I'm forced to admit that before writing this article I'd never heard of Alpine, a French manufacturer of sports and racing vehicles that's rather unknown in our country. Its history dates back to 1955, but very few models have been able to make their way to Canada. Only a few units of the Alpine GTA were imported here years ago, and only in Quebec when Renault, the brand's new owner, hoped to launch it all across North America.
Despite this, the name has remained important in Europe, especially in motorsport. So it's no surprise that the French giant has teamed up with another legendary French company, Michelin, for its stunning electric model, the Alpine A290. It probably won't be available in our country, but two reasons prompt me to tell you about it all the same: the innovations that enhance the harmony between vehicle and tire... but above all, the look of its wheels!
Three tires for four seasons
The two companies have joined forces to create a product that should go even further in terms of electrical efficiency. On the mechanical side, Alpine engineers focused on optimizing agility and balance, especially in terms of weight distribution, but also power. For example, its platform is shorter, but its tires are wider, to significantly increase grip and handling.
The tire manufacturer has chosen to equip the model with three different tires to ensure optimum performance all year round. For everyday driving, the Alpine A290 is fitted with Pilot Sport EV tires, which deliver dynamic performance with long life and low rolling resistance. On the track, in summer, the Alpine will undoubtedly prefer the Pilot Sport S5, even more agile and high-performance. Finally, in winter, the Pilot Alpin 5 is perfectly suited to icy and snowy conditions.
Two years of development
The final model is the result of two years of collaboration between Michelin and Alpine, which is a particularly long time for this kind of partnership. While tire manufacturers generally enjoy relatively limited contact with the carmakers who use their products, Michelin was actively involved in the development of the A290, and it was thanks to them that Alpine was able to choose the perfect tire size: 225-40-R19. These 19-inch I.D. tires were specifically chosen after a long series of tests in Michelin's Ladoux laboratories in France. By the way, the facility is impressive, capable of replicating a variety of outdoor conditions.... Now that’s an idea for a future article!
