Cold test for Alpine A290 electric hot hatch

Alpine’s super-cool new A290 electric hot hatch has been enjoying sub-zero temperatures in the Arctic Circle ahead of an official launch in June this year.

If you’re in the market for a battery-powered pocket rocket, it’s a date you’ll want to put in your diary.

While precise power figures haven’t yet been revealed, the A290 is expected to be packing a honed version of the electric motor found in the Renault Megane E-Tech (with Renault being Alpine’s parent company) which should translate to oomph of around 220 PS.

An even more potent version will be added at a later date.

While the A290 is based on the recently-revealed Renault 5 E-Tech, the Alpine hatch is an altogether more aggressive beast that’s also packing tech borrowed from Alpine's Formula 1 division.

The flattened Alpine Sport steering wheel gives one-touch access to OV (Overtake), RCH (Recharge) and Drive modes.

And the A290 is seen here, in disguised form, tearing about in Sweden's Lapland while putting its handling and agility - as well the heating, defrosting and defogging functions - to the test in extreme, low-grip conditions.

Philippe Krief, Alpine CEO, says: “Our A290, the future compact B-segment electric sports car, is currently being tested in the extreme and demanding conditions of Sweden's Lapland. The target of this important stage is to confirm the direction we have taken with handling and agility, which is part of our DNA on low grip conditions. To fine-tune its development so that it can be effective in all circumstances and all-weather conditions, the winter development stage of the A290 is crucial as it is a completely new car. Our engineering team has scrutinised all the criteria, and the results bode extremely well for its launch in the coming months.”

When the Alpine A290 does make it to the leasing market, it’ll compete with the sportiest versions of the MINI Cooper Electric, as well as cars like the CUPRA Born.

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