The A290_β starts a new sporty chapter in the history of Alpine, the sports brand of the Renault group. The idea behind this concept car came from Apline’s desire to debut in new segments, such as the zero-emission compact sports car: the electric hot hatch. The A290_ β is more than a showcar, it anticipates a zero-emission production model that will debut in 2024. The starting point for the French concept is the R5 Prototype, Renault’s electric car unveiled in 2021. The designers focused on the emotional aspect of its styling and gave it an extreme design that exudes sportiness from every line. Homologated for the track by the Fédération Française du Sport Automobile (FFSA), the show car has been given fine-tuning. The A290_β holds unexpected surprises that promise an unforgettable driving experience.
The Alpine A290_β show-car was created by focusing on the feeling of fusion with the car, combining a passion for racing with the more unique than rare sensation of driving an Alpine. The car is therefore crossed by a magenta longitudinal axis that underlines all the power, speed and technicality and symbolises the fusion between man and machine. In contrast, the blue transverse axis expresses the fusion and sharing between driver and passengers. “We created a decidedly future-oriented object that we wanted to be truly modern in terms of surface treatment, details and materials. A vehicle that delivers on the promise of true Alpine, exciting and thrilling to drive,” says Raphael Linari, Alpine’s Chief Designer. On the lower side and under the front headlights, more air intakes are sculpted to smooth air circulation and recall, once again, the world of racing. The car also winks at the world of gaming: the visible battery fans are reminiscent of those on powerful gaming PCs. The windscreen protrudes extensively over the bonnet to accentuate the connection between exterior and interior, highlighting the central driver’s seat. It also offers a unique view of the arrow-shaped dashboard, inspired by the nose of Formula 1 cars. This unique architecture continues outside with the rear-view mirrors.
If the exterior of the Alpine A290_β show car heralds the production car, the interior design is much more concept-style and focuses on innovative architecture that puts the driver at the centre of the game. The exclusive driver’s seat is enhanced by two luminous axes, magenta and blue. There is a close relationship between the interior and exterior of the car, accentuated by the windscreen that protrudes widely over the bonnet, highlighting the central driver’s seat. It also offers a unique view of the arrow-shaped dashboard, inspired by the Formula 1 nose. The latter runs across the entire width of the cockpit, extending outwards with the rear-view mirrors. It then extends along the horizontal axis of the vehicle at the base of the bonnet, but also at the rear, where the wing continues into the spine of the chassis. All driving functions are aligned along this axis. This underlines the fusion harmony that exists between interior and exterior, emphasising the importance of central driving in the overall design of the A290_β. The interior draws inspiration from racing cars, with a sporty, minimalist cockpit focused on performance and efficiency. The steering wheel, with many functions taken from the world of motor racing, is a good example, as are the sports seats and seat belts.
