The name echoes Alpine’s nomenclature, with an A followed by three numbers. The 3 refers to the size of the vehicle and the 90 to the Renault group brand’s cars designed for versatile, everyday use. The Greek letter beta, on the other hand, indicates the intermediate stage of development before the official launch of the production car. The A390_β offers a glimpse of the future production model designed for everyday use, capable of transforming into a real ‘racing beast’ like the iconic A110, for a much sportier drive. Like the Alpenglow concept car presented at the Paris Motor Show in 2022, the A390_β showcar draws inspiration from the mountain ranges of the Alps. Rocks, minerals and snow are the natural elements that fuelled the design and determined the choice of materials, giving it a distinct personality.
The dynamic, flowing profile reveals a true sculpture. The cockpit, which takes the form of a monolithic bubble, takes its inspiration from a drop of water, a natural form that offers the best balance between function and aerodynamics. The showcar is distinguished by its characteristic light signature, in line with Alpenglow’s. At the front and rear, there is a swarm of illuminated triangles called ‘Cosmic Dust’ that recall the image of a comet passing through the atmosphere. Finally, the thin light bars at the front and rear, which seem to cut through the air like a blade, give an idea of lightness.
The rear offers an interpretation of the ‘Light Follows Function’ principle: light emphasises the aerodynamic elements of the showcar. The central drift, a clear reference to the Alpine cars that race at Le Mans, stands for fluidity and stability. Finally, in harmony with the rear diffuser, the headlamp light strip can extend or contract by 80 mm, allowing the A390_β to switch from a short-tail to a long-tail design. This ability to extend leads to a reduction in the drag coefficient and an improvement in the vehicle’s range.
