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 A290 GTS
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| Alpine A290 GTS |
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<< Prev Page 2 of 3 Next >>  Driving pleasure and the thrill of driving a hot hatch were at the top of the A290 development engineers' list of priorities. In this first Alpine of a new era, electric propulsion enhances sportiness without compromising everyday comfort.Using a platform specific to electric power, such as the AmpR Small, offers considerable advantages when designing a sporty model. This platform optimises weight distribution (less weight on the front axle) and lowers the centre of gravity. The battery contributes to the car's rigidity, and its positioning maximises interior space. The skateboard-style architecture and smaller engine mean that the front end is compact. Naturally, this provides a favourable environment to seek perfect balance, with a short wheelbase offering greater liveliness. At the same time, the wide tracks enhance stability and allow for the use of larger tires. The A290's engine comes from the higher segment, as Jean Rédélé did in his day with his boosted 4CV transformed into the A106. Here, based on the AmpR Small platform, development has been imagined in historic Alpine style: on the existing base, change the engine, add unique technologies with exclusive suspension, specific brakes, tires and torque management and, of course, the talent of Alpine engineers for tuning. The result is one of the best-performing cars in the segment, with a 0-100 km/h time of 6.4 seconds, up to 220 bhp and 300 Nm of torque, and a weight of just 1,479 kg. However, comfort and practicality are preserved in this 5-door, 5-seater city car, which measures just 3.99 metres, has a generous boot capacity of 326 litres and a turning circle limited to 10.20 metres. The result is the best imaginable versatility in the B segment, with thrilling sensations in everyday use. History is repeating itself in the electric era. A bespoke engine subframe was created to improve the engine's positioning, contribute to the vehicle's handling and provide optimum filtration. Its all-aluminium design and the choice of battery size help to keep the A290's weight at 1,479 kg, a particularly competitive figure. The low centre of gravity limits the A290's natural roll, so suspension settings don't need to go to extremes to keep body roll under control. The use of bespoke suspensions incorporating hydraulic bump stops ensures an excellent level of comfort, which is much appreciated on a daily basis. The adoption of a multi-link rear suspension, rare in this category, enables particularly fine adjustment of wheel position, giving the A290 top-of-the-range handling and providing a highly directional front end. It also contributes to stability when cornering at high speeds, which has enabled aerodynamic work to focus on drag, a critical factor in efficiency. The A290's chassis settings aim to recapture the sporty feel that is part of Alpine's DNA, with a compromise between agility and stability designed to achieve handling that is both responsive and controllable. Bespoke front and rear anti-roll bars contribute to this balance. The aim is for the driver to feel at ease with the car and for it to be fun for everyone to drive. The result: a sporty road feel, with an incisive front axle that keeps everything nice and tidy. The rear axle is sufficiently mobile when lifting off the accelerator on winding stretches of road while remaining controllable at all times. It offers excellent stability in fast bends, reinforcing the feeling of safety and control. A great deal of work has gone into the feel of the brake pedal, ensuring excellent control in all driving conditions. Its by-wire control ensures an imperceptible natural transition between regenerative braking and hydraulic braking, provided by a generously dimensioned Brembo assembly. The feel of degressive braking, as well as its endurance and braking power, are in keeping with the high levels of performance offered by the A290. A button on the steering wheel activates the four different Alpine driving modes: Save, Normal, Sport and Personal. The latter allows independent adjustment of the level of steering assistance, throttle response, lighting ambience and Alpine Drive Sound. As a result, drivers can confidently explore the limits by simply adjusting the pivot point for front-to-rear balance, with a slight lift off the accelerator pedal to tighten the trajectory gradually. Electronic Stability Control (ESC) can be deactivated entirely. The A290's 26 driver assistance systems (ADAS) include driver attention monitoring, automatic emergency braking when reversing, forward and rearward detection with emergency lane correction and safe occupant exit. A new My Safety Switch button, located on the left-hand side of the steering wheel, allows drivers to select their ADAS setting preferences in a single gesture, choosing, for example, whether to switch ADAS on or off, the level of intervention and the presence of audible alerts. In addition, an adaptive cruise control system with a stop-go function and a lane departure function to allow two-wheel vehicles, for example, to pass, are standard features on the A290. Michelin and Alpine have enjoyed a long collaboration since 2012. For the A290 project, two years of research and testing were needed to develop three specific 19-inch tires: two summer tires and one winter tire, all three bearing exclusive markings created for Alpine's future electric range, here with the code A29. They meet exacting specifications for energy efficiency to maximise the vehicle's range, grip and road holding while preserving the brand's trademark. Michelin has worked particularly hard on the rigidity of the structure and sidewalls, as well as their tread pattern for each of the three tires.
