A290 back to back with the A110, discovering if there really is a common thread that links the two. Pick a copy of evo 331 in-store or online via the evo shop to read the full feature.
On the face of it, the A290 could be the breakthrough EV performance car we’ve been waiting for. It’s not a two-ton-plus SUV or a yet another 2000bhp hypercar, but a compact, sensibly-priced hot hatch that’s been developed with a clear focus on driver appeal.
Based on the new Renault 5, it’s not as lightweight as a traditional hot supermini, nor as bespoke as a pure sports car, but Alpine does promise that the A290 relays similar sensations to the A110. Elements like the steering feel, throttle response, coasting deceleration and general dynamics were benchmarked against the sports car during development, but is it possible to instill an electric hatch with the same character as one of the best ICE sports cars of the modern era?
First impressions are of a mature, well-rounded hot hatch which, like the A110, is more about fun and usable performance than headline numbers. ‘The A290 isn’t likely to be the next YouTube drag racing superstar,’ we reported. ‘This 217bhp GTS model is quick and there’s enough performance to scamper along and work the chassis, but torque from the front motor arrives progressively rather than in one big lump, making it possible to get into a fast, satisfying rhythm. Go deeper into the throttle and you start fighting against torque steer, the wheel tensing up and jinking around, particularly over bumps.’
To find out whether the A290 really does feel like a true Alpine in the context of its award-winning sports car sibling, pick up a copy of evo 331 in-store or online.
