The A390_β show car, the very first 100% electric Alpine sport fastback introduces a new dimension to the brand’s sporting universe. It foreshadows the second of three Dream Garage models, the ideal garage by Alpine for all enthusiastic drivers.
After the A290 and before the future electric A110, the A390_β anticipates the second phase of Alpine’s Dream Garage, the trio of sports cars marking the brand’s electric transition.
The name A390_β follows Alpine’s nomenclature, which combines an A followed by three numbers. The 3 refers to the size of the vehicle, and the 90 to the brand’s multi-purpose, everyday vehicles. The Greek letter beta refers to the intermediate stage of development before the official launch of the production car.
The A390_β offers a glimpse of the future road car designed for daily use and capable of transforming itself into a racing beast like the iconic A110, for a far sportier driving experience. Alpine defines it as a true sports car under a “dressed” design, like a racing car in a tailor-made suit.
Like the Alpenglow concept car presented at the 2022 Paris Motor Show, the A390_β show car draws inspiration from the Alps’ mountain ranges. Rock, minerals, and snow are natural elements that have fuelled the design and choice of materials, giving it its strength of character.
Drawing on its heritage and racing DNA, Alpine proposes a creation emblematic of French savoir-faire, a perfect blend of daring and innovation. At a time when low-carbon transport is becoming essential in the automotive sector, the Alpine A390_β show car is more than just a promise. It demonstrates the Alpine brand’s commitment to high-end, exhilarating, and sustainable sportiness.
“A390_β previews the future Alpine sport fastback, which we have designed like an A110 with 5 seats. The duality between the racing spirit and the refinement of this show car embodies the performance and driving experience that we will deliver from 2025 onwards in our production vehicle, produced in France at the historic Dieppe Manufacture. More than the promise of a 100% Alpine experience, it’s a genuine commitment,” said Philippe Krief, Alpine CEO.
A390_β EXTERIOR DESIGN
At first glance, the A390_β catches the eye with its undeniably Alpine look, interpreted here as a minimalist, high-tech strip of light.
The silhouette of the A390_β, as dynamic as it is fluid, unveils a genuine sculpture. It resembles a monolithic bubble, drawing its inspiration from a drop of water. This natural shape offers the optimum balance between functionality and aerodynamics. Lastly, the side of the car follows the signature line of Alpine cars, adding an impression of movement, even when stationary.
The A390_β’s intense, multi-faceted blue highlights the show car’s sharp shapes. The moving paint particles vibrate with movement. The tint oscillates between bright, light-catching blues and deeper shades; this interplay of contrasts accentuates the vehicle’s lines.
The Alpine A390_β show car stands out for its distinctive lighting signature, in line with Alpenglow. A swarm of illuminated triangles called “Cosmic Dust” under the front and rear lighting strip evokes a comet piercing the atmosphere. Lastly, the slender light bars at the front and rear, which seem to split the air like a blade, evoke lightness.
As if flowing through the air, the A390_β features visible aerodynamic elements. At the front, a “flying bridge” enhances airflow over the upper part of the vehicle. The micro-perforated grille guides the air in the best possible way, while the wide side scoops create an air curtain to accelerate the natural flow.
The more conceptual rear end is the interpretation of “Light Follows Function”: the light underlines the show car’s aerodynamic elements. The shark fin, a reference to the Alpines racing at Le Mans, is synonymous with fluidity and stability.
Lastly, in harmony with the rear diffuser, the illuminated light strip can be extended or retracted by 80 mm, enabling the A390_β to transform from a ‘short-tail’ to a ‘long-tail’ design. This ability to extend reduces the aerodynamic drag coefficient and improves the vehicle’s operating range.
The design of the A390_β show car’s wheels are inspired by the crystalline properties of a snowflake, both strong and light. The 22-inch front and 23-inch rear wheels are enhanced by a cabochon in the wheel centre, illuminated by a bluish halo reminiscent of jewellery. The transparent effect of the central flange, which resembles a thin layer of ice, highlights the Active Torque Vectoring function in the background.
A390_β INTERIOR DESIGN
While the exterior of the A390_β show car tends to resemble the future production model, the interior is deliberately conceptual, allowing a glimpse of a futuristic vision of Alpine interiors while preserving the brand’s fundamentals.
