Alpine Launches Factory-Built A290 EV Hot Hatch for Rally Racing
"With the A290 Rallye, Alpine makes a triumphant return to its rally racing roots."
Few names in motorsport carry the rallying pedigree of Alpine. With nearly a century of success behind it, the French marque is turning the page to a new electric chapter—right as the Rallye Rouergue Rodez Aveyron Occitanie gets underway in Europe. Say hello to the Alpine A290 Rallye, a fully prepped factory-built rally car designed to bring the brand’s legacy back to the forest stages.
As its name implies, the A290 Rallye is a motorsport-spec version of Alpine’s forthcoming A290 electric hot hatch. Developed with input from the team at Viry-Châtillon and race-prepped at the Manufacture Alpine Dieppe Jean Rédélé facility, this EV hatchback blends Alpine’s electric performance vision with serious stage-readiness.
The A290 Rallye sticks with the standard production model’s 220-hp front-mounted electric motor, but performance gets sharpened through a ZF-sourced limited-slip differential—an essential piece for traction on loose surfaces. Braking has been upgraded with beefier hardware and a new Alpine Racing-specific ABS module. Tackling tight stage hairpins? A hydraulic handbrake ensures the A290 Rallye can be flicked and rotated with ease.
Additional performance upgrades include an ALP Racing Suspension system and custom 18-inch EVO Corse wheels, wrapped in grippy Michelin Pilot Sport A tires—ideal for clawing out of rough, low-speed corners. Designed for serious competition, the A290 Rallye also comes equipped with FIA-certified roll cage protection and Sabelt safety gear. To enhance safety for bystanders during events, Alpine has fitted the car with a speaker system that syncs with the throttle position and wheel speed, alerting nearby spectators to its movements.
Alpine intends to host a one-off rally challenge for A290 Rallye owners before the end of 2025, though the brand has bigger aspirations—hoping to see the car competing across various rally series. (We’re still holding out hope for a Renault 5 version to appear down the line.) Interested buyers can already reach out to Alpine, but they should be prepared to shell out more than $70,000. For a turn-key, factory-built rally car, that’s actually a compelling deal.
