The all-electric Alpine SUV teased in January 2021 now has a name – Alpine GT X-Over – and a very rough first test-mule using a modified body of a Dacia Duster has now been spotted on Renault’s own frozen lake in northern Sweden. The spy shots prove it was testing alongside a current Alpine A110 and a Nissan Ariya with which the GT X-Over will share platform and underpinnings. Alpine’s electric SUV belongs to the ‘Alpine Dream Garage,’ which is a trio of EVs. In June 2021, Luca de Meo, CEO, Renault Group, confirmed that the first of these three EVs will come out in 2024. Alpine, an ‘Avant-garde’ vehicle specialist of the Renault Group, revealed the first teaser of its upcoming models in the Renaulution corporate presentation in January 2021. The silhouettes of its 3-member portfolio confirmed an electric sports car (successor for the Alpine A110), an electric SUV (now known as GT X-Over), and a B-segment electric hot-hatchback.
The second teaser of the Alpine GT X-Over Renault Group revealed during the Renault eWays ElectroPop in June 2021 clearly indicated that it will have a silhouette that combines the typical characteristics of a coupe. This picture showed the Alpine SUV featuring a coupe-inspired roof that drops down steeply to the rear and flows into steeply raked D-pillars, which results in a flattish rear deck.
Alpine, which has been given the blessing of Renault Group boss de Meo to re-invent itself into a performance division, has a new target to be profitable by 2025. To this extent, the firm has partnered with Geely-owned Lotus to work together in a number of areas including the development of its new sports car. It would be reasonable to expect the learnings from this partnership to spill over to the Alpine GT X-Over. Lotus is developing a crossover of its own, with a working title of Lotus Type 132.
The GT X-Over will sit on the CMF-EV platform, which underpins the Nissan Ariya and the Renault Megane E-Tech Electric. Renault Group has filed over 300 patents on the CMF-EV platform.
Like the Megane E-Tech, the Alpine SUV should feature a heat pump that also allows the driver to heat the vehicle’s cabin, reducing the energy consumption of the HVAC system to improve the driving range in cold weather.
As for the range, the CMF-EV platform can offer a range of 580 km (360 miles) in WLTP.
The Alpine GT X-Over will likely feature the ‘slimline’ batteries, which are built into the structure of the CMF-EV platform. de Meo has told the media that these batteries are the ‘flattest in the market.’ They help the crossover achieve superior aerodynamics, which would be key for the performance-oriented Alpine electric SUV.
The Alpine electric SUV will get four-wheel drive, while its battery should offer a capacity of at least 90 kWh. French media speculate that the Alpine SUV would be about 4.6 m long, matching the Nissan Ariya. The motor output would be between 400-500 hp, enough mettle to compete with the Porsche Macan EV.
In 2021, Renault confirmed that it is developing a tri-motor powertrain for the Alpine SUV. With a 215 hp motor at the front and two motors at the rear, customers can expect approximately 450 bhp. The dual rear motors will enable torque vectoring, making the SUV fun around the corners, as each rear motor sends torque directly to the respective wheel. Moreover, electric torque vectoring will make driving on snow-covered and icy roads safer.
Alpine is expected to keep the price of the SUV realistic, as it is seeking more volumes, and become profitable by 2025. Expect the price of the Alpine GT X-Over to begin at around EUR 60 000.
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