Alpine announces wacky A290_ß electric hot hatch with Renault 5 EV underpinnings as the first vehicle in the marque's electric future

Alpine, the Renault Group's sports division, has unveiled the A290_ẞ concept that the brand plans to bring to market in 2024 to challenge the compact sport segment. The most unorthodox part of the A290_ẞ — aside from its name — is what Alpine calls the "three-seat architecture," that involves moving the driver's seat to the middle of the vehicle. The vehicle's electric underpinnings makes this trick possible while still keeping the driver close to the ground. 

In terms of production, expect the A290_ẞ to look slightly different when 2024 rolls around. That being said, Alpine claims that the outside of the vehicle will remain pretty much the same as what was presented in the concept, with the only significant changes relegated to the interior of the vehicle. The central driving position will also stick it out into the final production model, given it's such a key part of the car's design.

While the interior of the Alpine A290_ß is bound to change, one welcome feature of the concept is the complete lack of an infotainment screen, replaced by a healthy helping of buttons scattered throughout the cabin. This layout makes sense, since it focuses on putting the driving experience first — a major selling point of a sporty hatchback like this. 

The Renault 5 EV Prototype forms the base of the A290_ẞ, meaning we'll probably see something similar to the 52 kWh Renault 5 battery that delivers around 245 miles of range in that prototype vehicle. Given its sporty nature, though, it wouldn't be surprising to see the A290_ß's range be significantly worse thanks to a motor upgrade. The materials of the vehicle have also been upgraded, with carbon bodywork featuring prominently throughout the design.

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