AT THE WHEEL
Major car firm confirms date for its hotly anticipated first EV with a unique feature… after it was shown in disguise
Check out which Formula 1 feature has been added to this highly-anticipated EV
A MAJOR car brand will unveil its much-anticipated first EV with an exciting unique feature.
Alpine has confirmed it plans on revealing the production version of its new A290 electric hot hatch on the sidelines of the Le Mans 24 Hours on June 13.
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It comes just weeks after the Renault 5 debuted on the roads.
It is set to become Alpine's first electric car and was recently spotted by EV fans as it underwent cold-weather testing in Sweden.
The French manufacturer hopes the A290 will kickstart its push into the mainstream market.
Alpine currently focuses on managing the Formula 1 team and the other Renault Sport teams after it rebranded in 2021.
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The manufacturers aim to make the new EV stable and enjoyable to drive.
"The main thing is agility," said design director Antony Villian.
He told : "We know when we switch to EV, we have heavy batteries, but we want to find exactly the same driving philosophy: agility and pure pleasure."
To do this Alpine put the battery pack under the car to lower its centre of mass and improve handling.
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I think the interior has to bring the point home about what it means to sit inside an Alpine
Joshua Reer
Alpine also added hydraulic bump stops, improving the A290's ride and strengthening handling adjustability.
The car's size makes it inherently stable and agile, according to the product boss Charlie Biardeau.
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He added that the A290 uses the same four-piston brakes as the A110.
The new EV will have stronger engine braking and will feature a "one-pedal" drive mode, which allows drivers to navigate traffic solely using the accelerator pedal.
FORMULA 1
Minimalism was key to designing the interior of the A290.
There will be no touchscreens with the French manufacturers opting for traditional button controls mounted to the roof and steering wheel.
Information on speed and range will be shown on a small heads-up display positioned above the steering wheel.
“I think the interior has to bring the point home about what it means to sit inside an Alpine,” said the senior Interior Designer at Alpine, Joshua Reer.
Alpine fans who saw the beta version of the A290 will be disappointed to learn the three-seat cockpit, which places the driver front and centre was scrapped.
However, the Formula 1-inspired 'OV' button, which enables a 10-second boost will be added to the new EV.
"It's significant you can really feel it," explained Biardeau.
The product boss added there will be a short cooldown period between bursts, but it is still being fine-tuned.
The Formula 1 link does not end there for the A290, with the Alpine Racing Formula 1 team having a role in shaping the aerodynamics.
The front bumper was inspired by historic rally cars and the rear quarter panels have been redesigned to reduce drag across the car's flanks.
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The A290 is expected to be significantly more than the new Renault 5 which costs £25,000.
Car experts predict it will be priced up to match its close rival, the 215bhp version of the electric Mini Cooper, which costs just under £38,000.
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