The Alpine A290_β concept will evolve into an electric offspring of the Renault 5 Alpine over the course of 2024. It will be based on the to-be-launched electric Renault 5, which will be built at the Douai plant. And that is also where the Alpine A290 (without β) will come into being. On social media, the belief prevails that a sporty car should have a combustion engine and make a lot of noise. Nevertheless, it is incomprehensible that an electric version is condemned especially when no one has been introduced to it yet.

Driving pleasure is paramount with this model, after all, that's what an Alpine should be. An electric car that makes sporty everyday driving possible for a new generation of customers. Sport chic is the look as well as interior design of this serious design exercise. Track width is substantial, and the car rolls on 20-inch wheels with Michelin tyres. Immediately, the basic shape of the concept Renault 5 E-Tech can be recognised in the new Alpine. Alpine does not hide the fact that the production model will be a five-door hatchback.

The colours of the French flag appear in several places on the car. A red line runs down the centre, and there is text everywhere and nowhere, withsuch as the names of Ocon and Gasly lighting up with the indicators. The front gets four lights, as befits an Alpine. There are air intakes in numerous places to not only make the car aerodynamically sound, but also to get the desired cooling. Air goes to the brakes via the front bumper and an opening under the headlights, but an opening also feeds air through just behind the rear side windows.

To clearly indicate that the interior will be driver-oriented, young German designer Joshua Reer has gone all out on the A290_β. Enthusiastically, he talks about his creation. "In October 2021, we started the project, not only this concept, but also the production version," he says. The driver sits in the centre of the car, while two sporty seats for the passengers are placed a lot further back." Important to add that the Alpine A290 that will soon roll off the assembly line in Douai does get a normal seat arrangement in the front.

Joshua goes on to talk passionately about the special materials used in the creation of the car. "On the door sills, wing edges, rear lights and the undersides of the bumpers, a finish of recycled carbon was chosen. A whole new application that gives a special effect with depth."

A display shows the different materials. "We work with 3D effects in various ways. On top of the dashboard is black leather with the Alpine name and a diamond shape cut out in it. A red colour of leather is laid underneath that and that's how you get depth. In other places, the leather has a special pattern obtained with a laser. The white parts of the dashboard," Joshua explains, "are reflective. Especially when driving in the dark, this gives a special effect when light falls on them and is reflected." To illustrate, he wears a jacket made of a material that gives the same effect.

It also works with materials that can undergo changes while driving, for example when steering, accelerating or during braking. Numerous texts appear in the interior, and humour is not shunned in the process. The brake pedal clearly reads 'do not push'. Most of the control buttons sit against the ceiling, reminiscent of an aeroplane.

The steering wheel is very special in terms of shape and strongly resembles the control unit of a game console or a formula one car. After all, that is the design language that a young driver's group recognises.

Joshua explains that when driving this concept, a different steering wheel will be fitted. We immediately accept the invitation to take a seat. But no, not on the driver's seat, because then something might go wrong with the steering wheel. In the centre, by the way, a light illuminates a 3D sculpture. This could in future be used as a 3D version of a QR code from which plenty of information can be read.

Photo right: Joshua Reer represents a young generation of designers. He worked mainly on the interior, which, like the exterior, is overflowing with unusual and amusing details using new materials and 3D effects.

Anyway, the invitation to test-sit concerns the two seats for the rear passengers. The furniture offers an almost reclining position, while the driver adopts a more active sitting position. The fact that everything is centred on the middle of the car is further supported by a windscreen protruding well into the bonnet at the bottom. From the outside, it is easy to see that a white construction in the interior connects the centre of the bonnet with the exterior mirrors, which are placed a bit further back on the doors because of the specific seating position.

And is there another gag in the Alpine A290_β? Yes indeed, on the 'parcel shelf' in front of the left rear window is an old-fashioned dog with a nodding head. Proudly, the black animal wears a gold chain with Alpine logo around its neck.

No further details about the technical specifications of both the concept and the production version are provided yet. For that, please be patient.