Alpine A290 Rallye: The Affordable Electric Rally Car Changing the Rules of Motorsport

Alpine's Electric Turn in Customer Racing

The Alpine A290 Rallye represents a clear strategy shift from Alpine and Renault Group: making electric motorsport affordable, fast, and real. This isn’t a concept; production starts in Dieppe in late 2025. With a price around $64,000 USD (before taxes), the A290 Rallye aims to put EV performance rallying within reach for privateers and small teams.

As Alpine Vice President Axel Plasse puts it, this car combines driving pleasure and environmental responsibility. Developed in tandem by Alpine Cars and Alpine Racing, it’s the first 100% electric rally car designed specifically for customer competition.

The debut comes during Alpine’s 70th anniversary—fitting for a brand that built its legacy on lightweight, agile, and emotional cars like the A110 Berlinette.

Image

Designed for the New Motorsport Era

The A290 Rallye is based on the road-going A290 hot hatch, Alpine’s first electric model in its “Dream Garage” lineup. It carries over that car’s compact 3.99-meter chassis, front-wheel-drive layout, and 52 kWh battery, then reengineers it for stage performance.

• Power: 220 hp (160 kW)
• Torque: 300 Nm
• Weight: 1,530 kg
• Drive: Front-wheel drive with ZF limited-slip differential
• Battery: 20% to 80% in under 28 minutes at 100 kW

Those figures position the A290 Rallye close to Rally2 cars in footprint but with zero tailpipe emissions and simplified maintenance compared to combustion platforms.

From Concept to Competitive Car

Development started in December 2023, with the Alpine Racing and Hypertech Alpine teams from Viry-Châtillon leading. Early testing covered over 3,000 kilometers across mixed surfaces, focusing on battery thermal management, suspension endurance, and energy recovery stability.

François Champod, Alpine Racing’s Deputy Motorsport Director, describes the goal: “We didn’t just adapt the A290 for competition; we built a rally car that any driver can use from day one.”

This pragmatic approach defines the car: accessible, low-maintenance, and quick to prepare.

Image

Engineering the Electric Advantage

The chassis comes straight from the production A290, reinforced by a welded FIA roll cage and optimized for FIA eRally5 regulations. Suspension and braking hardware were designed to match Rally2-grade demands:

Every element targets driver confidence and repeatable handling. A hydraulic handbrake and Alpine Racing-developed ABS mapping deliver precise control in hairpins and variable surfaces.

Matteo Chatillon, 2024 WRC3 runner-up, called it “forgiving and fast—everything you want from a rally car, but with instant EV response.”

Inside the Cockpit

The interior is stripped of excess but designed for endurance stages. A digital display consolidates performance data, and every switch has a purpose. The Sabelt Spine bucket seats and six-point harnesses meet top-level safety standards.

Air conditioning remains, not for comfort but for cooling both the cockpit and the battery system during hot stages—a smart, practical move from Alpine’s engineers.

Two driving modes—Save for liaison stages and Sport for timed runs—simplify operation and extend battery life between charges.

This configuration allows the A290 Rallye to deliver full power in competition without complex setup changes.

Safety with No Compromises

Compliance with FIA eRally5 regulations ensures the A290 Rallye meets modern electric safety requirements. Alpine integrated:

• A fully welded roll cage for structural rigidity
• Battery monitoring with external visual signals for marshals
• Automatic fire suppression system
• Sound-based warning system that adjusts with throttle input

These measures make the A290 Rallye both safe and educational—perfect for new entrants in electric rallying.

The Alpine A290 Trophy: Building the Ecosystem

The car’s launch pairs with a structured competition program: the Alpine A290 Trophy.
The first event runs at the Rallye National de l’Indre in November 2025, offering $60,000 USD in total prize money.

From 2026, two series will expand:

1. A290 Rally Trophy – A six-round national cup within the French Rally Championship.
2. A290 Regional Trophy – Allowing independent entry in regional rallies and hill climbs.

Both offer eco-friendly charging setups, technical support, and a community-driven paddock atmosphere. Alpine Racing has committed nearly $260,000 USD in total prize funds and spare-parts vouchers to help privateers stay competitive.

Each team can also join the Alpine Store Challenge, a partnership linking local Alpine dealerships with driver crews for shared promotion and sponsorship visibility.

Image

Production and Launch Timeline

By spring 2026, customer deliveries and race operations will be in full swing.