From Hot Hatch to Rally Stage
Alpine has pulled the wraps off its most exciting project yet – the A290 Rallye, a factory-prepped electric rally car that’ll compete in the FIA’s new Electric Rally Cup. Based on the upcoming A290 hot hatch but packing serious competition upgrades, this is Alpine’s bold statement that electric motorsport can deliver proper thrills.
Specs That’ll Make Petrolheads Smile
Underneath its aggressive widebody kit lies some properly clever engineering:
- 215bhp electric motor (same as road car but with rally tuning)
- Limited-slip differential for proper stage control
- 50kWh battery with reinforced casing
- Regenerative braking system adjustable via steering wheel paddles
The real party trick? An external sound generator that pumps out fake engine noise – because rallying should sound angry, even when it’s electric.
Built to Take a Beating
Alpine hasn’t just thrown some stickers on a road car. The Rallye gets:
- Full FIA-spec roll cage
- Reinforced suspension with 80mm more travel
- Underbody protection for those inevitable rock strikes
- Lightweight panels shedding over 100kg versus the road car
The battery positioning remains low for optimal center of gravity, while engineers have tweaked the torque delivery for better dirt-road control.
Why This Matters for Electric Motorsport
The A290 Rallye isn’t just a one-off showpiece. Alpine plans to:
- Campaign a factory team in the Electric Rally Cup
- Offer customer versions for privateers
- Develop the tech for future road cars
It’s a clear signal that Alpine sees electric rallying as more than just a PR exercise – this is proper competition development.
First competitive outings begin later this year, with customer cars available in 2025.
