Two French Icons, One Vision
In one of the year's most unexpected team-ups, automotive performance brand Alpine has joined forces with iconic fashion label Lacoste. The result is a unique, one-off show car named the 'Alpine Lacoste A290 Rallye'. This isn't just a car with a logo
slapped on it; it's a fully integrated design project that merges the worlds of high-performance motorsport and high-fashion aesthetics. Both brands, born from the visions of Jean Rédélé (Alpine) and tennis legend René Lacoste, share a deep history in performance, precision, and French ingenuity, making this collaboration a natural, if surprising, fit. The project was unveiled in late June 2026, creating a significant buzz.
The Crocodile in the Details
The design concept for the rally car is playfully titled 'Beware of the Crocodile'. It's a direct nod to Lacoste's world-famous reptilian mascot. Rather than simply applying logos, the design teams transformed the crocodile into an architectural theme. The exterior is finished in a bluish-white paint inspired by Alpine mountain snow, with raw carbon fibre elements like the huge rear spoiler and widened rally arches highlighting its competitive purpose. But the real surprise is inside. The entire cabin is drenched in a bold red, designed to evoke the feeling of stepping into the crocodile's mouth. In a whimsical touch, exactly 290 crocodiles are hidden throughout the vehicle's design, from the headlights to a resin sculpture emerging from the parcel shelf.
Fashion-Forward Functionality
This collaboration goes beyond colour and graphics by integrating Lacoste's signature materials directly into the car's rally-spec interior. The seats and door panels are upholstered in the same 'petit piqué' fabric used for Lacoste's iconic polo shirts, with embroidery handled by the same workshop that creates the brand's chest logos. The interior also makes extensive use of 3D printing to create lightweight components and embed branding elements, showing a commitment to modern innovation. The base vehicle is Alpine's A290 Rallye, a purpose-built electric competition car, ensuring that the fashion-forward design is built upon a foundation of genuine motorsport technology, including a rally-specific chassis, optimised aerodynamics, and the instant torque delivery of an electric powertrain.
Concept Car and Capsule Collection
For those hoping to get their hands on this unique vehicle, it is unfortunately a one-off concept created for display purposes. It was designed to celebrate the partnership and will not be available for purchase. However, the collaboration extends beyond the car itself. To complement the project, Alpine and Lacoste have also released a co-branded capsule collection of apparel. The collection includes items like polo shirts, T-shirts, and technical outerwear that reflect the same blend of motorsport functionality and sporting elegance seen in the car. The entire project was launched with a short film titled 'The Test', featuring BWT Alpine Formula One Team driver Pierre Gasly and actor Pierre Niney.
