Alpine introduces new A290+ range for 2026
Full £3,750 ECG, one-pedal drive and fresh accessories for Alpine's electric hot hatch
It was little more than a year ago - November 6th, 2024 - that the first reviews of the Alpine A290 landed; no customers received their cars until earlier this year. And yet already the regular A290 is old news, replaced in the Alpine line-up for 2026 by the A290+. Nothing moves quite so fast right now as the electric car market.
Existing customers needn’t worry too much, as this isn’t a drastic update. The most significant aspect of the A290+ refresh is that now every model qualifies for the full £3,750 Band 1 Electric Car Grant, whereas previously it was only the Band 2 benefit of £1,500. The classification has changed since August thanks to a relocation of Alpine’s battery production; now it’s in Douai, France, which is said to meet all the criteria to qualify for the ECG. Previous battery packs did not. Add that to ‘Renault Group’s long-term commitment to hitting Science Based Target Initiative (SBTI) standards’ and, voila, £3,750 off a great little EV, meaning prices from £30,245 for the A290 GT+.
For the 220hp Alpines that you’re really going to want, prices now start at £32,745 for the GT Performance+ and £34,245 for the GTS+. Furthermore, those still a tad disappointed about the A290’s limited colour palette - blue, grey, black, white - will be pleased to hear about the new accessories for the ‘+’ cars. A Signature Colourline Pack is offered in blue or red, accenting the Brembo calipers, black snowflake wheels, floor mat logos and roof rail in the chosen colour; it costs £775 on a GT+ and GT Performance+, or £400 on a GTS+. There’s also a Tricolore Design Pack, which sounds like £180 well spent on any model bringing a French flag on the outside and a blue steering wheel centre with Alpine logo inside; it can be made into a Signature Tricolore (£900), which brings equipment like reverse parking monitoring, hands-free parking and intelligent cruise control. Which all seem a tad unnecessary in a small EV, but there we are.
“Earning the full £3,750 grant eligibility is fantastic news, and I’ve no doubt will accelerate the already amazing interest we have in the award-winning Alpine A290,” said Nicola Burnside, Head of Alpine Cars UK. “It’s an exhilarating hot hatch for the electric era, as good to drive as it is to look at, and I have absolute confidence that anyone who gets behind the wheel will be immediately convinced that electric cars can be exciting.” Those cars ordered now will be delivered early in ‘26, so it could be a great time to get a deal on a secondhand A290; used prices are from £30k…
It s quaint and inoffensive with over 200hp what s not to like.
( sorry far too close to budget day for objective car review)
I don t understand what is the public good being delivered by getting more 2000kg SUV s on the road or how it got missed in the budget yet a 2k cap is now in place on pensions to stop bankers abusing the system ? (assuming 2-3 year company tax car perk life cycle, a car salary sacrifice is a far bigger tax gift to those fortunate enough to be paying 40% tax)
UK plc is by and large supporting foreign car manufacturers, to substantially subsidise the transportation costs of those who pay 40% tax, to help improve 1% emissions attributed to the uk in a global backdrop of us paying the most on the planet for both fossil fuel and electricity.
Don t let the tree huggers spin it any other way, we are doing way more than enough on this front and it needs to stop now.
The idiots at Westminster need to think about investing this cash gift back into the transport economy in a better way that benefits everyone and not just those who a use a train to commute into London on business
Or because rail fairs are in the inflation basket of goods and it helps with massaging the Numbers for the next round of spending reviews.
Back to car it is a very nice blue, I hope they sell plenty make lots of euros, and consider a new A110 on the back of it. as a good French economy must be better for us in the Uk than our tax money going into China.
In the interest of clarity and context…I hate big cars as much or even more than electric cars, but hate big electric cars the most…reading this prior to response https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy7vdvl2531o
Massive shame MINI are still not building the Cooper Electric in Cowley.
Anyway, nice car in a nice colour. Though I wouldn t have one over the upcoming 208 GTi.
I urge Renault to equip their service centres to be able to do routine work on the Alpine EV or its dead on arrival.
I urge Renault to equip their service centres to be able to do routine work on the Alpine EV or its dead on arrival.
I had an A290 GT as a courtesy car whilst my A110 was in for a service recently and really liked it, but the fact that my nearest Alpine dealer is 50 miles away kills it for me and I’d lean towards the 5 instead. I put up with the faff for something a bit special like the A110 (though I do grumble about it) but for a daily like the A290 I’d want greater convenience. They definitely need to plug some of the (big) gaps in that network.
That said, I'm interested to see what the Peugeot e208 GTI is like. I hope they go a bit further with it, and it isn't just a facsimile of the Abarth. If they can make it drive like a proper hot hatch, it could be a great little thing.
TX.
They have sold 1,150 from April to October '25, which seems pretty good for a niche brand. Most will just go for the standard R5
I urge Renault to equip their service centres to be able to do routine work on the Alpine EV or its dead on arrival.
I urge Renault to equip their service centres to be able to do routine work on the Alpine EV or its dead on arrival.
It s quaint and inoffensive with over 200hp what s not to like.
( sorry far too close to budget day for objective car review)
I don t understand what is the public good being delivered by getting more 2000kg SUV s on the road or how it got missed in the budget yet a 2k cap is now in place on pensions to stop bankers abusing the system ?
The £2k cap is on Salary Sacrifice so is an NI rebate, of little interest to high earners. You can still stash £60kpa in a pension.Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff