Alpine is at pains to point out the A390 is not a crossover. The word is completely absent from the press release, and the public unveiling. But how else can we describe a high-riding hatch with four-wheel drive and room for five? 

Dieppe insists the A390 is still a sports car. While the eyes might say otherwise, the spec sheet backs them up. The car features all-wheel drive courtesy of a tri-motor setup, with one powering the front axle, and one for each rear wheel. As such, Alpine Active Torque Vectoring is possible by distributing output between the front and rear axles, and across the rear pair of motors. The torque split varies depending on the car’s speed, and the steering angle, with the motors and traction control allowing for precise torque distribution. The setup removes the need for a limited-slip differential, or all-wheel steering to improve agility.

Two performance levels are available, with the A390 GT offering 395bhp and 479lb-ft (650Nm) of torque, a 0-62mph time of 4.8 seconds, and a top speed of 124mph. The A390 GTS increases the output to 464bhp and 596lb-ft (808Nm) - with a 63% rear-biased torque split. The 0-62mph time falls to 3.9 seconds, matching the A110 R, and the top speed increases to 137mph. Both variants have a near-perfect 49/51 weight distribution.

Most of the A390’s competitors use air suspension, but the Alpine sticks with coil springs, and passive dampers. These are fitted with hydraulic bump stops to find a balance between ride comfort, and good body control on twisty roads when making use of the quick steering setup. Special attention has been paid to the braking system, which uses a mixture of regenerative braking from the three electric motors, and the 6-piston pads gripping 365mm discs.

All models draw their power from an 89kWh capacity battery, which can return up to 345 miles on a full charge. DC rapid charging takes 25 minutes for a 10-80% top-up at up to 190kW. A flat-to-full home charge will take around 12 hours, and the car can take advantage of higher public AC charging speeds with 11kW capability as standard, and 22kW optional. All examples offer bidirectional charging as standard, meaning other EVs can be charged, or lawnmowers can be powered by the A390.

The battery sits within a heavily modified Renault Group AmpR Medium platform. Alpine have reduced the wheelbase by 77mm down to 2,708mm, but widened the track by 60mm. The car measures in at 4.6m long, 1.89m wide, and 1.5m tall, and weighs from 2,121kg. As such, it’s the largest and heaviest Alpine to date, and it takes on an SUV form that’s new to the Dieppe-based manufacturer.

However, the A390 evolves the Alpine design language, drawing inspiration from the A424 Le Mans Hypercar, and staying true to the A390 Beta concept of 2024. The quad-light signature returns, but this time as part of the intricate running light signature on the nose. The main matrix LED headlights sit in the outer air intakes, appearing invisible when switched off.

An opening in the front bodywork sends air over the bonnet, the double-bubble roof, and towards a small ducktail spoiler mounted to the short rear deck. A choice of 20” or 21” wheels will be available, with three co-developed Michelin compounds available; Pilot Sport EV, Pilot Sport 4 S, or Cross Climate 3 Sport. An “A39” marking on the sidewall denotes the bespoke rubber.

Opening the boot reveals a load space of 532 litres, and pulling the concealed door handles allows for access to the three-seat rear bench. Up front, the A390 GT gets three-piece seats, while the GTS receives two-piece buckets from Sabelt. The only interior colour scheme shown so far is blue, black, and grey.

All models use a dual-screen infotainment system, with a portrait central display containing EV-optimised navigation, and the Alpine Telemetrics software that shows real-time car information, and logs data on track. Ahead of the driver, a new steering wheel houses infotainment controls, along with a toggle switch for adjusting energy recovery levels, and a drive mode selector.

A choice of five settings are available: Save, Normal, Sport, and Track, with a customisable mode called Perso allowing the driver to mix and match their favourite characteristics. A red overboost button looks far too tempting not to press, and calls up maximum performance from the drivetrain when on the move, or activates launch control when stationary.

Pricing and specifications for the new Alpine A390 are yet to be confirmed, but the manufacturer has indicated that between £55,000 and £65,000 is what we’re to expect. This means that it’ll undercut the Porsche Macan EV, and Polestar 4 Performance, but it won’t offer quite as much cabin space as its key rivals. The tri-motor fastback will go on sale in the final quarter of 2025, and we estimate the first examples will reach our roads in early 2026.