An Electric Hot Hatch with Heritage
Before diving into the wild one-off, it’s worth meeting the base car. The Alpine A290 is the French performance brand's first foray into the world of electric hot hatches. Built on the foundations of the retro-inspired Renault 5, the A290 is designed
to be agile, responsive, and, most importantly, fun to drive, translating Alpine's rally and racing heritage into a compact, battery-powered package. With its muscular arches, distinctive X-shaped rally-style headlights, and a focus on sharp handling, it already stands out from the crowd of more subdued EVs. It’s a car meant to prove that electrification doesn’t have to mean the end of driver engagement and personality.
Beware of the Crocodile
As characterful as the standard A290 is, Alpine and fellow French brand Lacoste have taken things to a completely new level. They've created a one-off art car, officially named 'Beware of the Crocodile - Alpine Lacoste A290 Rallye'. This isn't just a car with a few logos slapped on; it's a top-to-bottom creative overhaul. The collaboration dives deep into the heritage of both brands—Alpine’s motorsport prowess and Lacoste's iconic 'Crocodile' mascot, which originated from the nickname of its founder, tennis player René Lacoste. The result is a vehicle that’s part rally car, part fashion statement, and entirely unexpected.
A Masterclass in Playful Details
So, what makes it so playful? It starts with the exterior, finished in a matte bluish-white paint that contrasts with aggressive, rally-spec spoilers and diffusers. But the real fun is in the details. The hood graphic depicts red crocodiles swimming in a pool, while a translucent croc head pokes out of the rear spoiler. Step inside, and you are enveloped in a cabin rendered almost entirely in a vibrant red, meant to feel like you’re stepping inside the crocodile's mouth. The dashboard is dotted with dozens of embroidered crocodile patches of varying sizes, and the seat and door panels are finished in the same petit piqué fabric as Lacoste's famous polo shirts. According to the brands, there are exactly 290 crocodiles hidden throughout the vehicle, turning the car into a design-led treasure hunt.
A Welcome Break from Sterility
Automaker and fashion brand collaborations are not new, but this one feels different. It pushes beyond a simple co-branding exercise to create something genuinely whimsical and bold. In a market where many EVs are defined by minimalist, aerodynamic designs in muted palettes of white, grey, and black, the Alpine x Lacoste A290 is a vibrant splash of colour and creativity. It challenges the notion that electric cars must look serious and utilitarian. This concept demonstrates that an EV can be a canvas for artistic expression and humour, blending high-performance engineering with a high-fashion sensibility that doesn’t take itself too seriously. It's a powerful reminder that car design can, and should, evoke emotion and personality.
