Who is behind it

Milltek Sport is a British performance exhaust manufacturer based in Derby, UK. Its story began in 1983, when Phil Millington founded Falcon Automotive Engineering; the Milltek Sport brand arrived in 1995. Today it has a development centre near the Nürburgring (Germany), a plant in Knoxville (Tennessee, USA) and distributes to more than 95 countries.

The company works in T304L stainless steel, is certified to ISO 9001:2015 and holds European and TÜV approvals for much of its range. Milltek Design is its styling and bodywork division, and the one behind this kit. It is not an official Alpine tuner: everything here is aftermarket.

A Group B suit for an EV

At the 2026 Goodwood Festival of Speed, Milltek Design showed a prototype wide body kit for the Renault 5 and Alpine A290. The inspiration is explicit: the Renault 5 Maxi Turbo that won the 1985 Monte Carlo Rally. The aim is not a replica, but a wider body that follows the factory lines and gives the car a more rally-inspired stance.

The kit was unveiled on 9 July at Milltek’s stand (24 and 28). Production was scheduled for autumn 2026, with a first limited run; visitors could reserve one. At the time of this review, Milltek’s website still runs an expression-of-interest form and has not published a closed order page for the complete kit.

What is included

Part A290 R5 Note
Front and rear arches Yes Yes The main element of the kit
Front bumper arch sections Yes Yes Continue the arch towards the front
Front arch charge flap Yes Yes Mechanism keeps it clear when opening
Rear door arch covers Yes Yes Include an internal air duct
High-level rear spoiler Yes Yes Three GRP pieces; reuses the brake light
Aluminium side skirt trims Yes Yes Can be painted; sold separately
Uprated daytime running lights Yes No A290 front bumper only

The spoiler, side skirts and light kit can be bought separately. The rest forms the main body of the kit. Milltek has not yet published the price of each individual part.

How it fits

The main panels are formed ABS, with separate inner and outer skins. They attach to the original mounting points and, wherever possible, use factory fasteners. Parts without a direct mounting point use localised removable bonding.

That means no cutting and no irreversible drilling. The kit can be removed and the car returned to standard. It is an advantage for a leased car, provided the contract allows the modification.

Other fitting details:

  • The front bumper can be removed for servicing without dismantling the whole kit.
  • The A290’s charge flap has a mechanism that moves it outwards before opening, so it does not catch on the widened arch.
  • The spoiler bolts to the tailgate, reuses the high-level brake light and also fits the R5.
  • The daytime running lights connect to the standard wiring and switch on with the car. According to ElectricVehicleWeb, Milltek was considering versions with low-beam and high-beam functions.
  • Milltek recommends workshop fitting: the fine bodywork adjustments make the difference.

Price and availability

The official price of the basic kit is £2,000 + VAT. In July 2026, Car and Driver converted that to about €2,350 + VAT, before shipping, customs, paint or fitting.

The other figures in circulation are press estimates, not an official price list:

  • The complete package of arches, bumper sections and door parts was discussed at Goodwood at around £3,000.
  • The standalone spoiler was estimated at £1,500–£1,800.
  • The side skirts and light kit had no public price yet; their product pages appeared as “TBA” or “Coming Soon”.

Production was scheduled for autumn 2026 and the first batch was to be limited. Milltek does not include paint, installation or homologation. It is also not a product you can order through an Alpine dealer: the order goes directly to the manufacturer or its distributors.

What it does not do

  • It does not change power or battery. It is a visual kit; there is no remap, exhaust or motor work.
  • It does not change the chassis. Milltek has not detailed wheels, track width or suspension; the kit is presented as a styling solution.
  • It does not turn the A290 into a 5 Turbo 3E. It is a Group B-inspired styling exercise, not a Turbo 3E replica: the 3E’s parts do not fit the A290, as we explain in R5 Turbo 3E: why its parts do not fit an A290.
  • It is not confirmed as road-legal in Spain. There is no confirmation of Spanish homologation for the kit or the lights. Ask before buying.
  • It is not official Alpine. Warranty, insurance and legality are your responsibility.

Before buying in Spain

A wider body or a change of lights may count as a modification for the Spanish ITV roadworthiness test. Reversibility makes it easier to remove, but it does not remove the paperwork if you drive with it. Before paying:

  1. ITV: ask at your test station and request the parts paperwork from the seller. If there is no certificate, decide whether it is worth the risk.
  2. Insurance: declare the modification. Some policies exclude unapproved parts or do not cover the value of the kit.
  3. Warranty and leasing: check with Alpine and your finance company. Reversibility does not guarantee that the manufacturer will accept the modification.
  4. Real cost: add VAT, shipping, customs, paint, fitting and possible homologation. The total can be far higher than the price of the kit.
  5. Workshop: find one with experience in plastics and bodywork. Fitting the arches and bumper is the delicate part.
  6. Resale: keep the original parts and paperwork. A buyer may prefer a standard car.

Verdict

It is one of the most interesting aftermarket proposals for the A290: it changes the car without irreversible modifications and plays the Group B card well. It also shows where electric tuning is heading: less exhaust and more bodywork, software and details.

But it is not a cheap accessory or a simple sticker. If you want styling and accept the administrative cost, it makes sense. If you want performance, this is not your kit.