Renault’s Alpine Returning to Australia with Electric A390 SUV

Renault’s performance offshoot Alpine has announced it will be returning to the Australian market – starting with a high-performance SUV.

In a presentation overnight, Alpine outlined plans to re-enter the Australian market, after new Australian Design Rules forced the company’s only model at the time – the A110 sports coupe – to be pulled from sale locally back in 2021.

The first model confirmed for Australia is the A390 – an electric SUV-coupe which aims to compete with the Porsche Macan Turbo Electric – with two grades announced so far: the GT, and the range-topping GTS.

With between 520 and 555 kilometres of claimed range (WLTP), the A390 uses three electric motors – one of the front and two at the rear – to produce a combined 345kW and 808Nm in the GTS, fed from an 89kWh battery pack.

Alpine claims the A390 GTS can hit 100km/h from a standstill in 3.9 seconds.

The A390 GT is also a tri-motor set-up, but produces 295kW and 650Nm – covering the 0-100km/h sprint in 4.8 seconds.

While Alpine is refusing to call it an SUV, the A390 is based on the same architecture as the Renault Scenic and Nissan Ariya SUVs, and has similar dimensions to the Cupra Tavascan and Tesla Model Y.

However, Alpine says the handling benchmark for the A390 is the highly-acclaimed A110, with a new Active Torque Vectoring System – which can send power the outside rear wheel – expected to contribute significantly to the vehicle’s cornering dynamics.

Inside, the A390 comes with a 12-inch digital instrument cluster, and a 12.3-inch infotainment screen in portrait mode and angled towards the driver, along with carbon-fibre trim and leather seats by Sabelt.

Two anodised aluminium switches on the steering wheel control energy regeneration (for one-pedal driving) and simulated overboost for overtaking, which Alpine says was inspired by Formula One.

Significant work has also been put into the A390’s aerodynamics, with electronically actuated curtains to increase airflow when needed, along with a functional body-kit and air passages for the wheels.

Drivers can also turn on one of two synthetic Alpine Drive Sounds, with the Sport option said to mimic the A110’s petrol engine.

While exact details and timeframes haven’t been announced, Alpine has revealed it will be bringing more models to local showrooms – with one expected to be the A290, based on the Renault 5 electric hatchback.

The company previously revealed it was working on an electric successor to the highly-acclaimed A110 coupe – with a convertible version also said to be in development – which could also be a candidate for an Australian launch.

An Alpine A310 – a smaller four-door coupe to rival the Polestar 4 – is also in the pipeline.

Alpine will open orders for the A390 in the fourth quarter of 2025, ahead of an expected 2026 launch. However, it’s arrival to Australia will likely follow Europe by several months.