New Alpine A390 electric SUV is a triple-motor Porsche Macan killer

Renault’s sporty Alpine sub-brand has pulled the covers off its second all-electric model. The Alpine A390 is a Porsche Macan-rivalling ‘Sport Fastback’ with three motors (one at the front, two at the rear), active torque vectoring and up to 464bhp. Alpine says it’ll deliver the “agility and driving pleasure” of its exceptional featherweight sports car, the A110.

The production-ready A390 has been a long time in the making, and was previewed last year by the bold A390_ß concept. Visually, there are plenty of similarities; the full-width light bar and slim daytime running lights are almost unchanged, and while the slashes, slots, and vents have been made more production-friendly, the sharply styled base car remains.

Alpine has fitted a number plate and switched out the illuminated lettering on the nose for a more conventional black badge. Plus, there’s a new set of headlights incorporated within the bumper, too; the concept did without these – apparently you don’t need to see where you’re going when the toughest terrain you’ll face is the polished surface of a Paris show stand.

To the side, the alloy wheel design on the car you see here differs only slightly from last year’s concept, while the cladding that runs along the sills is all but identical. Alpine has kept the show car’s clean surfacing by fitting flush front door handles; the rear handles are hidden in the C-pillar. The steeply-raked screen and roof-hinged tailgate hides a 532-litre boot – on a par with the Porsche.

The overall silhouette is still recognisable, with that sweeping fastback most notable when viewing the car in profile. Alpine refers to the A390 as a “racing car in a suit”, and while the jacked-up stance may argue otherwise, the facts and figures aim to speak for themselves.

Under the metal, the new A390 sits on the Renault Group’s AmpR Medium platform – used by models such as the Renault Scenic and Nissan Ariya. The Alpine measures 4,615mm long, 1,885mm wide (excluding mirrors) and 1,532mm tall – making it slightly smaller than the aforementioned Macan in every dimension. Alpine also considers top-end Cupra Tavascan, Ford Capri and Kia EV6 models as potential rivals.

At launch, it’s understood every version will get an 89kWh battery good for up to 341 miles of range depending on specification. All models get 190kW DC rapid charging, allowing for a 15 to 80 per cent charge in less than 25 minutes. Three-phase AC charging (11kW standard, 22kW optional) is also available, with bi-directional tech built-in.

Powertrains and performance

Two triple-motor versions will be offered to begin with: GT and GTS, boasting 395bhp/650Nm and 464bhp/808Nm respectively. The GT will do 0-62mph in 4.8 seconds, while the GTS completes the same sprint in 3.9 seconds – faster than a Macan 4S. A less-potent dual-motor may join the range later.

But it’s the trick tech that Alpine is making a big song and dance about, boldly referring to the A390 as a “true five-seater sports car” – despite weighing just over 2.1 tonnes. It says it’s working to ensure that the electric SUV can deliver the level of performance and sharpness customers will expect from the brand, which until now has focused on sports cars and hot hatches.

There will be five drive modes, with its Track setting dedicated to “more sporting endeavour” – which is an eloquent way of saying ‘giving it the beans’. Further to this, the 'Alpine Drive Sound’ system will deliver two unique soundtracks to enhance the driving experience, but without trying to replicate the exhaust note of the A110’s petrol engine. We’re told the car won’t incorporate Hyundai Ioniq 5 N-style fake gear changes – as it feels “too artificial” in Alpine’s view.

The A390 claims a near-perfect 49:51 front-rear weight distribution, with a low centre of gravity helped by the floor-mounted battery pack. It also gets an Alpine-developed passive suspension system and heavily-upgraded brakes, but no four-wheel steering due to the emphasis the firm is putting on the SUV feeling as driver focused as possible. 

CEO Philippe Krief said: “The A390 is the quintessential Alpine, combining sportiness and performance with technology and refinement, all for a unique driving experience that is equally suited to everyday use and more spirited driving.”

Interior and prices

Inside, the A390 features a Scenic-inspired dashboard design, with twin screens angled towards the driver featuring the now familiar Google-based infotainment, plus an advancement of the A290’s telemetrics system including live data for things like lateral and longitudinal G-forces.

The hexagonal F1 steering wheel gets the same OVR overtake button and adjustable regenerative braking dial found on the smaller A290, and a distinctive 12 o’clock marker at the top. Sabelt bucket seats covered in Nappa leather will be standard on the GTS.

The maker claims it will be the only car on sale for under £100,000 – prices are expected to start from around £60,000 (circa £70,000 for the GTS) when the car goes on sale before the end of the year – with three motors and active torque vectoring. Customers will be able to register their interest with a Renault 5-style VIP ‘A Pass’ very soon; first cars are expected in the second quarter of 2026.

Alpine A390 prototype drive 

We’ll have to wait a while still to test the A390 in the UK, but our time in a prototype on a frozen lake in Swedish Lapland provides good insight into what to expect. What you certainly shouldn’t expect is a driving experience of the kind offered by the A110, but Alpine is keen to stress that it has made changes to each and every element of the underlying platform to maximise performance and engagement.

As mentioned, and unlike the Nissan Ariya Nismo, a performance EV based on the same AmpR medium platform, the A390 features a total of three electric motors: two at the rear, one at the front. Exact performance figures were under wraps when we tried the car, but even at the time (and on ice) the A390 felt far faster than the Ariya – Alpine says straight-line performance is equivalent to an A110 R’s.

The steering feel and feedback can’t match that of an A110, but the use of two motors on the rear axle allows for torque vectoring, making the A390 much more capable than its smaller, single-motor A290 relative. We’ll have to see how it translates to British roads, but in these extreme low-limit conditions the A390 is great fun to drive, with near-perfect weight distribution, a low centre of gravity and Alpine-specific suspension all contributing to intuitive handling, with the car’s weight rarely making itself known.

The A390’s Normal and Sport drive modes and steering wheel controls are carried across from the A290. What’s new, though, is a dedicated Track mode, which tells the stability systems to step back and let the driver make the decisions; unlike most modes of this kind, it allows for full control over power, making it truly adjustable on the throttle – on ice at least.

One of seven new Alpines on the way

As with Alpine’s other models, the A390 follows a simple naming convention of the letter A followed by three numbers. The first digit refers to the coupe-SUV’s size, compared with the Alpine A290 hot hatch, for instance, while 90 denotes this is one of the brand’s more versatile, everyday models. 

The A390 will be the next addition to Alpine’s “dream garage” of seven brand-new pure-electric cars that it’s hoping to complete by 2030, and has just started to become a reality following the launch of the A290.

Two more SUVs are scheduled to be launched in 2027 and 2028, the largest of which should rival the Porsche Cayenne. Also on the way is the next iteration of the Alpine A110 sports car, which will be followed by a roadster version and a four-seat sports coupé that will bring back the Alpine A310 name from the seventies and eighties. 

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