Alpine Wants To Break Into America With This Wild Fastback, If Trump Allows It

The Renault Group’s sporty Alpine brand wants you to think of your future driveway as a “Dream Garage,” and it’s building a fully electric lineup to make that happen. A year after pulling the wraps off the A290 hot hatch, the French automaker has returned with the production-ready A390, a sport fastback aimed at merging performance with everyday usability.

It borrows design cues from the lightweight A110 coupe but stretches the formula into a more practical five-door format with a larger footprint.

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The Alpine A390 stays largely true to the A390_β concept shown in October 2024, keeping its low-slung, aerodynamic silhouette and sharp bodywork. Some of the wilder design elements have been toned down for production, but the finished model still delivers a sportier presence than your average crossover or SUV. Two trims will be available at launch, GT and GTS, each set apart by unique wheels and badging.

Blending Classic Cues with New Practicality

Exterior highlights include a dramatically sloped roofline, fragmented triangle accents on the front bumper, and full-width LED light bars front and rear. Subtle nods to the A110 appear in the character lines along the sides. Wheel sizes vary between 20 and 21 inches, paired with 6 inches (152 mm) of ground clearance and discreet lower cladding that nods to ruggedness without fully committing to it.

Inside, the show car’s futuristic cabin gives way to a more down-to-earth five-seater layout. The dashboard is closely related to that of the Renault Megane E-Tech, featuring a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster and a 12-inch central touchscreen.

While the general layout might feel familiar, Alpine-specific elements like the steering wheel, center console, and trim materials help the A390 stake out a more premium position.Standout features include the Nappa leather Sabelt bucket seats found in the flagship GTS trim, a 13-speaker Devialet audio system pumping out 850 watts, and a 532-liter (18.8-cubic-foot) cargo area that adds real-world practicality.

In terms of footprint, the sport fastback measures 4,615 mm (181.7 inches) long, 1,885 mm (74.2 inches) wide, and 1,532 mm (60.3 inches) tall, with a wheelbase of 2,708 mm (106.6 inches). This means it is 136 mm (5.4 inches) shorter and sits 92 mm (3.6 inches) lower than a Tesla Model Y.

Shared Underpinnings With Unique Bits

The A390 rides on the AmpR Medium architecture which already underpins the Renault Megane E-Tech, the Scenic E-Tech, and the Nissan Ariya. However, the Alpine features unique hardware and software, aiming to elevate its performance credentials.

The key feature is the fully electric powertrain with three motors – one mounted at the front and two at the rear – providing AWD capabilities. These are combined with a sophisticated Alpine Active Torque Vectoring system, promising to “partially offset the inertia associated with the size and weight of this larger vehicle”.

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Both the GT and the GTS trims have three motors, producing a combined 396 hp and 463 hp respectively. The fastest version accelerates from 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) in 3.9 seconds, and has a top speed of 220 km/h (137 mph). The 89 kWh lithium-ion battery provides up to 555 km (345 miles) of WLTP range and supports DC charging of up to 190 kW.

Besides the usual launch function, there is also an overtake function unleashing extra power for up to 10 seconds, although you need 30 seconds of recharge time before you do it again. The company has also created two selectable Alpine Drive Sound tones (Daily and Sport) with different frequencies and intensities provide audible feedback to the driver about the state of the powertrain.

SPECS

In terms of the chassis setup, the A390 features a dedicated suspension with hydraulic stops, similar to the ones in the discontinued Renault Megane RS hot hatch. Alpine engineers opted for a “very short steering ratio”, and put a lot of emphasis on the braking feel. Handling is further enhanced by the bespoke Michelin tires, designed specifically for the A390.

When Can I Buy It?

Alpine will start accepting orders for the A390 in Europe and the UK in the fourth quarter of 2025, with pricing set tol be announced closer to the market launch. In the UK market, the EV is estimated to start from around £60,000 ($81,300) for the GT, and from around £70,000 ($94,800) for the GTS.

For comparison, the Porsche Macan EV – which is a key rival – starts at £68,500 ($92,800) in the same market. The new Alpine will also compete with the likes of the Audi Q4 Sportback, BMW iX2, Cupra Tavascan, Maserati Grecale Folgore, BMW i4 M50, DS No8, and Tesla Model Y.

The French brand was supposed to expand in the US market in 2027, but this plan has been put on hold due to the tariffs imposed on imported vehicles. These would certainly affect the A390 which is a product of France – the EV is manufactured at the Dieppe factory, the powertrains are made in the Cleon plant, while the battery packs are produced in Dunkirk and assembled in Douai.

Electric A110 Teaser

The presentation of the A390 included a cheeky teaser of the next generation A110 sports car which is expected to debut next year. The model will be fitted with a fully electric powertrain, but appears to retain the sexy proportions of its mid-engined predecessor. We can also see the angular LED graphics of the signature split headlights and the toned rear fenders hiding under the veil.

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