Alpine A290 Rallye: Electric racer for the special stage
When Alpine builds an all-electric car for rallying, you know it won't be a toy. The new Alpine A290 Rallye isn't a show car for exhibition halls, but a serious competition car, ready to take on gravel, asphalt, and record times. The model will premiere at the French Rallye du Rouergue – and then head straight to the Goodwood Festival of Speed.
Rally racing has firmly committed to moving toward electric mobility in the future. As a result, many manufacturers are considering how they want and can follow this path. Opel, for example, has been active in this field for years and has even presented an electric rally version of the Mokka . Alpine is also already one step ahead of many others, having conjured up the first all-electric customer racing car.
The technology? Sure, it's electric—but it's not boring. 220 hp (160 kW) and 300 Newton meters of torque sound modest at first, but thanks to a limited-slip differential from ZF, a racing chassis, and uncompromising weight reduction, the little A290 should be a real beast on tight rally stages.
The entire car is built in the Alpine workshop in Dieppe and developed at the Viry-Châtillon Motorsport Center. The engine drives the front wheels exclusively—as is common with many front-wheel drive rally cars—supported by a specially tuned transmission. Added to this is a chassis with ALP Racing dampers, McPherson struts at the front, a multi-link rear axle, and Michelin Pilot Sport A tires on 18-inch wheels.
Image by: Alpine
The braking system is pure motorsport: six-piston calipers at the front, a single-piston at the rear, 350 mm front discs, and a hydraulic handbrake for those spectacular hairpin bends. The ABS comes from Alpine Racing and is designed to provide maximum control even on changing surfaces.
A nice gimmick: an artificial engine sound that is based on the accelerator pedal position and speed – so that drivers and spectators don't have to miss out on acoustic action despite the electric drive.
Image by: Alpine
Safety features such as a fully welded roll cage and FIA-compliant bucket seats from Sabelt are mandatory. As is a 52 kWh battery, which, according to Alpine, can be adapted to various environmentally friendly charging systems, depending on the rally location.
The entry-level price is €59,990 (net, ex-works in France). Currently, it will only be sold in France; the model is not yet homologated for the German market. However, Alpine is already planning its own events, including one-make cups and challenge races—and service and charging infrastructure are provided.
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