SHERIDAN, WYOMING – Jan. 23, 2025 – The unveiling of the Alpine A390_β show car marks a significant milestone for the iconic French automaker. This concept car, a precursor to the highly anticipated A390 sports fastback, embodies Alpine's commitment to performance, technology, and innovative design.
The A390_β serves as a testbed for cutting-edge materials and manufacturing techniques, showcasing the brand's dedication to pushing the boundaries of automotive engineering. Alpine collaborated with expert French suppliers, highlighting the rich tradition of craftsmanship and innovation within the country.
A390_β – A Palette of Innovative Materials
The creation of a show car represents a pivotal moment in the development process. For Alpine's design team, it's an opportunity to explore unconventional ideas and redefine the limits of automotive design.
Stéphanie Petit, Alpine's Chief Designer Color & Materials, emphasizes the importance of this stage:
“Working closely with manufacturers close to our design center, who share Alpine's values and possess unrivaled know-how, is a powerful driver for injecting ever more innovation into our future vehicles.”
The A390_β incorporates materials that align with Alpine's core values: lightweight, durable, and sustainable. This commitment to innovation led Alpine to partner with two exceptional French companies: Erpro Group and Lavoisier Composites.
Erpro Group: Intricate Design Solved with 3D Printing
The interior of the A390_β is a study in futuristic design, blending Alpine's heritage with elements inspired by Formula 1. Marc Poulain, Chief Advance Designer at Alpine, envisioned a design language that evokes the Alps, incorporating technical materials to create a cockpit-like environment.
“The A390_ β is defined equally by its audacity and advanced tech. Having privileged access to agile, specialized partners is a real asset for our design teams, who can test and improve their creations on an ongoing basis. These collaborations allow us to build on each other's strengths to create objects that are unique in the world.”
One of the most striking features of the interior is the headrest, a complex structure that needed to be lightweight, strong, breathable, and flexible. To achieve this, Alpine turned to Erpro Group, a leader in 3D printing technology.
Erpro Group, known for its expertise in the automotive, aerospace, and luxury sectors, embraced the challenge. Cyrille Vue, CEO of Erpro Group, explains:
“Our main objective is to support our customers in their desire to innovate. By letting them benefit from all Erpro Group's expertise in 3D printing, we enable them to create parts they've never made before.”
Using a bio-sourced elastomer, Arkema's Pebax® Rnew®, Erpro Group meticulously crafted the headrests, ensuring they met Alpine's stringent requirements. This collaboration resulted in a world-first application of 3D printing for this type of component in a vehicle.
Lavoisier Composites: Giving a Second Life to Cutting-Edge Materials
While the floor of a car might seem like a purely functional element, Alpine saw it as an opportunity to further enhance the A390_β's design. To achieve their vision, they collaborated with Lavoisier Composites, a Lyon-based startup specializing in eco-sourced composite parts.
True to its namesake, Antoine Lavoisier, the father of modern chemistry, Lavoisier Composites operates on the principle of "nothing is lost, nothing is created, everything is transformed." The company utilizes recycled materials from the aeronautical and photovoltaic industries to create innovative composite parts.
Esteban Villalon, CEO of Lavoisier Composites, highlights the importance of sustainability:
“By giving a second life to cutting-edge materials, Lavoisier Composites places respect for materials at the heart of industrial considerations. What may seem like a constraint becomes a strength for our customers, for whom sustainability has become an essential issue.”
For the A390_β, Lavoisier Composites crafted a floor composed of triangular-section elements, showcasing the depth and brilliance of the recycled carbon fiber. This unique design not only complements the car's aesthetics but also underscores Alpine's commitment to environmental responsibility.
Strength in Unity
Through collaborations with innovative partners like Erpro Group and Lavoisier Composites, Alpine is redefining the possibilities of automotive design and manufacturing. By embracing new materials, technologies, and sustainable practices, Alpine is shaping the future of the automotive industry, one innovative partnership at a time.