Alpine A390 GT: On the Road in Its Natural Environment
Already 100 Swiss people have opted for this sporty, fastback electric car. During a mountain pass drive in the Alpine A390 GT, Autosprint concludes: it was a good decision.
Production of the second-generation Alpine A110 has just come to an end. Based on the so-called Alpine High Performance Electric Platform, the third generation will be unveiled next year. But with the compact Alpine A290 and the strikingly designed A390, the French automaker still has two models up its sleeve that make you want to get behind the wheel. It’s high time to put the Alpine A390 GT through its paces in the high Alps!
A sharp, yet not aggressive look
The stylish design of this five-door car—which is 4.62 m long, 1.89 m wide, but only 1.53 m tall, giving it a very dynamic appearance, like a crouching athlete waiting for the starting gun—really stands out. And not just because of its color. A cool touch: the lighting signature. Striking, yet not aggressive. Bold: the spoiler on the hood; it adds a sporty touch and improves aerodynamics. Highlights include not only the many small details reminiscent of motorsports or older models, but above all the special 20-inch aluminum wheels with a snow crystal finish. The sporty vibe continues inside as well. Here, the French fastback impresses with standard sports seats or bucket seats featuring carbon fiber trim on the backrests. Both offer plenty of lateral support while providing high comfort for longer drives.
A sporty and very agile all-wheel-drive electric vehicle
During our drive through the mountain passes, what stands out most is the ease with which the A390 GT can be maneuvered through hairpin turns. This is thanks to the 49-to-51 percent weight distribution and, of course, the powertrain configuration with one electric motor in the front and two in the rear. The powertrain delivers a total of 295 kW/400 PS and 661 Nm, enabling a 0-to-100 km/h sprint in 4.8 seconds and, via torque vectoring, targeted intervention on the rear wheel on the outside of the curve. This gives the Alpine an incredibly direct steering feel. The WLTP range of 551 km is also impressive for a sporty all-wheel-drive vehicle.
Even though the GT model (starting at 64,500 Swiss francs) already impressed on the mountain pass route—over the Brünig, Grimsel, and Furka passes into Ticino and back via the Gotthard—many in Switzerland are likely to opt for the A390 GTS. It supports charging at up to 190 kW peak (instead of 150 kW like the GT), and, most importantly, it offers a slight boost in power and torque: 345 kW/470 PS and 824 Nm. That comes at a price—albeit a very fair one—as the Alpine A390 GTS costs 74,500 Swiss francs here.
