- The Alpine A390, already previewed by a flashy concept last year, is being teased ahead of its May 27 reveal.
- The A390 features a fastback roof and a purposeful stance, with a tri-motor powerplant that should provide punchy performance.
- Alpine has said it plans to enter the U.S. market in 2027 with a lineup of EVs, and the A390 could be one of the models it brings over.
French automaker Alpine’s plans to compete in the United States starting in 2027 center around a lineup of new electric vehicles. The first of those new EVs, called the A390, is just around the corner. The brand, which isowned by Renault and known for its gas-powered A110 sports car, teased the A390 last year with a flashy concept.
Now Alpine has released photos of the production-spec A390 testing in Sweden, and while camouflage attempts to obscure the details, the photos reveal a crossover that hews closely to the 2024 concept.
Despite the concept’s dazzling design, it appears much of the exterior look is carrying over to production. The distinctive headlights seem to be virtually unchanged, with thin, piercing units connected by a light bar and complemented by a series of small triangular LEDs that Alpine refers to as “Cosmic Dust.” The production car also features deep indentations in the front of the hood, bisected by a spine running down the center and serving as a pass-through to direct airflow over the top of the A390. This air channel is in a similar vein to the “R-Wing” on the front of the Dodge Charger Daytona.
The general structure of the front end is also faithful to the concept, although the intricate design of the lower vent has been replaced by a more conventional look. The A390 also retains deep contouring along the side of the body, as well as the blade-like pieces poking out behind the rear wheels. The taillights are much thicker than the concept’s and appear to have ditched the Cosmic Dust theme.
Alpine provided only a small glimpse of the interior, which we already knew would be a sizable departure from the fanatical cabin of the concept car. The sole photo shows the A390’s steering wheel, which is wrapped in nappa leather, has a flat bottom, and features three motorsports-inspired buttons. On the right side sit a Drive Mode button and an Overtake button, labeled “OV” and presumably bringing a burst of power. On the right side, the toggle labeled “RCH,” for Recharge, likely controls regenerative braking.
Alpine also confirmed several details, including the A390’s tri-motor powertrain, which will feature active torque vectoring. Alpine also said there will be five drive modes, including a Track setting. The A390 will seat five, and the lifted fastback measures 181.7 inches from nose to tail, 60.3 inches tall, and 74.2 inches wide. That makes it about four inches longer, a couple of inches less tall, and about as wide as a Genesis GV60.
The A390 will be revealed in full on May 27 and is set to be built at Alpine’s plant in Dieppe, France. Although sales in Europe should kick off in 2026, Alpine’s U.S. entrance isn’t set to start until 2026. The A390 is expected to be joined by larger electric SUVs and eventually an electric successor to the A110 sports car. More news about Alpine’s goals for its U.S. expansion should continue to trickle out over the next couple of years.
Caleb Miller began blogging about cars at 13 years old, and he realized his dream of writing for a car magazine after graduating from Carnegie Mellon University and joining the Car and Driver team. He loves quirky and obscure autos, aiming to one day own something bizarre like a Nissan S-Cargo, and is an avid motorsports fan.
Source: Motor - aranddriver.com
