Alpine’s Path to America Could Start With a Big SUV — Think Porsche Cayenne–Sized

Alpine is discussing the development of a large electric crossover in the D/E segment, positioned above the upcoming A390. This potential flagship — informally referred to as the A590 — could play a key role in the brand’s long-term ambitions, including a possible entry into the U.S. market, where it would take on rivals such as the Porsche Cayenne EV, BMW iX, and Lotus Eletre.

As Alpine continues to expand its EV lineup, the brand is already looking beyond its next launches. Following the A390 “sports fastback” and the future electric A110, Alpine may add a significantly larger model — effectively a D/E-segment flagship crossover that the British press has begun referring to as the A590. The goal is pragmatic: broaden the audience and increase volumes without sacrificing the brand’s signature driver-focused DNA.

Alpine design director Antony Villain has openly spoken about the need for products in the D and E segments, which clearly points to a model positioned above the A390. Meanwhile, Alpine CEO Philippe Krief has acknowledged that the company has the U.S. market in mind, even though no firm entry plans have been announced. According to him, a single model like the A110 would not be enough to support dealers and partners in the U.S.; a more “substantial” vehicle would be required. At the same time, Alpine is keen to avoid a common mistake — entering the U.S. with a large vehicle that doesn’t reflect the brand’s character.

Notably, Alpine avoids calling even the A390 a conventional SUV, instead describing it as a “sports fastback” and emphasizing emotional driving appeal. The A390 is expected to deliver up to 464 horsepower thanks to a tri-motor all-wheel-drive setup. That philosophy — a big vehicle that still feels like a sports car — could define the future flagship and position it as a credible alternative to the BMW iX, Lotus Eletre, and Porsche Cayenne EV.

One major question remains: the platform. The next-generation A110 will use the new APP architecture, while the A390 is based on a modified Renault AmpR Medium platform, which currently limits vehicle length to around 4.6 meters (about 181 inches) in comparable models. For a true D/E-segment SUV — where competitors approach five meters in length and sometimes offer three-row seating — Alpine would either need to significantly stretch its existing hardware or adopt a different technical solution altogether.