Renault’s sporty brand Alpine is set to challenge the Porsche Macan Electric, Tesla Model Y and Hyundai Ioniq 5 N with its inaugural SUV, the A390. This sleek and striking crossover-coupé, largely mirroring the A390 Beta concept unveiled at last year’s Paris Motor Show, marks the French performance brand’s third model line, joining the A110 coupé and A290 hot hatch.
The A390 is designed and manufactured in France at the brand’s historic Manufacture in Dieppe, which is undergoing a transformation that will see it become a bridge between history and the future, both in terms of electrification and production volumes. Its engines are manufactured at the Cléon plant, while its high-performance Verkor batteries use cells and modules produced in Dunkirk and assembled in Douai.
A390 is a true French Alpine through and through, right down to its exclusive tyres supplied by Michelin and its Devialet audio system.
The design of a racing car in a suit
In the form of an elegant sport fastback with a striking personality, the A390 combines the fluidity and sportiness of its iconic lines with a welcoming interior for its five passengers. It boasts generous dimensions, unprecedented for an Alpine, while remaining compact at 4.615mx1.885mx1.532m.
The A390 reveals its 100% Alpine DNA from a distance and up close. Its coupé proportions are visible from 110 metres away, with its helmet visor-shaped rear window and compact glazed surfaces contributing to its compact appearance. Then, at a second level of interpretation, at 110 centimetres, the sculpted line animating the rear doors with integrated handles is revealed, as is the precision of the work on the shoulders of the body line, the reflections and volumes, and the bonnet blade that allows air to pass through to channel aerodynamic flows. At 110 millimetres, every detail can be admired, such as the front bumpers with triangular shapes inspired by mountains, incorporating openings that create air curtains. Other elements feature in its unique lighting signature. At the front, a cluster of illuminated triangles called ‘Cosmic Dust’ evokes a comet piercing the atmosphere. When the driver approaches the vehicle, they come to life in a welcome sequence. A projection of the Alpine logo surrounded by snowflakes is also directed sideways at ground level.
At the rear, fragmented triangles frame a backlit Alpine logo in complete lettering. Lastly, the thin light bars at the front and rear, which seem to slice through the air like a blade, evoke a sense of lightness. Every detail has been carefully thought out, right down to the Alpine A logo on the side, whose arrow always points forward, and the option of a tricolour flag on the C-pillar, as on the A110.
Interior design
Stepping inside the A390, one is immersed in a world devoted to sportiness, with particular attention paid to comfort and perceived quality, with the dashboard, centre console and door panels coated in leather and a sophisticated lighting atmosphere. The colour theme is blue, in keeping with the Alpine A290.
The cockpit is driver-oriented, with 12.3-inch and 12-inch high-definition screens facing the drivers to immerse them in the Alpine universe. Physical climate control allows drivers to adjust settings without taking their eyes off the road. The heated sport steering wheel is wrapped in Nappa Bleu leather and features a flat bottom and a centre point. It integrates the controls for the driving modes, driver assistance, telephone, voice assistant and instrument panel display modes. Two specific coloured aluminium buttons, inspired by the world of Formula 1, control the regeneration level (blue RCH rotary knob for Recharge) up to One Pedal mode and the boost available for overtaking and launch control (red OV button for Overtake). There is a specific switchgear for audio controls.
The high centre console, inspired by the design of the A110, incorporates the characteristic Alpine RND transmission controls, highlighted by two customisable wings. The A390 features electrically adjustable and heated Alpine Sport seats for support and comfort, made from various upholstery materials, including Alcantara microfibre, typical of sports cars. They feature an arrow-shaped A logo on the upper section. At the top of the range, the A390 is equipped with blue and grey Nappa leather Alpine Sport Seat by Sabelt bucket seats, which can be fitted with optional carbon twill or forged carbon inserts in the rear section, matching the dashboard trim.
Alpine savoir-faire applied to the Group’s platform
Combining comfort and agility typical of an Alpine in a C-segment format: the specifications set by the A390’s development engineers led to a radical overhaul of the AmpR Medium platform to deliver first-class dynamics for this sport fastback. Its dimensions are reflected in its name, which, in Alpine’s nomenclature, combines an A followed by three digits: here, the 3 refers to the size of the vehicle and the 90 to the brand’s versatile, everyday vehicles.
