If you hoped 10 years ago that the reborn Alpine brand would lead to a French revolution of fast coupes, you might be thinking about the guillotine when you see the new A390.
Today’s reality is that Alpine will have to slave to the electric SUV trend like every other brand. And, as far as the genre goes, the Alpine A390 looks like a decent thing.
As much as it looks like one at first glance, this tri-motor EV isn’t just another crossover – it’s only a hair taller than the average traditional hatch, despite appearances.
It’s a cool-looking thing, if a little anonymous. The slim headlights do at least retain a hint of the quad-unit design, loosely reminiscent of what has long been an Alpine hallmark. Character lines through the doors, and the roofline, both act as callbacks to the A110, but… is there much else to connect this design with the brand? You tell me. 🤷♂️
Under the skin, the A390 is hyper focused on performance driving, with one motor at the front and two at the rear with independent control at each wheel.
Despite the added motor, Alpine has kept weight in check by using smaller rear motors and forgoing heavy systems like four-wheel steering and adaptive dampers.
Performance-wise, the base GT model delivers 295kW (~400hp) and 650Nm, claiming a 0–100 km/h time of 4.8 seconds. Not blisteringly fast by modern standards, but still very bloody quick.
If you do need more beans, the GTS ups the ante to 350kW and a huge 808Nm, shaving the sprint to 3.9 seconds. Both versions feature an 89kWh nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) battery pack, offering a claimed driving range between 520 and 555 km, depending on wheel size.
How much will the Alpine A390 cost and will it come to Australia?
Set to rival the Porsche Macan EV, the A390 is expected to start around £60,000 – approximately $115,000 AUD. The electric Macan begins from around $130K, so it’ll be interesting to see if the A390 can undercut it.
European orders will open in November 2025, but, while an Australian debut is confirmed, local timing and pricing are still to be revealed.
It’ll be only the second Alpine model to reach Australia, after the A110 coupe, with the more recent Renault 5-based A290 looking unlikely. (Renault has yet to officially rule the 5 and A290 out for Australia, but they like to avoid discussing it.)
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