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The Alpine A390 will arrive next year as the spearhead of the French brand’s ambitious plan to rival the likes of Porsche with a range of luxurious electric cars.

It will be shown in A390 Beta concept form at next month’s Paris motor show, but the production version has now been spotted testing on public roads.

New images of a camouflaged test car reveal it to be a high-sided coupé-crossover similar in silhouette to the Nissan Ariya – with which it's expected to share a platform.

The A390 will be comprehensively upgraded compared with that car, however, with Alpine targeting the likes of the Audi SQ6 E-tron and Porsche Macan Electric.

Agility is being prioritised in the car’s development, as Alpine design chief Antony Villain told Autocar: “The idea is to use the driving experience of the A110 [sports car] and duplicate it in different segments.

“We want something high-performance, sporty and energised. We don’t want something that just goes in straight lines super-quickly.”

Villain added that Alpine is considering “various technical solutions” to make a chunky electric SUV handle like its petrol-engined sports car, such as torque vectoring and four-wheel steering.

It's therefore likely that range-topping versions of the A390 will feature a dual-motor powertrain, which would enable torque vectoring across both the front and rear axles.

Nonetheless, it will make concessions to daily usability: Alpines are now designated based on their positioning, with the ‘10’ or ‘90’ denoting whether it’s focused on outright performance or practicality. The A390 falls into the latter camp.

The A390 is the second of seven EVs in Alpine’s ‘dream garage’, which are intended to transform the Renault-owned brand from a niche sports car maker to a global premium contender.

The first was the A290, the Renault 5-based hot hatch, and the next-generation A110 sports car is due in the next few years. It will be joined by the A310 (a larger Porsche 911 rival) and a number of SUVs focused on the American market.

Toyota looks to be readying its GR Corolla hot hatchback for a European launch as prototypes begin testing at the Nürburgring.

Hot hatch fans have long called for Toyota to bring the Gazoo Racing variant of the Corolla to Europe. The standard car is the Japanese brand’s third biggest seller in the region, behind the Yaris and Yaris Cross.

Toyota's performance division performs strongly already in the region with its three current models, the GR Yaris, GR Supra and GR 86. However, the latter is being killed off soon by the EU's new GSR2 safety regulations, which could make space for the Corolla to finally go on sale in Europe. 

The standard Corolla is built in Bernaston, Derbyshire, but the all-wheel-drive hot version is built at the same Motomachi facility in Japan as the GR Yaris. It has already been engineered in both left-hand drive (for North America) and right-hand drive (for Japan).

The latest version, unveiled this summer and spotted testing at the Nürburgring in right-hand drive guise, is powered by a turbocharged 1.6-litre engine that makes 300bhp. That’s 42bhp more than the GR Yaris, which uses the same three-pot powertrain and four-wheel drive system. It can, like the Yaris, also be optioned with either a eight-speed automatic or six-speed manual gearbox.

With those power figures it is a natural rival for the likes of the BMW M135i (296bhp), Honda Civic Type R (315bhp), and Volkswagen Golf R (328bp).

A more powerful GRMN (Gazoo Racing Meisters of the Nürburgring) variant has also been spotted lapping the Nordschleife (pictured below). Not yet revealed, the track-honed GR Corolla sits lower to the road and sports a chunkier rear wing.

Toyota already sells a special-edition GRMN Yaris in its home market in very limited numbers, which is a stiffer, lighter and more powerful version of the GR Yaris.

Asked about the prototypes, a Toyota spokesperson told Autocar that “all major car manufacturers test their biggest global products at the Nürburgring”, but did not deny the possibility of the car being destined for European dealerships. 

Even if it is confirmed to be sold on this side of the Atlantic, the GR Corolla would no doubt be a highly exclusive proposition. It's currently sold in North America from $36,500 (£27,636), but if it follows a similar costing structure to its sibling in the UK (which commands a £21,500 premium over the standard Yaris), it would cost north of £50,000.

In this week's issue, we reveal the radical Lotus Theory concept, drive the lightest sports car we’ve ever tested and wave goodbye to the Jaguar I-Pace.

News

Lotus has unveiled the striking Lotus Theory 1 concept, a three-seat, 986bhp supercar designed to evoke the spirit of the Esprit as a brand-building performance showcase that will be a “blueprint” for all of the firm’s future cars. We detail the new concept from the Geely-owned car maker. 

DS has reimagined the legendary Citroën SM as a futuristic, tech-laden concept that previews the French premium brand’s design direction. We share all the important information on the stunning new concept. 

We also share news on Volkswagen Group’s cash crisis, how Volvo plans to use the EX90 as a pioneer for future software and the current state of the public charger network. 

Reviews

The Mika Meon looks like a carefree beach buggy but is meant as a serious sports car – and an electric one at that. Matt Saunders puts the lightweight EV through its paces. 

Volkswagen has finally given the ID 3 hatchback some GTI attitude, but is it as good to drive as its ICE equivalent? Greg Cable finds out. 

We also drive the new Audi S E-tron GT, BMW M440i convertible, McLaren GTS, Volkswagen Golf TDI and the Renault Megane E-Tech – and the Aston Martin Vantage is road test no.5693.

Features 

The pioneering Jaguar I-Pace has been axed after only six years on sale. Steve Cropley ponders if the electric SUV was taken too soon.

Intrigued by EVs but don’t know your PSM from your EESM or the difference between NMC and LFP? Jesse Crosse explains all. 

Opinion 

Matt Prior questions if there is a market for hypercars in the electric era following the reveal of the Lotus Theory concept. 

Steve Cropely, meanwhile, heads to the Goodwood Revival, pays a visit to the new Aston Martin F1 factory and considers adding a fun car from Caterham, Ariel or Morgan to his fleet. 

Used

Should you buy a used electric car? Sam Phillips explains why it might be time to invest in a stylish, fast and refined EV: the Volvo XC40 Recharge. 

Also in the used section: My car and I, Our cars, Head-to-head and Caught in the Classifieds.