At just 4.615 m long, it combines wider tracks for stability, exclusive forged aluminium suspension triangles and a short wheelbase of only 2.708 m for agility. Its low centre of gravity and ideal weight distribution, with 49% at the front and 51% at the rear, are the perfect basis for highly balanced and playful handling. The skateboard-style architecture and compact front motor allow for a compact front end. A special aluminium cradle manufactured in France houses the two rear motors, a configuration that can lower the boot floor and maximise load capacity.
Enabled by its three motors, the all-wheel drive gives the A390 exemplary traction in all grip conditions. The GTS version ensures class-leading performance with acceleration from 0 to 100km/h in just 3.9 seconds, with a total power output of 470hp and up to 808Nm of torque. This acceleration equals the Alpine A110 R. The two rear engines activate the Alpine Active Torque Vectoring system, which plays a key role in the A390’s driving dynamics (see next chapter).
The chassis settings replicate the agility, lightness, and stability of the A110, the benchmark model in the Alpine range, as closely as possible. These ambitious specifications ensure this sport fastback is lively and easy to control. The A390 has dedicated suspension with hydraulic stops to offer the best compromise between comfort and handling. Among the technical choices made by Alpine’s development engineers, the very short steering ratio allows for minimal steering angles, resulting in a straightforward driving feel. Particular attention has also been paid to the braking feel to ensure easy dosing in all driving conditions. The fading feel, endurance, and braking power align with the A390’s high performance. It features 365 mm discs with 6-piston callipers, a first for Alpine.
The A390 features the latest generation of driver assistance systems (ADAS), with a dashboard display realistically showing the car’s surroundings. New features such as driver attention monitoring with progressive emergency braking, automatic emergency braking extended from forward to reverse, lane departure warning and, when parking, safe exit for occupants complement traditional aids.
The My Safety button beside the steering wheel allows the driver to select their ADAS settings with a single touch, choosing whether to activate or deactivate them, their level of intervention and the presence of audible alerts. Lastly, the A390 features adaptive cruise control with stop & go as standard and (depending on version) a function that allows the vehicle to move out of the way to let two-wheeled vehicles pass, for example.
Powertrains: performance and active torque distribution
The Alpine A390 features an original architecture with three motors, providing all-wheel drive with a layout similar to that of a rear-wheel drive vehicle: a front motor with a wound rotor and two fully dedicated permanent magnet synchronous motors at the rear, each dedicated to one wheel. These motors drive the Alpine Active Torque Vectoring system, a unique patented solution developed through extensive testing by Alpine test drivers and engineers. All three motors are manufactured at the Ampere plant in Cléon.
The Alpine A390 is available in two versions, offering two different power outputs:
– The GT develops 400hp and accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.8 seconds, with a 200km/h top speed.
– The GTS develops 470hp and up to 808Nm of maximum torque and accelerates from 0 to 100km/h in 3.9 seconds, with a top speed of 220km/h.
The A390’s class-leading performance is designed to be easily repeated without any loss of power, even when the battery is not fully charged. Manual battery preconditioning can also be activated from the central display to achieve maximum performance for intense sporting use or to lower the temperature after laps on the track, for example.
High-performance battery
The Alpine A390 debuts a battery with high-performance chemistry made in France (cells and modules) developed specifically for Alpine by French specialist Verkor for the first time. The specifications for developing this battery were particularly demanding. It had to guarantee maximum discharge power for traction (up to 1,200 A in discharge mode to power the three motors and deliver their 345kW). It also had to reproduce the same performance several times in succession, maintaining the same level as the battery discharges (up to 30% SOC). To achieve this, Verkor redesigned the entire architecture of its 400V battery with a specifically sized cooling system (notably thanks to a higher water flow rate) and NMC chemistry with a high nickel content and high energy density.
Thanks to its generous 89kWh battery capacity, the A390 offers a range of up to 555km (WLTP cycle, subject to approval) with 20-inch wheels and up to 52 km (WLTP cycle, subject to approval) with 21-inch wheels. A heat pump is standard on all trim levels, optimising interior temperature and preserving range.
