Latest news with #AlpineA390
Perth Now
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Perth Now
Alpine Australia puts its hand up for 1000hp V6 hybrid Ferrari rival
Alpine's stunning 2022 Alpenglow concept appears to be the inspiration for an all-new supercar that could find its way into Australian showrooms. The French performance brand owned by Renault yesterday announced its return to Australian showrooms, which will be led by the Porsche Macan Electric-rivalling Alpine A390 battery-electric fastback that's now officially due on sale here in 2026 or 2027. When asked about the chances of the as-yet-unnamed supercar arriving in local showrooms, Alpine Australia general manager Glen Sealey told CarExpert: 'We are very excited about the return of the Alpine brand in Australia, and we have our hand up for every vehicle that would be available to this market.' Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. 2022 Alpine Alpenglow concept Credit: CarExpert Whether the supercar will be produced in right-hand drive, making it available to Australia and key Alpine markets including the United Kingdom (UK), is yet to be confirmed. But the A390 crossover is expected to be joined here by at least the next-generation Alpine A110 coupe, which was also teased under a sheet this week and will switch from petrol to battery-electric electric power when it's launched in 2026. The previous A110, and by extension the Alpine brand itself, was axed in Australia in 2021 due to side impact regulations. 2026 Alpine 110 EV teaser Credit: CarExpert Alpine CEO Philippe Krief – who previously worked at Ferrari – revealed the French automaker intends to introduce the flagship model in 2028, powered by a V6 petrol engine and a pair of electric motors. In sharing the news, the Alpine chief emphasised the brand will not be going all-electric anytime soon, despite offering only electric powertrains in its A290 and A390 as well as the next-generation A110 due next year. 'We are not selling electric cars. We are selling sporty cars, passion cars, exclusive cars,' Mr Krief said at the launch of the A390. 2025 Alpine A390 Credit: CarExpert The supercar's petrol V6 will send drive to the rear wheels, with both electric motors mounted to the front axle, making the yet-to-be-named supercar all-wheel drive. The powertrain will be developed by the automaker's Hypertech division, based at the legendary Formula 1 engine-building facility in Viry-Châtillon, France. The Alpine F1 team – which recently dropped Australian Jack Doohan after only a handful of races in 2025 – will switch from its own engine to Mercedes-Benz sourced powertrains from the 2026 season. Alpine CEO Philippe Krief Credit: CarExpert Alpine is targeting 1000hp (746kW) from the V6 hybrid combination – more than the output of the standard Ferrari SF90 Stradale plug-in hybrid supercar, which was developed while Mr Krief was working at the Italian brand. The standard SF90 – no longer in production – used three electric motors and a turbocharged V8 to make its total of 736kW, and offered power-to-weight of 469kW/tonne. The target weight of the Alpine supercar is 1600kg, which is close to the SF90's 1570kg figure, and should enable it to produce performance competitive with the Ferrari. Alpine A390, A290 and A110 Credit: CarExpert The SF90 Stradale claims a 0-100km/h acceleration time of just 2.5 seconds, and is said to reach 200km/h in only 6.7 seconds on its way to a 340km/h top speed. Alpine is set to take advantage of its F1 racing team in the development of new models for its road car division as it looks to build the brand globally. 'We are going to create a lot more links than traditionally,' said Mr Krief. Supplied Credit: CarExpert First announced in mid-2023, Alpine's 'revolution' plan includes a goal to become a truly global brand. Renault's performance brand is targeting break-even financials by 2026, before its global expansion from 2027. MORE: Everything Alpine
Auto Car
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Auto Car
French sports car brand reveals its Porsche Macan challenger, with THREE motors
New SUV will arrive in the UK next year with focus on drive engagement Open gallery Close Alpine is going up against the Porsche Macan Electric and Hyundai Ioniq 5 N with its first SUV, the A390. The French performance brand's third model line – joining the A110 coupé and A290 hot hatch – is a sleek, striking crossover-coupé that remains largely true to the A390 Beta concept revealed at the Paris motor show last year. Due to start from around £60,000 when UK orders open in November, the A390 will play a significant role in broadening the market reach of Alpine's product portfolio. Its dimensions place it right at the heart of Europe's most popular car class and it has a more overt focus on daily usability than the brand's dedicated sports cars. It measures 4.6m long by 1.5m tall and has a 532-litre boot, which makes it a close match for the likes of the Cupra Tavascan and Tesla Model Y. But with up to 464bhp and a drivetrain that has been engineered with a rigid focus on driver engagement, the A390 is pitched more directly at the dedicated performance SUV segment. The A390 shares its basic Ampr Medium architecture with the Renault Scenic and Nissan Ariya. However, it uses a bespoke tri-motor powertrain – two at the rear and one at the front – to give rear-biased all-wheel drive and torque vectoring to boost agility and responsiveness. Alpine CEO Philippe Krief recently told Autocar that this arrangement will play a key role in instilling the A390 with a 'perceived lightness' that helps to mitigate the inherent weight penalty associated with an electric SUV. 