Alpine A390 electric SUV spearheading performance brand's Australian return
Revealed overnight, the tri-motor A390 wears a high-riding, crossover-like five-door body in the vein of a Cupra Tavascan or Ford Mustang Mach-E, but Alpine doesn't refer to it as an SUV.
Instead, the Renault-owned French performance brand says it's a 'racing car in a suit', and it'll be complemented by the A290 electric hot hatch already on sale in Europe and an electric replacement for the A110 sports car teased overnight and expected to launch in 2026.
Thus far, only the A390 has been confirmed for Australia.
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'We are proud to announce the return of the iconic Alpine performance brand to Australia,' said Glen Sealey, the general manager of Alpine Australia.
'We appreciate there is a lot of interest in this vehicle and Alpine's future plans in Australia. However pricing, timing and specifications will be announced closer to local arrivals.'
Given orders aren't opening in Europe until the fourth quarter of 2025, we don't expect the A390 here until late 2026 or potentially 2027.
In Europe at least, it'll be offered in GT and GTS variants. Here are their performance specs:
Range is between 520km and 555km on the WLTP cycle, depending on tyres. Alpine says these figures are subject to homologation.
The A390 offers 11kW bidirectional AC charging, with 22kW bidirectional AC charging optional. Vehicle-to-grid (V2G) capability will be offered in France.
It can be fast-charged using DC power at up to 190kW, and the A390 features battery pre-conditioning and a heat pump.
A tri-motor setup is rare, even among performance EVs. However, it allows the A390 to offer Alpine's Active Torque Vectoring system.
Alpine explains this system 'relies on a difference in longitudinal forces between the two wheels on the same rear axle, notably by delivering more torque to the outer wheel'.
The result? 'Unparalleled dynamism and agility, partially offsetting the inertia associated with the size and weight of this larger vehicle,' says Alpine.
The system will correct the slip difference between the right and left wheels and adjust the torque sent to each of the wheels to correct any understeer or oversteer.
'It makes it possible to push the limits in corners by delivering a surprising feeling of lightness, acting as a rear differential,' Alpine elaborates.
An overtaking function delivers extra power for up to 10 seconds, though a recharge time of 30 seconds is needed to get the full 'boost' back.
Five drive modes are standard: Save, Normal, Sport, Perso, and Track. Also present are five levels of regenerative braking, with the highest being a one-pedal drive mode.
Alpine also collaborated with acousticians and musicians to come up with two different artificial propulsion sounds: Sport, and a 'lighter and smoother' Daily. Specific sounds accompany the launch control and boost functions.
Weight distribution is a claimed 49:51 front/rear.
Here's how the A390 measures up:
Alpine is playing up the Frenchness of its A390, which will be built in France, using electric motors and battery cells and modules produced in France, and featuring a Devialet sound system and exclusive tyres supplied by Michelin.
There's a coupe-like roofline, while Alpine calls the unusual cluster of illuminated triangles up front 'Cosmic Dust' and says it 'evokes a comet piercing the atmosphere'.
More fragmented triangles can be found at the rear, framing a backlit Alpine logo. Both front and rear ends feature thin light bars.
A little Easter egg can be found in the corner of the windscreen: the silhouette of the Alpine A110.
Inside, there's a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster with four selectable views and a 12-inch infotainment touchscreen.
The latter features a portrait orientation and is angled towards the driver. It runs on Android Automotive and features Google built-in, with a range of embedded Google apps and more downloadable via the Google Play Store. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are also standard.
Google Maps also features an EV route planner, which considers the route, charge level, battery temperature and real-time energy consumption to calculate the best route.
The climate control can be adjusted via both on-screen controls and a row of physical buttons underneath.
There's a push-button gear selector on the centre console, while the drive mode toggle is located on the steering wheel.
Also on the steering wheel is a Formula 1-inspired blue knob for controlling the regenerative braking, and a red control for launch control and overtaking.
The base GT will offer the following equipment:
20-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels
Michelin Sport EV tyres
Anodised brake calipers
Heated, power-adjustable sports seats
Heated, Nappa leather-wrapped flat-bottom steering wheel
Surround-view camera
13-speaker Devialet sound system
The GTS, in addition to offering more power, adds:
21-inch forged wheels
Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tyres
Nappa leather upholstery
Massaging front seats
Microfibre headliner
13-speaker Devialet XtremeSound Audio System
Semi-autonomous parking
Available safety equipment includes adaptive cruise control with stop/go, driver attention monitoring, autonomous emergency braking (forward and reverse), and safe exit warning.
The A390 will be offered in the following exterior finishes:
Noir Profound
Bleu Abysse
Bleu Alpine Vision
Argent Mercure
Blanc Topaze
Gris Tonnerre Mat
A black contrast roof is available, while Atelier Alpine customisation options allow you to pick different colours and finishes for items like the brake calipers.
The Alpine brand was last offered here in Australia from 2018 to 2022. Its only product, both here and globally, was the petrol-powered A110 sports car, which was discontinued because it didn't meet side impact regulations.
Alpine is reinventing itself as an EV brand, having revealed the Renault 5 E-Tech -based A290 hot hatch last year.
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