Renault’s performance arm is doing better than ever. Fueled by its first electric model launch, the A290 hot hatchback, Alpine posted record sales in 2024 for the fourth consecutive year. Inevitably, the lineup is now expanding to include a crossover. Well, not quite. The French marque refuses to use that term, calling it a “sport fastback.” Marketing jargon aside, it’s one of those SUVs beaten with the coupe stick by way of a sloping roofline.
Alpine previewed the styling of its inaugural SUV last October with the A390_β concept. No longer in the beta phase, this is the production-ready A390. It sits on the AmpR Medium platform introduced by its parent company a few years ago with the Megane E-Tech Electric and, more recently, the Scenic E-Tech. Alliance partner Nissan has also used this architecture for the Ariya. The newcomer aims to be the sportiest and most engaging to drive of them all. It has more power than even the Ariya Nismo, but we’ll get to the specs in a minute.
Photo by: Alpine
The A390 has a much more aggressive design than its platform-sharing cousins. Like Renault did with the Megane E-Tech, Alpine has integrated the rear door handles into the C-pillars to create a coupe-like illusion. While 20-inch wheels are standard, a larger 21-inch set is available for those willing to sacrifice range for style. Interestingly, Michelin developed bespoke summer and all-season tires for the new EV.
Although an SUV isn’t the most exciting body style, Alpine has done a good job of spicing things up. For example, triangular cutouts in the front bumper house a dozen LEDs on each side, while the slim main headlights retain the concept vibe of the A390_β. The triangle motif is repeated at the rear in the bumper’s indentations, located beneath a slim light bar bisected by an illuminated logo.
Large air intakes at the front and a discreet rear spoiler further emphasize that Alpine put significant effort into making the A390 more visually exciting than its Renault-badged siblings. The French flag on the rear pillars is a telltale sign of where production will take place, at the Dieppe plant in the northern part of the country. A prominent central ridge splits the front hood into two sections, leading to a large blade with openings that channel air underneath for better aerodynamics.
Photo by: Alpine
Inside, the Renault ties are unmistakable. The A390’s dashboard layout is familiar, featuring a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster alongside a 12-inch portrait-oriented infotainment screen. The vertical touchscreen has not swallowed everything; Alpine retained physical switches below the display, echoing the setup in the Megane and Scenic.
While Alpine isn’t necessarily a premium brand, higher-spec A390 versions will offer body-hugging, massaging front seats with heating and electric adjustments. Features range from a 13-speaker sound system to a 360-degree camera. The infotainment runs on Android Automotive and includes a telemetry function mirrored by a dedicated smartphone app.
Both the A390 GT and A390 GTS feature a tri-motor setup, with one motor at the front and two at the rear. Even the base model delivers 396 horsepower and 480 pound-feet (650 Newton-meters) of torque, enabling a 0-62 mph (100 km/h) sprint in 4.8 seconds and a top speed of 124 mph (200 km/h). The more powerful version ups the output to 463 hp and a massive 596 lb-ft (808 Nm), cutting the sprint time to just 3.9 seconds and increasing the top speed to 137 mph (220 km/h).
43
Source: Alpine
Regardless of the version, the A390 comes exclusively with an 89-kWh battery, offering up to 345 miles (555 kilometers) of range in the WLTP cycle when equipped with the smaller 20-inch wheels. With the 21-inch alloys, the range drops to 323 miles (520 km). The lithium-ion battery supports DC fast charging at up to 190 kW, allowing a 15-to-80 percent charge in 25 minutes.
Alpine notes that you can add enough range for two hours of highway driving in under 20 minutes. Both the GT and GTS come standard with a heat pump. The battery isn’t shared with Renault models, as it uses a new chemistry with different cells and modules engineered by French specialist Verkor specifically for Alpine. It’s designed to sustain high charging power for longer durations. Bidirectional charging is also supported at up to 22 kW.
How big is it? You’re looking at the largest Alpine ever made. The A390 measures 181.7 inches (4615 millimeters) in length, 74.2 inches (1885 millimeters) in width, and 60.3 inches (1532 millimeters) in height. It carries a 106.6-inch (2708-mm) wheelbase. Predictably, it’s also the heaviest. Even in its lightest configuration, it tips the scales at 4,676 pounds (2,121 kilograms), with a near-ideal weight distribution of 49:51 front to rear. That makes it roughly twice as heavy as the lightest A110, the hardcore A110 R. With a cargo capacity of 18.7 cubic feet (532 liters) with the rear seats up, it’s also the most practical Alpine to date.
The A390 will go on sale in 2026 but won’t come to North America. While Alpine plans to enter the U.S. market later this decade, it will do so with larger vehicles. Here’s hoping the electric successor to the mid-engined A110 coupe eventually makes it here as well. That performance EV is expected to gain a more practical 2+2 derivative to dust off the “A310” moniker last used over 40 years ago.
Read the full article here