'You can generate a quite immediate response time. It's like the behaviour of a light car,' said Krief of the tri-motor powertrain, which is capable of overspeeding the outside wheels in a bend, rather than simply braking the inside wheels. Alpine says this gives a 'much smoother, delicate feeling of control', while also allowing for easily controllable powerslides. Producing 395bhp in standard GT guise and 464bhp in the top-rung, circa-£70k GTS – and with a peak torque output of 596lb ft – this powertrain can send the A390 from 0-62mph in as little as 3.9sec. That matches the stripped-out A110 R, which weighs around a tonne less. A cheaper variant with a more conventional dual-motor arrangement is understood to be on the cards, but it has not yet been officially given the green light. The A390 is powered by an 89kWh battery that enables a maximum WLTP range of 342 miles and can be rapid-charged at speeds of up to 190kW. Inside, the A390 is more closely related to its Renault Group siblings, with a portrait-oriented touchscreen angled towards the driver and a host of physical controls on the steering wheel and centre console. It follows the A290 in gaining a race-inspired adjustment dial on the steering wheel for the brake regen and an overtake lever that liberates the full-power reserves for short periods. Unlike the Ioniq 5 N, the A390 does not feature a simulated gearbox, but it does offer the option of a synthetic 'Alpine drive sound', which is said to be inspired by the A110's four-cylinder petrol engine. The A390 is the second of seven electric cars that Alpine plans to launch in the coming years. Due next is an electric successor to the A110, which will be offered as a coupé and a cabriolet. After that, the brand will reveal the A310, a four-door fastback to rival the Polestar 4. Two larger E-segment models – including a Porsche Cayenne competitor – were set to arrive after the A310 as part of the brand's push into the US market. However, president Donald Trump's new car import tariffs have prompted Alpine to put its Stateside ambitions on ice and it remains to be seen whether those cars will see the light of day. Today's A110, launched in 2017 as the first Alpine model in more than three decades, will be withdrawn from sale next year. Join our WhatsApp community and be the first to read about the latest news and reviews wowing the car world. Our community is the best, easiest and most direct place to tap into the minds of Autocar, and if you join you'll also be treated to unique WhatsApp content. You can leave at any time after joining - check our full privacy policy here. Next Prev In partnership with
The Sun
3 days ago
- Automotive
- The Sun
Iconic sports car brand reveals its very first SUV with focus on ‘light handling' and ‘daily usability'
ICONIC sports car brand Alpine is set to rival the Porsche Macan with its very first performance SUV - called the A390. The French marque - part of the Renault Group - already has two cars in its line-up, the highly-acclaimed A110 sports car and the stunning A290 hot hatchback that's modelled on the new Renault 5. 3 3 3 Now, they're adding a third; an aggressive-looking, all-electric SUV to pit them against the electric Macan Electric and the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N. Described as a crossover-coupe, the A390 will start at around £60,000 - with UK orders to open in November. Much like the A290, Alpine is seemingly attempting to further broaden its product range with the A390, as SUVs continue to be Europe's most popular type of car. Essentially giving the people what they want - a luxury SUV that combines class, power and everyday usability. Size-wise, the A390 matches the Tesla Model Y and Cupra Tavascan - with dimensions of 4.6m long by 1.5m tall - but boasts a corking 464bhp, making it more geared towards the performance SUV range. What's more, using a bespoke tri-motor powertrain, with two at the rear and one at the front, it will feature rear-biased all-wheel drive and torque vectoring to help with agility and responsiveness. Indeed, the tri-motor powertrain is capable of overspeeding the outside wheels in a bend, rather than simply braking the inside wheels, which Alpine says gives a 'much smoother, delicate feeling of control.' Krief told Autocar: 'You can generate a quite immediate response time. It's like the behaviour of a light car.' Inside, it comes with a portrait-oriented touchscreen angled towards the driver, as well as physical controls on the steering wheel and centre console. Like the A290, it has a race-inspired adjustment dial on the steering wheel for the brake regen and the so-called overtake lever that gives the car full-power for short periods - somewhat giving drivers the gimmick of F1's DRS-tech. Alpine A290 GTS delivers a hot hatch EV that comes with F1-style 'overtake button' And for those not keen on the silence of an electric motor, it comes with the option of a synthetic 'Alpine drive sound' inspired by the A110's four-cylinder petrol engine. The standard GT model produces 395bhp, with the 464bhp coming from the top-of-the-range GTS - which hits 0-62mph in 3.9 seconds. For some context, that matches the ultra-light, stripped-out A110 R. The A390 is the second of seven electric cars that Alpine plans to launch, with an electric successor to the A110 next in the pipeline. Then, there's the A310 coming after, said to be a four-door fastback to rival the Polestar 4.
