French car brand Alpine has unveiled its very first 100% electric Alpine sport fastback, the A390_β. The second of three Dream Garage models after the A290 and before the future electric A110, the trio is supposed to mark the brand's electric transition.
Following Alpine's designations, the car's name combines an A followed by three numbers: '3' refers to the vehicle's size and 90 refers to the brand's multi-purpose, everyday vehicles, whilst the Greek letter beta refers to the midway stage of development before its official production launch.
Described as "a racing car in a tailor-made suit", the A390_β's design took inspiration from the mountain ranges in the Alps, utilising natural elements like rock, minerals, and snow in its design and choice of materials.
The car will feature three electric motors, with one at the front and two at the rear. It will also feature a non-permanent AWD (all-wheel drive) system, with axle drive managed by an Alpine-developed torque management system: Active Torque Vectoring.
The car's silhouette resembles a monolithic bubble, symbolising a drop of water and offering the ideal balance between functionality and aerodynamics. Its intense and varied Bleu Specular exterior finish highlights its sharp shapes, whilst its tint switches between bright and deeper shades, accentuating its lines.
But what makes the car stand out is its distinctive lighting signature, a swarm of illuminated triangles labelled "Cosmic Dust" found under the front and rear lighting strip, and the slender light bars at the front and rear.
The A390_β sports visible aerodynamic elements such as a "flying bridge" on its upper part, a micro-perforated grille, and wide side scoops. At the rear, it sports a shark fin and a light strip that can be extended or retracted by 80mm, transforming from a 'short-tail' to 'long-tail' design that improves its operating range.
Its wheels' design was inspired by a snowflake; the centre of its 22-inch front and 23-inch rear wheels sport a cabochon illuminated by a bluish halo and the transparent effect of its central flange showcases the Active Torque Vectoring function.
The front seats also include a two-tone, four-point Sabelt harness mimicking the extraction system of a Formula One car. The series production A390 will be based on the Stellantis Group's AmpR Medium platform and will see series production starting from 2025, with all components made in France.
