Alpine’s engineering teams are continuing to test the A390, the company’s first sport fastback, and finalizing development on a wet track at Michelin’s Ladoux complex. The tests have demonstrated the A390’s chassis balance on slippery roads using Alpine Active Torque Vectoring.
The Alpine sport fastback’s dynamic performance will be tested on the 4,100m wet test track at Ladoux Technology Centre in Auvergne, France.
The A390 features three electric motors, which enable Alpine Active Torque Vectoring, and five driving modes, including the new Track Mode that adjusts the settings of the ESC (electronic stability control). The teams are using the track to validate the mapping of these various components.
The A390 is shod with tires developed jointly with Michelin, identifiable by their A39 marking: 20in Pilot Sport EV, 21in Pilot Sport 4S.
The Alpine Drive Sound audio system, designed to enhance the driver’s experience, is also being tested at Ladoux. Similar to the A290, Alpine has created two sounds for the A390 model. The sportier version is derived from the A110’s sound signature but does not replicate the sound of a combustion engine. The second version, more focused toward daily use, has less bass. Both can be adjusted to two sound levels or switched off completely.
In related news, McLaren recently concluded the cold weather testing program for the prototype McLaren W1, completing a validation cycle in the Arctic Circle focused on verifying critical vehicle systems under subzero conditions. Click here to read the full story.