Depending on the finition, the Alpine A290's engine has two power levels: 180 bhp in the base version and the GT Premium, and 220 bhp in the GT Performance and GTS. In both cases, the throttle response is calibrated to make the A290 a genuine sports car that is easy to control despite its electric motor's high levels of power and torque. Its sportiness is best expressed by the right amount of power applied to the pedal. Progressive acceleration must be possible, as is the case with the A110, the reference setup here. The A290 is not intended to caricature but simply demonstrative, usable and efficient. Depending on the driving mode selected, the response range will shift, but it will remain in line with the same principle of progressiveness, which ultimately leads to greater driving pleasure and performance. The very substantial instant torque of an electric motor (300 Nm in this case) has to be controlled to optimise traction. That's why the A290's development engineers have developed a sophisticated upstream torque management system, Alpine Torque Technology, which makes it possible to finely adjust the delivery of optimum torque, in addition to the action on the brakes to maximise traction. The A290's first-rate performance is engineered to be easily repeated, with no power loss even when battery capacity drops. Its top versions accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 6.4 seconds, putting it at the top of its category. An Overtake function controlled from the steering wheel by a red button (called OV) delivers extra power for the time it is pressed, and for up to 10 seconds. A recharge time of 30 seconds is required before it can be fully used again. However, after 15 seconds, activating the boost for 5 seconds is possible. This function is taken directly from motorsport and the gaming world has been patented. When this extra energy is released, the instrument screen displays an animation symbolising speed and a display of the time remaining, while a dynamic animation appears on the central Alpine Telemetrics screen. Regeneration power can be adjusted from the steering wheel in four levels using a physical button marked RCH (for Recharge). The first position leaves the car in complete freewheel mode. Level 1 corresponds to engine braking similar to that found in the A110, and levels 2 and 3 progressively increase the level of regenerative braking, allowing the driver to choose the regeneration mode best suited to their tastes, driving style, or driving conditions. The A290 features a launch control function. This provides the best possible acceleration from a standing start and is triggered by a very simple procedure. The resulting acceleration is coupled with a spectacular special animation on the instrument screen. In the absence of natural engine noise in an electric car, the creation of a sound feedback system to accompany driving and provide direct information on the stress on the powertrain helps to enhance sensations and improve the driving experience. This is why Alpine's teams, working with acousticians and musicians, created two Alpine Drive Sound tones with different frequencies and intensities based on the sounds generated by the engine. They are diffused via the Devialet audio system specially designed for the A290. To ensure authenticity, Alpine has developed the sound of the A290 based on the natural harmonics of its electric motor. The first sound Alternative Sound offers a light, sporty tone designed for everyday use. The second sound Alpine Sound is intentionally very sporty, with a unique sound pattern designed to provide immersion in the A290, helping to structure the driving phases. Both Alpine Drive Sounds can be disconnected and are independent of driving modes. Lastly, the acoustic vehicle warning system, or AVAS, which is compulsory up to 30 km/h to warn pedestrians of the arrival of an electric vehicle, has also been designed with a unique Alpine sound. << Prev Page 2 of 3 Next >> |
| Article | Image gallery (23) | Specifications |
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