The antagonistic opening of the side doors and the absence of a B-pillar reinforce the feeling that the A390_β is an invitation to climb aboard and reveal an overall symbolism inspired by the Alps. The interior is designed like a mountain landscape, exploiting all the sensations this universe provokes in our imagination.
Two very distinct worlds, cut by a clear diagonal, can be found:
– at the front, mineral meets technicity with sharp lines forging a Formula 1 cockpit The A390_β reveals all its sportiness thanks to a driving cockpit and a double driving position, both dynamic and innovative
– at the rear, an immaculate blanket of powder reminds the purity of snow-covered peaks and embodies ultimate comfort
Lastly, the floor features a unique structure made from ultra-light recycled carbon. Thanks to the multiple raised inserts of carbon elements, this floor evokes speed and asphalt as you watch it roll by under your feet.
The cockpit of the A390_β is an immersive space that promises to offer drivers a “Feel@One” experience, where they become one with their car. The cockpit consists of a luminous triangle graphically representing the driving axis. Three glass slats behind the steering wheel, positioned successively, create a holographic effect for a dynamic, multi-dimensional reading of driving information.
Directly inspired by Formula 1, the A390_β’s steering wheel is compact, technical and precise, inviting you to drive. It features two different geometries, allowing drivers to switch between the world of everyday driving and that of extreme sportiness.
The driver places an ice crystal (as a key) at the centre of the steering wheel to bring the vehicle to life. Like a jewel, it is inspired by the crystals found in high mountains. It seals the famous Alpine A-arrow logo as if set in ice.
Derived from F1, the OV or ‘overtake’ button – already featured on the A290’s steering wheel – allows full engine power to be delivered instantly with a light touch.
Further buttons allow for modifying the hydraulic suspension, metering the regenerative braking and adapting the multimedia modes.
THE FUTURE A390: BETWEEN FRENCH TECHNOLOGIES AND SAVOIR-FAIRE
In keeping with the spirit that has driven Alpine since its creation in 1955, the brand’s engineers are passionately committed to imagining the sports car of tomorrow. Their challenge: to reinvent sportiness for the electric age while providing just as much – if not more – driving thrills and sensations. Following the A290, which reinterprets sportiness in the city, the A390 aims to bring the A110 driving experience to life in a sporty fastback that can accommodate up to 5 people on board. Alpine is well on the way to demonstrating that this dream can become reality, thanks to the technologies developed in-house for this new addition to the Dream Garage.
Alpine’s future sport fastback car will be designed to be electric, based on a heavily modified version of Ampere’s AmpR Medium platform. The flexibility and advantages of this platform, dedicated to electric motors, have enabled Alpine’s engineers to make the modifications necessary to develop a resolutely sporty fastback. The batteries, for example, are positioned under the passenger compartment to ensure that the centre of gravity is as low as possible, thereby improving road holding. On-board space is optimised by a flat floor that gives all passengers a greater sense of space than in a comparable combustion-powered vehicle.
The A390_β show car reveals the driving qualities of the future production vehicle and a powertrain that will offer the sensations of an A110 transposed into this all-new model.
This sport fastback will feature three electric motors developed by Alpine: one at the front and two at the rear. It will also feature an innovative, non-permanent AWD (all-wheel drive) system. Axle drive will be managed by an intelligent torque management system entirely developed and perfected by Alpine engineers: Active Torque Vectoring.
By intelligently controlling the distribution of torque between the front and rear axles and independently to the left and right rear wheels, this technology optimises the vehicle’s longitudinal performance and cornering dynamism while guaranteeing a high degree of reassurance and confidence in the system, whatever the level of grip under each wheel. A balancing act that gives the vehicle the lightweight feel of an A110, virtually reducing the inertia perceived when cornering most efficiently, for a unique experience in every driving mode. This technological combination of three electric motors monitored by the Active Torque Vectoring, previously reserved for hypercars produced in small runs, is a world first in the segment.
100% ELECTRIC, 100% FRENCH
The production version of the A390 will be manufactured from 2025 at the Manufacture Alpine Dieppe Jean Rédélé, based on the AmpR Medium platform. Its three electric motors will come from the Cléon Megafactory, and the batteries will then be assembled in Douai, confirming the short production cycle of the future A390.
