"Performance. Agile handling. Personality and character. Motorsport heritage. Cramped rear. Interior design lacks coherence. Poor switchgear. Oft-compared to Lotus, the Alpine brand has drifted in and out of focus over the years despite seven decades of idiosyncratic road cars and regular motorsport success. It's currently in Formula One and the World Endurance Championship, and its A110 sports car is a masterpiece of lightweight analogue driving entertainment. No slouches, then."
"For now, as the future is electric, the requirement for greater global awareness rests with the A390. It's an unusual proposition, on the face of it-a genuine five-door sports coupe that builds out on the design attributes that made the A110 so much more than a retro pastiche. You can see the connection in the side profile and shoulders, although the front end's air curtains and bonnet blades have a model-specific aero functionality."
Alpine plans global expansion and an all-electric future, with the A390 positioned to raise brand awareness ahead of a US entry and a three-car EV lineup expected in 2027. The A390 is a genuine five-door sports coupe that echoes the A110's proportions while adding model-specific aerodynamic features. The car emphasizes performance, agile handling, and motorsport character, drawing on in-house motor and chassis production in Cléon and Le Mans and battery modules produced in Dunkirk and assembled in Douai. Packaging compromises include a cramped rear, incoherent interior design, and unimpressive switchgear.
Read at WIRED
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