Alpine’s upcoming coupe-SUV is shaping up to be something special, with design cues taken straight from the Alps. Meet the Alpine A390_β concept, a futuristic family-friendly SUV that brings a bit of F1 flair to the everyday driving experience.  

Let’s break down the name to see what we’re dealing with. As with all Alpine models, the "A" designates it as part of the Alpine family, while the “3” hints at its size. So yes, this is larger than the compact A290 hot hatch. The “90” signals its purpose: Alpine’s expansion beyond pure sports cars into more practical, everyday vehicles. And that little Greek beta symbol? It tells us this is a concept for now, but we’re inching ever closer to seeing it in showrooms.

In fact, Alpine claims the exterior is already 85% true to the production-ready A390 we’ll see on the roads soon. Its design is inspired by the Alps, sporting a shape they describe as a "monolithic bubble." We’re all for monolithic bubbles if they look this cool.

“The A390_β previews our future Alpine sport fastback, which we’ve designed like an A110 – but with five seats,” says Alpine’s CEO Philippe Krief. “It perfectly embodies the duality between racing spirit and refinement, something we’ll deliver starting in 2025 with this production model, built right here in France at the historic Dieppe Manufacture.”

Lighting on the A390_β takes its cue from the Alpenglow hydrogen racer. You’ll find striking light bars front and rear, sitting above what Alpine calls a "swarm of illuminated triangles" – a feature they’ve poetically named Cosmic Dust. Up front, a flying bridge directs airflow over the SUV, while the rear showcases a more conceptual Le Mans-inspired shark fin and a massive diffuser. Oh, and the rear light bar can extend by 80 mm, transforming the A390_β into a longtail SUV to slice through the air more efficiently.

The wheels are a statement on their own. They’re styled like snowflakes, measuring a hefty 56 cm at the front and 58 cm at the rear, each featuring a blue gemstone at the center. Don’t get too attached though, as they probably won’t make the production cut.

Step inside, and you’re greeted by a cabin that’s deliberately futuristic. Suicide doors open up to carbon fibre front seats with 3D-printed headrests. Alpine scanned its F1 seats to create these, and with the press of a button, the driver’s seat shifts into ‘F1 mode’ – raised pedals, reclined seating, the works. Up front, you’ve got Sabelt harnesses for that racecar feel, while the F1-inspired steering wheel doubles as a key, with an 'ice crystal' embedded in it. Behind the wheel, three glass slats produce a holographic effect to display vital info.  

The rear bench seat? It’s crafted from memory foam and designed as a single piece to make passengers feel like they’re stepping onto a fresh blanket of untouched snow. The floor is carbon fibre, and beneath it sits a battery pack – the capacity of which remains a mystery for now.

Mechanically, the production A390 will be built on Renault Group’s AmpR Medium platform, shared with the Nissan Ariya, Renault Megane E-Tech, and the Scenic E-Tech. But unlike those more pedestrian models, the A390_β will pack a performance-oriented punch with a three-motor setup. Two motors power the rear axle, while one sits at the front, offering non-permanent all-wheel drive and active torque vectoring. No official word on power output yet, but with Alpine’s sporting pedigree, expect it to be anything but tame.

2025 can’t come soon enough!