Meet the Base: The A290 Hot Hatch
Before we dive into the crocodile-infested details, it’s important to understand the car underneath. The Alpine A290 is the French performance brand's first foray into the all-electric market. Based on the acclaimed Renault 5 platform, the A290 is designed
to prove that the thrill of a classic hot hatch can exist in the electric era. It combines a compact, agile chassis with instant electric torque, delivering a sporty and engaging driving experience. With up to 220 horsepower, a rally-inspired design featuring distinctive X-shaped lights, and a driver-focused cockpit, the standard A290 is already a head-turner. But two iconic French brands decided to push its design to the absolute limit.
Two French Icons Collide
The wild creation, officially named "Beware of the Crocodile," is the result of a partnership between automaker Alpine and the iconic fashion house Lacoste. Both brands share a rich French heritage and a history rooted in performance and style—Alpine on the racetrack and Lacoste on the tennis court. Instead of a simple branding exercise, they created a one-of-a-kind rally concept that serves as a rolling art installation. The project is based on the A290 Rallye, the most extreme version of the car built for competition, signaling a serious commitment to performance aesthetics. This collaboration is less about selling a car and more about making a bold statement on design, innovation, and French ingenuity.
Matte White Meets Menacing Crocodiles
The exterior is where the 'madness' begins. The car is finished in a unique matte bluish-white paint, inspired by the snow and ice of Alpine mountain landscapes, which gives it a textured, mineral-like surface. This is contrasted by aggressive, rally-spec modifications including widened wheel arches, a massive rear spoiler, and a functional roof air intake. But the main event is the literal interpretation of the Lacoste logo. On the hood, three crocodiles are depicted swimming in a pool of red resin. Around the back, a much larger, translucent red crocodile appears to snarl as it emerges from where the rear window would be, climbing onto the spoiler. Even the roof features a small fin designed to mimic a crocodile's scaly back breaking the water's surface.
A Cabin Drenched in Red
If the exterior is a playful hint, the interior is a full immersion. Alpine says the cabin is designed to make the driver feel as if they are literally stepping into a crocodile's mouth. The entire space—from the dashboard and racing seats to the roll cage—is drenched in a vibrant, monochrome red. To ground the concept in Lacoste's identity, the seats and door panels are upholstered in the brand's signature 'petit piqué' fabric, the same material used for its famous polo shirts. The embroidery was even handled by Potencier, the historic workshop that produces Lacoste's iconic crocodile logos, adding a layer of authentic craftsmanship to the wildly imaginative design.
The Hunt for 290 Crocodiles
The unifying theme and the cleverest part of this collaboration is a number: 290. In a playful nod to the car's model name, the design teams embedded exactly 290 crocodiles throughout the vehicle. This turns the car into an interactive design piece. Dozens of embroidered crocodile patches in varying sizes are scattered across the red dashboard like collector's items. Others are hidden in plain sight, with the rally light logos swapped for dueling Alpine and Lacoste icons. This central gimmick elevates the car from a simple custom build to a witty, cohesive concept where every detail is part of the story, rewarding those who look closely at its outrageous design.
A Statement for the Future of EVs
While you won't be able to buy this specific car, the "Beware of the Crocodile" A290 serves a greater purpose. It was launched alongside a capsule clothing collection and acts as a powerful marketing tool for both brands. More importantly, it’s a powerful statement about the future of electric cars. It shows that as we transition away from internal combustion engines, we don't have to leave personality and fun behind. For a market like India, where the premium EV segment is growing, this kind of extreme personalization and brand collaboration points towards a future where electric cars are not just modes of transport, but vibrant expressions of style and identity.
