This post was originally published on Autocar
Alpine A390 has been undergoing cold weather testing
Production model will feature tri-motor set-up and active torque vectoring for “lightweight” feel
Alpine is applying the finishing touches to its first crossover, the A390, ahead of its launch on 27 May.
New pictures of a mule testing in the wilds of Lapland reveal key details of how it has transformed since the Beta concept car was unveiled at the 2024 Paris motor show.
That concept was conceived as “a bigger A110 for five” that pairs a futuristic fastback design with what Alpine believes to be best-in-class driving dynamics.
Its design has been largely carried through to the production model, which looks to have retained the Le Mans-inspired fin that runs through the centre of its body, as well the prominent front daytime-running light bar.
Alpine has also confirmed that the five-seat production car (the concept had just four racing-inspired bucket seats) will measure 4.62m long, 1.53m tall and 1.89m wide, so it is slightly smaller than the rival Porsche Macan Electric.
The A390 is currently undergoing stress-testing in the freezing temperatures of Lapland, Alpine said, to ensure it can deliver sufficient performance in temperatures as low as -40deg C.
The region’s low-grip surfaces are also being used to hone the A390’s torque vectoring and stability control systems, which will be key to providing it with a similar character to the acclaimed A110 sports car.
The production A390 will use the Renault Group’s Ampr Medium EV platform – making it a relation of the Renault Megane E-Tech – and it will be positioned as a rival to the likes of the BMW iX2 and Tesla Model Y. Its powertrain will use one motor at the front and two at the rear.
Alpine has benchmarked the Porsche Macan-sized crossover against its own four-cylinder sports coupé and claims its tri-motor powertrain combines with active torque vectoring to give the “driving dynamic of a lightweight car”. This set-up, said Alpine CEO Philippe Krief, will also be adopted by the upcoming A110 EV.
Design chief Antony Villain said: “Most EVs are about just driving straight. Here, the driving sensation is developed similar to the A110. This is mainly down to the torque vectoring.”
The concept on which it is based, the A390 Beta, is itself inspired by the 2022 Alpenglow concept, which serves as “the mother of all future Alpine cars”. At its unveiling, it was described as 80% production-ready.
Elsewhere, the concept’s alloy wheels, designed in the shape of a snowflake (“both strong and light”), will light up blue when active torque vectoring is in operation. It has been confirmed that this feature will make production.
Radical elements that won’t appear on the production model include the rear-hinged doors, the rear light strip-cum-spoiler (which can extend by up to 80mm to reduce drag) and the radical Formula 1-inspired interior – although these all point to “the future of the brand”, said Villain.
That concept’s interior is centred around a hydraulically assisted driver’s seat, which can switch from the standard driving set-up to one that mirrors an F1 bucket. The pedals also raise, while the steering wheel transforms from wide to narrow and displays extra information such as the weather.
The cabin has also been designed for the front passenger to “share the driving experience”. As well as getting the same type of seat (although without the ability to change position), a dashboard-fitted panel in front of the passenger displays upcoming road information. According to Villain, this means they are “no longer a passenger and now a co-pilot”.
Elsewhere, the interior’s Alps theme can be seen in the white (snowy) seats and in the floor, which has been designed to mimic stones found on an Alpine pass. These light up when the car is moving, with beams travelling from front to rear to give the feeling that you’re floating over the road.
Alpine wouldn’t be drawn on the battery, range or power the production car might possess but Robert Bonetto, vice-president of Alpine Engineering, told Autocar it would “not aim to be the fastest” or the rangiest car of its type, because increasing the battery size would add weight. Instead, it will offer “the right levels” and “be something that is still competitive”, he said.
When it does arrive, it will come with a hefty price, said Krief – below £100k but expensive enough to keep volumes lower than those of rivals.