Alpine A390_β, the new French electric sports SUV

The French manufacturer Alpine has unveiled, ahead of the Paris Motor Show, the concept for its future family electric SUV A390.

This is expected to drive global sales of Alpine, which remain minimal. The excuse of having only a gasoline coupe in the catalog, the A110, has long stood, but the more affordable electric city car A290 unfortunately does not have high ambitions either: 7000 units annually worldwide. It must be said that a small car priced at 35,000 euros with a range of 300 kilometers is tapping into a very limited market for a brand unfamiliar to the general public, coming from France, or even from Europe for that matter. As for the A110, it will soon be replaced by an electric iteration. Joy…

With the SUV A390, Alpine is moving up a gear as the offerings will cover a much broader spectrum. Presented as a concept car at the Paris Motor Show (October 15-20, 2024), this study is 85% faithful to the mass production model (perhaps aside from the opposing doors?) that will follow in 2025.

Alpine is thus opting for a silhouette described as a fastback, meaning a 4-door coupe with a very sloping roofline at the rear. The name A390 adheres to the brand’s nomenclature: the 3 refers to the vehicle’s size and the 90… we haven’t quite understood the logic, supposedly related to everyday versatility.

Inspired by the Alpenglow

The look of the A390 is striking with a sense of “déjà-vu”. Indeed, the designs were already tested two years ago with the hydrogen-powered hypercar concept Alpenglow. One can imagine it with a license plate, and suddenly the huge front surface will seem less intriguing.

The profile is definitely the most appealing side of this SUV, echoing 100% Alpine, with deeply sculpted doors (there are four of them) like those on an A110 of yore. The same goes for the very rounded roof and the very limited glass surface area. This concept boasts gigantic wheels, 22 inches at the front and 23 inches at the rear. What will it be like in reality later? Will the rendering still be that striking? What about the large mirrors or the decision to keep exterior cameras? The camouflaged prototypes already circulating on the roads of France have opted for Mickey Mouse ears in any case…

At the rear, one notices the gigantic glass bubble, which again recalls the engine cover of the A110. The small dorsal fin will very likely disappear on the final version, as well as the complex but gorgeous lights scattered like constellations. An invisible aspect in the photos, the rear light strip extends by 80 mm when the car is in motion to create a component that reduces turbulence and drag. This aerodynamic finesse showcases impressive research, further enhanced by the use of a huge diffuser and side fins that make up the bumper. All this attention should ensure good range for the final version.

This future 5-seater SUV will be Made in France, at the historic factory in Dieppe, and it is an industrial choice that we can only applaud!