DC fast charging can reach 190kW, but more important than peak power is the ability to maintain high charging power for long periods, which requires intelligent charging management. The A390’s excellent average charging power allows it to recharge in less than 20 minutes, to recover 2 hours of motorway driving, and go from 15% to 80% charge in less than 25 minutes.
Google Maps GPS navigation includes an EV route planner, which considers the route, charge level, battery temperature, real-time consumption and automatic preconditioning of the traction battery to calculate the best itinerary by optimising charging stages. Charging is made easy thanks to the Mobilize ecosystem and free access to a ChargePass. Connected vehicle data can be accessed remotely via the My Alpine smartphone app, which includes location, mileage, remaining range, battery charge level, and remaining charge time. You can plan your itinerary based on your charging needs, schedule charging or preconditioning of the interior, and remotely activate the horn and lights.
The 11-kW on-board charger (22 kW optional) includes a V2L-compatible bi-directional charging function with an optional adapter for charging an electric bike, for example, and V2G (vehicle-to-grid) for savings on home charging with the Mobilize Power service.
Devialet audio excellence
Following the A290, Alpine has teamed up again with French acoustic engineering company Devialet to develop a bespoke sound system for the A390. Devialet’s acoustic expertise, based on more than 250 patents protecting radical innovations in the field of audio, is the result of more than 15 years of cutting-edge engineering and R&D in acoustics. It has been applied here to three key stages of the design process: system sizing and specification of audio equipment requirements, provision of proprietary signal processing technologies, and sound tuning to enable the creation of up to five listening modes.
The Devialet High Fidelity Audio System architecture consists of a dedicated 850-watt amplifier, a 224 mm subwoofer with ultra-low frequency response and three front channels (woofer, midrange, neodymium magnet tweeter), delivering excellent sound quality for both music and phone calls. Altogether, 13 speakers are scattered throughout the passenger compartment, including a subwoofer and surround speakers in the rear quarter panels, completing the equipment to offer a highly immersive experience. The patented SAM® technology ensures perfect speaker control and the high-fidelity, pure and balanced audio reproduction that Devialet is known for.
The system also offers different listening modes according to individual preferences: Fidelity, Speech, Dynamic and Heavy. The premium version, Devialet XtremeSound Audio System (standard on the GTS version, optional on the GT), adds the immersive SPACE™ mode with a Devialet-specific sound spatialisation algorithm. More demonstrative, it allows for a wider frequency range, higher volume levels, dynamic bass, and well-defined staging. The sound level and balance evolve according to the speed of the car.
The system is combined with Alpine Driving Sound Sport and Daily engine sounds, delivered via a dedicated amplifier and amplified by the audio system.
Range and trim
Two trim packages, GT and GTS, are available, each corresponding to a specific technical specification. The first model is the A390 GT, with 400hp, which accelerates from 0 to 100km/h in 4.8 seconds, with a 200km/h top speed. It comes with 20-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels, Michelin Sport EV tyres, anodised brake callipers, and chrome logos. Inside, the sports seats are electric and heated, the Nappa leather-covered steering wheel is heated, a 360° peripheral view on the central screen, and the 13-speaker sound system is by Devialet.
The GTS version develops 47 hp, accelerating from 0 to 100km/h in 3.9 seconds, with a 220km/h top speed. It has 21-inch forged wheels and Michelin Pilot Sport 4S performance tyres. Front passengers are seated in Sabelt-designed Nappa leather bucket seats with electric adjustment, heating and massage functions. The headliner is wrapped in microfibre; the Devialet 13-speaker audio system is in its premium Devialet XtremeSound Audio System version, and the Alpine Telemetrics Expert system is included, as is the Driving and Parking Pack (semi-autonomous driving and automatic parking).
Some options are common to both versions, such as the twill or forged carbon packs available on the GT and GTS. Accessories such as wheel inserts and a double floor in the boot are also available.
Initial buyers will be in pole position to get their hands on their A390 with the Alpine A390 Première going on sale two weeks before orders open in Q4 2025. It will also entitle them to exclusive limited-edition Devialet X Alpine earbuds, allowing them to enjoy the Alpine A390’s immersive audio experience.
