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Sporty brand takes aim at Tesla Model Y and Porsche Macan: Alpine 2025 A390 electric SUV promises an 'A110 for five' with true sporting DNA

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2025 Alpine A390 Beta concept
John Law
Deputy News Editor
14 Oct 2024
3 min read

Alpine has revealed a new A390 electric SUV concept that it promises is 80 per cent production ready.

The sporty French brand claims the A390 Beta is “a bigger A110 for five” with clear references to the sports coupe’s design in the SUV’s glass house and rear end design. 

It will debut Renault’s new AmpR Medium electric car platform with a tri-motor set-up earmarked to reach series production in 2025 as a rival to the Porsche Macan and Tesla Model Y Performance.

Pricing, power and range details are yet to be locked in but Autocar reports the A390 won’t be the most powerful or longest range option in the space to keep weight down. It’s also expected to cost a fair bit of cash — though less than £100,000 (A$195,000) — making it a niche option.

An Australian arrival is on the cards, too, with Renault Australia General Manager Glen Sealey telling CarsGuide in March this year: "We're very excited about Alpine's all new product plan, and think it will work really well in Australia."

Though clearly much larger than an A110 in all directions, the brand claims the A390 is “a true sports car under a “dressed” design, like a racing car in a tailor-made suit”, evidently one more like Michael Jordan’s billowy ‘90s attire than latter slim-fit trends.

2025 Alpine A390 Beta concept
2025 Alpine A390 Beta concept

There are a few details confirmed not to make production, those being the rear-hinged doors and 80mm extendable spoiler, but Alpine claims the concept is very close to the final thing including the ‘cosmic dust’ rear lighting detail.

Also unlikely is the shape-shifting interior, with the seat and pedals shifting to mimic the driving position of a Formula 1 car while the steering wheel expands and flattens to finish the transition.

Outside, we can expect the Polestar 3-like front wing (or ' Flying Bridge’ in Renault design speak) to make production along with the Blue Spectacular paint colour. The concept wears 22-inch front and 23-inch rear alloy wheels with snowflake motifs in the centre that light up.

2025 Alpine A390 Beta concept
2025 Alpine A390 Beta concept

Alpine has not confirmed what kind of power figures or pace we can expect from the tri-motor A390 but don’t expect a wild 500kW-plus beast as Alpine is more about shedding weight than outright pace.

Time will tell whether the A390’s SUV formula will prove to be a success for Alpine, as it has been for Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz and other luxury marques. The brand will next launch the A290, a hot version of the retro-chic Renault 5 hatchback.

For those less inclined to SUVs, there is a silver-lining from the A390 with Alpine CEO Philippe Krief confirming the three-motor set-up will make it to the next-generation electric A110 coupe.

2025 Alpine A390 Beta concept
2025 Alpine A390 Beta concept
John Law
Deputy News Editor
Born in Sydney’s Inner West, John wasn’t treated to the usual suite of Aussie-built family cars growing up, with his parents choosing quirky (often chevroned) French motors that shaped his love of cars. The call of motoring journalism was too strong to deny and in 2019 John kickstarted his career at Chasing Cars. A move to WhichCar and Wheels magazine exposed him to a different side of the industry and the glossy pages of physical magazines. John is back on the digital side of things at CarsGuide, where he’s taken up a role as Deputy News Editor spinning yarns about the latest happenings in the automotive industry. When he isn’t working, John can be found tooling around in either his 2002 Renault Clio Sport 172 or 1983 Alfasud Gold Cloverleaf.  
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