Alpine has announced that its new ‘racing car in a suit’, also known as the A390 electric fastback, will be priced from £61,390 in the UK. Orders are to open soon, with first deliveries set for the spring. That money buys an A390 GT, with 400hp/487lb ft and the ability to reach 62mph in 4.8 seconds. The GTS gets 470hp/608lb ft, slashing the 0-62mph sprint down to 3.9 seconds (as well as the WLTP range, from 345 to 312 miles). It costs from £69,390. Both are powered by an 89kWh battery and Alpine’s tri-motor setup, which is said to deliver ‘exceptional agility, balance and responsiveness’. Maximum DC charging is 190kW.
Splitting those two models on cost is the £65,390 A390 Premiere Edition, of which there will be just 390; it’s based on the GT but adds Alpine Blue six-piston calipers, Sabelt seats with Nappa leather, a 22kW AC onboard charger (11kW is standard), a black contrast roof and some French tricolours for good measure. Standard equipment for all A390s includes a 12.3-inch driver display and 12-inch central screen (with Google built in), a Devialet 13-speaker sound system, a power tailgate and the usual gamut of driver assists. Exclusive to the GTS are the 21-inch Snowflake wheels with Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tyres (the GT uses Sport EV rubber), red brake calipers, an even better, Xtreme Sound audio system and the Expert spec of Alpine telemetrics. The Sabelt seats from the Premiere Edition are included as well. The colours are Blanc Topaze, Noir Profond, Argent Mercure, Bleu Abysse, Bleu Alpine Vision, and Gris Tonnerre Matte, though it’s not clear yet which will be optional. The black contrast roof included on the Premiere Edition will cost £1,000 on a GT or GTS.
So the Alpine is one more family-friendly, battery-powered SUV that places an emphasis on driving satisfaction and interior ambience at £60k or so; you probably don’t need us to tell you that it’s entering a particularly busy market segment. But for some additional context, the Porsche Macan Electric (360hp, 270kW, up to 398 miles depending on spec) is from £68,600; for £71,900, that can be a four-wheel drive, 408hp Macan 4 Electric. The new BMW iX3 looks very good on paper, boasting 469hp and up to 500 miles from £58,455, with 400kW charging as well, but will probably need an options spend on standard spec to be at its best. The Audi Q6 e-tron, the sibling car of the Macan, starts at £60k, though at that money it can’t even muster 300hp. And don’t forget the muscle car of the group, the 650hp Kia EV6 GT; not as competitive on range as some, yet hard to ignore at £60,035.
Plenty to consider, then, for a prospective A390 customer. Alpine’s UK Brand Director Nic Burnside said: “With its blend of expressive design, bespoke electric performance and the dynamic spirit that defines every Alpine, the A390 marks an important step in the brand’s transition to a fully electric future – one that remains firmly centred on driving pleasure.” Potentially a more ambitious mission statement than ever, given recent developments, but let’s see. At any rate, there will be no missing any example of the new A390 when they arrive in the UK.
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