- The Alpine A390_β previews a fully electric “sport fastback” with five seats.
- The design is 85% true to the production crossover that will follow in 2025.
- The EV will feature dual electric motors with active torque vectoring.
Alpine introduced the A390_β show car ahead of its global premiere at the Paris Auto Show. The concept previews the upcoming A390, a fully electric fastback crossover that will enter production in 2025. The EV features a dual-motor powertrain with sophisticated active torque vectoring and active aerodynamics, promising to deliver the driving experience of a sportscar.
Alpine prefers to call its new model a “sport fastback” instead of using the more popular crossover and SUV terms. The French brand suggests that the A390 was designed for daily use, but is also capable of transforming into a “racing beast”. In the same context, Philippe Krief, Alpine CEO, describes it as “an A110 with five seats”.
More: Secret Alpine A110 RS Is Faster* Than Cayman GT4 In Nurburgring Test
The sleek silhouette, dynamic proportions, frameless windows, and wraparound rear glass of the A390_β make it look like a raised coupe. The only crossover references are the higher-than-usual ground clearance and the discreet plastic cladding around the wheel arches.
The high-tech LED lighting units with illuminated triangles are inspired by the 2022 Alpine Alpenglow concept. On the other hand, the character lines on the heavily sculpted profile are reminiscent of the A110. Alpine chose the Bleu Specular shade for the exterior, combined with black accents.
The designers put a lot of emphasis on the aerodynamics. At the front, there is a micro-perforated grille, side scoops, and a “flying bridge” on the hood. The tail has a shark fin and active aerodynamic elements on the diffuser and the taillights, which can extend by 80 mm (3 inches), reducing drag.
The futuristic wheels measure 22-inch at the front and 23-inch at the rear. Their design was inspired by the “crystalline properties of a snowflake”, with illuminated and transparent features highlighting the torque-vectoring capabilities of the EV.
The A390_β might be a show car, but according to Alpine 85 percent of its design is true to that of the upcoming production model. This leaves room for some toned-down features, likely focused on more conventional lighting units, bumpers, wheels, and interior design.
The concept’s cabin looks like it came straight out of a sci-fi film. The futuristic bucket seat of the driver moves in two different positions, the cockpit resembles that of a spacecraft, and the floor is similar to rock formations. Most of those features will be eliminated from the production version, in favor of a more practical five-seater layout and less complex shapes.
The automaker didn’t get into details about the technical specifications of the EV, other than confirming it has dual electric motors (AWD) and an Active Torque Vectoring system. The production version is expected to ride on the AmpR Medium architecture, a renamed version of the CMF-EV that currently underpins the Renault Megane E-Tech, Scenic E-Tech, and Nissan Ariya.
The Alpine A390 will be the second of three “Dream Garage” models, joining the A290 hot hatchback. The last act of the French brand’s new era will be the fully electric successor to the A110 sportscar.
