Forget crossovers, we believe an Alpine sports sedan would be a far tastier way to carve canyons
October 27, 2024 at 11:09
- While Alpine chases sales with the new A390_β SUV, we think a sports sedan would better represent the brand.
- Dual electric motors with V2G capabilities could deliver an ideal mix of performance and sustainability.
- Key rivals in the electric sedan market would include the BMW i4 and Tesla Model 3 Performance.
The consensus is loud and clear -as evidenced by our comments section, most of you aren’t on board with Alpine’s production-intent concept, the A390_β. The French brand’s PR team can call it a “sport fastback” all they want, but the plastic cladding doesn’t lie. This is a crossover, through and through, putting it firmly at odds with the heritage the sports car maker embodied. This is not the Alpine of rally legend and featherweight coupe fame; this is Alpine following the market’s crossover obsession.
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Yes, we get it: SUVs are crossovers are cash cows, and consumers snap them up. But what if, in an alternate reality, the A390 dropped a few inches, tossed the cladding, and sharpened its silhouette to resemble a proper sports sedan? A true Alpine EV sedan with serious performance chops – now that’s a concept worth getting excited about. Intrigued? Let’s take a closer look.
Sleek Appearances
In this alternate reality, our reimagined A390_β takes the best elements of the concept and distills them into a lean, low-slung profile that does justice to Alpine’s sporting DNA. Gone are the show car’s higher ground clearance and plastic cladding. Instead, the sedan boasts powerful proportions with a design language echoing the iconic A110 sports car.
The front end dials back the concept’s overly smoothed styling, reintroducing round headlamps that wink at Alpine’s past. To assist airflow, a “flying bridge” frames the hood, while at the rear, things get even more shapely with a sleek shark fin that divides the rear glass and slimline LED lighting. The saloon sits on huge racing-inspired wheels – call them cartoonish in size, but they do enhance the vehicle’s overall stance.
Interior Innovation
While the concept’s bonkers sci-fi interior – along with its shifting driver’s seat and rock-inspired floor -may not make it to production, we’d still expect a driver-focused cockpit with sports-themed seating for five and lightweight, high-quality materials such as Nappa and suede.
On the tech side, expect advanced infotainment with OTA (over-the-air) connectivity and semi-hidden touch-capacitive controls, a trick borrowed from the Nissan Ariya. The concept’s spacecraft vibe may be toned down, but elements like the minimalist dashboard and ergonomic controls would stay, prioritizing usability without losing the Alpine edge.
EV Power and Key Rivals
Under this sleeker exterior, the AmpR Medium architecture-based EV will sport dual motors that provide all-wheel drive and an active torque vectoring system to control the handling and stability equation. In true Alpine fashion, it would focus on agility and engagement, rather than just brute force.
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While Alpine remains tight-lipped about specific power figures and range, its performance is expected to be better than that of its Nissan Ariya platformmate. It’s also tipped to offer onboard bi-directional charging (Vehicle to Grid) capabilities, a feature increasingly sought after in EVs.
If the sedan ever did escape from the digital realm into reality, its rivals would include the Tesla Model 3, BMW i4, BYD Seal, Mercedes-Benz CLA, Polestar 2 and a plethora of Chinese offerings, from Xpeng’s Mona M03 to Mazda’s China and European-only EZ-6 Sedan.
So, What Do You Think?
Would you like to see Alpine break from the SUV crowd and deliver an electrified sports sedan? We’d love to know if this vision strikes a chord or if the French brand you once knew is already too far gone. Let us know in the comments below.
Alpine A390_b Concept
