Alpine just dropped the A390_β concept car ahead of its official debut at the Paris Auto Show, and it’s a preview of the A390, a fully electric fastback crossover that’ll hit production in 2025. Alpine’s promising the driving experience of a sports car with, you know, the practicality of a family hauler. But don’t you dare call it a crossover or SUV. Alpine insists on dubbing it a “sport fastback,” and if that sounds like a PR-friendly dodge to avoid the bland crossover label, well, it probably is. The French marque claims the A390 is designed for everyday use but can transform into a “racing beast” when the mood strikes. Alpine’s CEO, Philippe Krief, even describes it as “an A110 with five seats.”
The A390_β sports a sleek silhouette,
dynamic proportions, frameless windows, and wraparound rear glass, making it
look more like a raised coupe than a crossover. The only hints of its
“crossover” nature are the higher-than-usual ground clearance and 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, paired with
black accents.
Aerodynamics were clearly a priority. Up
front, there’s a micro-perforated grille, side scoops, and a “flying bridge” on
the hood. At the rear, it gets wilder: a shark fin and active aero elements on
the diffuser and taillights, which can extend by 80 mm (3 inches) to reduce
drag. Then there are the wheels, measuring 22 inches at the front, 23 at the
rear, with designs inspired by snowflakes. Yep, snowflakes. They’re illuminated
and transparent to show off the EV’s torque vectoring skills, so people know
you’re not just cruising for groceries. You’re dynamic. While the A390_β might
be a show car, Alpine says 85 percent of its design will carry over to the
production model. This leaves room for some toned-down features, likely focused
on more conventional lighting, bumpers, wheels, and interior touches.
As for the cabin, it looks like something
straight out of a sci-fi flick. The driver’s futuristic bucket seat shifts
between two positions, the cockpit has a spacecraft vibe, and the floor mimics
rock formations. Don’t get too attached though—most of these features will
disappear in favor of a more practical five-seater layout with less complex
designs for the production version. As for the technical stuff, Alpine’s
keeping it vague. They confirmed the A390 will have dual electric motors for
all-wheel drive and an Active Torque Vectoring system, but no word yet on the
power figures or range. What we do know is it’ll ride on the AmpR Medium
architecture, basically a rebranded version of the CMF-EV platform you’ll find
under 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 final act? A
fully electric successor to the A110 sports car, so stay tuned for that one.
