2025 Alpine A390 SUV tested ahead of May debut

The 2025 Alpine A390 has been teased again, with the high-performance Tesla Model Y alternative shown during cold-weather testing ahead of its official reveal on May 27.

Even with the camouflage wrap, the new pictures prove how the French car-maker will stay faithful to the original 2024 A390 Beta concept that was originally heralded as a “bigger A110 for five”.

Driven in -40C arctic conditions, the production A390 even looks like it will keep the original show car’s Le Mans-inspired dorsal fin that runs along the centre of its body, plus the striking full-width LED light bar.

More difficult to discern are the set of lightweight alloy wheels that mimic the concept’s, although they look smaller than the Beta’s 22-inch (front) and 23-inch (rear) rims.

They probably won’t glow blue, like the show car, while torque vectoring is taking place.

Frameless doors and a development of the original car’s active rear spoiler are also tipped to make to production.

Confirming that it will measure in at 4620mm long, 1530mm tall and 1890mm wide, the production version of the A390 is 130mm shorter, 94mm lower and 98mm narrower than the Model Y.

The new A390 will also be smaller than the Porsche Macan and could be lighter. This bodes well for agility, as Alpine has already heavily hinted it will set a new benchmark for handling within the electric mid-size performance SUV segment.

Based on the Renault Group's Ampr Medium EV platform, that already underpins the Renault Megane E-Tech, the fastest Alpine A390 will bag an all-new triple-motor powertrain that mounts a single e-motor on the front axle with a further two that drive the rear wheels.

Using the firm’s next-gen active torque vectoring, meanwhile, has helped engineers bless its rakish SUV-coupe with driving dynamics that are said to mimic the lightweight A110.

Inside, the new A390 should still get a futuristic cabin but will lose the shape-shifting bucket seat and F1-style steering wheel, although the snowy mountainous Alp theme will remain. Expect it to feature five seats, rather than the four-bucket pews of the Beta.

There’s still no word on what battery or range the Alpine A390 will possess, nor how it will be positioned in markets like Australia.

While some think it might be more of Tesla Model Y Performance rival, recent comments from Alpine execs recently suggest it will indeed be priced in line with its closest rival, the Porsche Macan, although cheaper versions will no doubt brush shoulders with EVs like the BMW iX2 and the inbound facelifted Model Y.

Stay tuned as all will be revealed on May 27.

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