Auto Express
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Auto Express
New Toyota RAV4 stars in this week's Auto Express
In this week's issue of Auto Express we have the lowdown on the all-new Toyota RAV4, which gets a bold new look to help it take on the SUV elite. We also have a family car showdown as the Dacia Bigster takes aim at the big-selling Nissan Qashqai in our latest head-to-head. Advertisement - Article continues below Plus, we take a closer look at the new Alpine A390 electric SUV and have official pictures of the latest BMW M2 CS. In the drives section we get behind the wheel of the BYD Dolphin Surf, try out the hybrid version of the Fiat Grande Panda and hit the road in the Smart #5. If that wasn't enough we reveal the best small cars money can buy. This week's issue of Auto Express is on sale now and there's a whole range of ways to get your hands on it! Find out more below. The best value available to our readers is an Auto Express subscription. You can try your first 6 issues for just £1, plus all new subscribers will receive a free welcome gift when they join. We deliver free, straight to an address of your choosing so you can be sure that you'll never miss an issue. If you wish to continue your subscription after your trial ends you save a massive 45 per cent on the shop price, paying just £32.99 every 3 months. Our money back guarantee means that should you need to cancel at any point we will refund any unmailed issues, you can't beat that value! Click here to visit our secure online shop and subscribe to Auto Express... If you prefer to read Auto Express on your desktop, tablet or phone, you can get the digital edition through our online partner Zinio. Single issues are available from £2.99 or a subscription for an entire year is just £90.99. Click here to download Auto Express digital edition from Zinio... If you don't want to get your next 6 Auto Express issues for £1 by subscribing (RRP £28), then you can still buy single issues in shops or online. This week's issue of Auto Express is on sale now for just £4.50. You can find shops near you that stock the magazine by clicking here. If you can't make it to the shops or are unable to find it somewhere convenient, you can buy individual print issues of Auto Express to be delivered directly to your door. Click here to buy single issues of Auto Express
Top Gear
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Top Gear
Revealed: the fast, sporty, tri-motor Alpine A390
Revealed: the fast, sporty, tri-motor Alpine A390 And in good news, it's not another crossover. Yay! Meet Alpine's powerful new five-door Skip 13 photos in the image carousel and continue reading Turn on Javascript to see all the available pictures. 1 / 13 Well we expected the new Alpine electric five-door to be fast. And it is. The surprise, and relief really, is that it isn't a crossover. It's lower than a VW ID.3, and barely taller than a Golf. It's low proportions give it a chance to feel properly sporty. So does the fact it has three motors. The rear two are independent for each wheel, so it can dance through corners. Advertisement - Page continues below Most of all perhaps, we've got Alpine's record. While the A110 is a very different thing – petrol-driven and analogue versus electric and digital – at least it shows they know what they're aiming at. The little A290 EV hot hatch is pretty fine too. Best estimates put the A390 at somewhere between £60k-70k. The lower of those prices gets 400bhp, 0-62mph in 4.8 seconds and plenty of equipment. Step up to the top rung and it's 470bhp, 0-62mph in 3.9 seconds and even more kit including bigger 21in wheels and very fancy French Diavelet hi-fi. The body design is a striking departure from everyone else's EV five-doors. From the side, it has more than a soupçon of stretched-out A110, thanks to the belt-line crease dropping towards the rear wheel, and the distinctive window and roof lines, with the characteristic bubble glass tailgate behind. At the front it goes its own way, with no obvious reference to the small inner lamp pairs of the A110 and A290 (themselves are echoes of the 1960s rally spotlamps). The A390 has multiple triangular LEDs to give the face a pixie-dust look. A wing surface runs between the headlamps along the upper nose, with an air channel beneath it. Aero matters in this car. Advertisement - Page continues below The interior story is much more like the A290, with two big screens and lots of physical switches. It runs the Renault Group's version of Google maps. In our experience that has provided comfortingly accurate estimates of remaining range – it takes into account altitude and the speed of the roads you'll be driving on. It also effectively plans longer routes with the minimum charging downtime, sniffing out quick chargers that are unoccupied when you approach. Talking of charging, it'll get from 15-80 per cent in about 25 minutes. Both versions have a useful 89kWh battery, using cells of unique formulation to be able to chuck out the necessary 1200 amps to keep all three motors fed at full power. All of that gives it a range of 325 to 347 miles WLTP. The more expensive one is the less rangey, as is usual. And as it's a car and not a hulking SUV, we're hoping for sensible real-world efficiency as well as a very fine steer. Top Gear Newsletter Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Look out for your regular round-up of news, reviews and offers in your inbox. Get all the latest news, reviews and exclusives, direct to your inbox. Success Your Email*
