Alpine A390 GT is France’s spirited answer to German dullness
The engineers in Dieppe have finally grasped that mid engined toys for purists do not pay the bills on their own. The arrival of the Alpine A390 GT in showrooms marks a new chapter in the brand’s Dream Garage strategy. Where the Alpine badge once meant awkward access and almost no boot space, the A390 is a pragmatic sport fastback trying to fuse the sharpness of the A110 with the daily usefulness of a five door family car. Physics and 400 bhp suggest the result could be entertaining. The €67,500 starting price, though, invites a sharper question. Has Alpine kept its soul in the electric age, or is this simply a very expensive Renault Megane E Tech in a slightly better tailored suit?
Technical anatomy, three motors and active torque vectoring
There is one motor on the front axle and two synchronous motors at the rear, one for each wheel. That allows Alpine to deploy its Alpine Active Torque Vectoring system, which shuffles drive between the rear wheels in real time. In theory, it should trim out understeer and make a heavy electric car feel in corners far lighter than it has any right to. The sprint from 0 to 100 km/h takes 4.8 seconds. That will not rearrange your internal organs in the manner of a Tesla with something theatrical in its drive modes, but Alpine is clearly betting on balance and precision rather than brute force.
An 89 kWh battery promises up to 555 kilometres on the WLTP cycle. In the real world, that should translate into a decent sense of security on longer motorway runs, helped by 150 kW rapid charging that takes the battery from 15 to 80 per cent in 29 minutes.
More than a design exercise
The Alpine A390 GT is aimed at buyers who have grown tired of the sterile competence of German premium brands. It is meant for people who need a rear seat but refuse to buy yet another square shouldered SUV. The fastback shape is an aerodynamic riposte to the SUV obsession, with a lower centre of gravity and the promise of sharper handling.
Inside, an F1 inspired steering wheel meets Alcantara and Nappa leather. A 13 speaker Devialet audio system promises suitably French acoustic indulgence, while the Google based Alpine Portal software should, in theory at least, spare its users the digital headaches that have plagued several other European carmakers.
In the market, the A390 GT will have to take on cars such as the BMW i4 and the pricier end of the Tesla Model 3 range. The standard heat pump is essential in colder climates. Three motor four wheel drive and clever torque distribution should, on paper, make this one of the more entertaining options on a snowy road.
There is, inevitably, a catch. The 20 inch Snowflake wheels, or optional 21 inch items, and the low slung fastback body demand real attention on broken spring roads. This is a car for asphalt, not forest tracks.
A €67,500 outlay buys you a place in the more conspicuous corner of the car park and an alternative to the usual mass produced choices. The Alpine A390 GT is trying to prove it can be civilised enough for the school run, yet still complicated and alive enough to deliver genuine pleasure on an empty road. Whether that is enough to preserve the Alpine spirit will matter rather less to the driver enjoying it than to everyone else still buying the obvious option.
