Alpine, which is, of course, a brand which built its name in rallying, is returning to the special stages with an electric rally car based on the new A290 EV hot hatch.
Are electric rally cars actually a thing?
Oh sure - Opel has also done some electric rallying, and the FIA, the governing body of world motorsport, has laid down eRally5 regulations for compact, front-wheel drive rally cars. Those are the regulations to which this new Alpine Rallye conforms.
Is it faster than the road-going A290?
It should be. Although the electric motor develops the same 220hp, the Alpine A290 Rallye puts it's transmitting its power to the front wheels via a ZF limited slip differential, which should make it very quick indeed around corners. To help the A290 Rallye endure the harsh environments of rally stages, both the gearbox and the electronic management system have been updated.
There are also big brakes - six-piston monoblock callipers and 350mm discs at the front, with a hydraulic handbrake for tweaking the back end out around hairpins.
The A290 Rallye also gets new suspension, featuring ALP Racing Suspension shock absorbers, and special 8-inch x 18-inch EVO Corse wheels, which are shod with Michelin Pilot Sport A tyres. Inside, there's a welded roll cage and Sabelt bucket seats.
What about the noise?
Well, we haven't had a chance to hear it yet, but the idea is that the Alpine A290 Rallye should, in spite of its silent electric power, be able to shout and roar a bit, in the manner of a traditional rally car, to give the spectators a bit more of a thrill. To that end, Alpine has fitted the A290 Rallye with an external speaker system, which, the brand says, is designed to: “emit a sound that correlates with the vehicle's speed and throttle position.”
Where can I see the Rallye in action?
As with so many performance and racing cars, the A290 Rallye will make its debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in a couple of weeks. After that, Alpine says that it will organise a special one-off rally event later in the year to properly introduce the A290 Rallye to potential customers, and offering on-event charging using renewable energy for the event.