When A Hot Hatch Meets Haute Couture: Alpine's Reptilian A290 Concept

France has a knack for pairing unlikely partners, and this latest crossover proves it. Alpine, the performance brand known for lightweight sports cars, has joined forces with fashion house Lacoste to reimagine the electric A290 Rallye as something between a competition machine and a runway piece. The result, cheekily named "Beware of the Crocodile," is a one-off that probably won't reach a dealership, but it's the kind of collaboration that makes enthusiasts wish automakers took more creative risks. ,

What separates this build from a typical livery job is how thoroughly the two brands blended their identities. The exterior stays mostly white, letting occasional splashes of red do the talking, echoed straight from the crimson tongue on Lacoste's crocodile logo. Widened wheel arches, a reworked front bumper with red-trimmed lighting elements, and generous use of forged carbon fiber give the car a purposeful, track-ready stance. White aero-disc wheels, styled after vintage rally rims, and the roof scoop carried over from the standard Rallye variant round out the exterior changes.

The real showstopper sits out back. Alpine and Lacoste ditched the rear window entirely, replacing it with an oversized red crocodile head that looks as though it's emerging from a pool of red water. That "water," cleverly enough, is nothing more than the car's ducktail spoiler finished in matching crimson paint. It's a bold, almost theatrical touch that turns a functional aerodynamic piece into a genuine talking point. ,

Step inside and the theme only intensifies. Where the outside teases with restraint, the cabin goes all in, drenched in red from the dashboard to the door panels. Tiny embroidered crocodiles, stitched by the very artisans responsible for the reptiles on Lacoste's polo shirts, cover much of the interior surfaces. Alpine didn't stop at aesthetics either: the racing seats benefit from 3D-printed components designed to trim excess weight, proving that even a fashion-driven concept still respects the brand's performance-first mindset.

Beyond the car itself, the partnership extends into a short film featuring Lacoste ambassador Pierre Niney alongside Alpine's Formula 1 driver Pierre Gasly, a pairing meant to bridge motorsport credibility with runway appeal. Alongside the film, the two companies are rolling out a capsule collection of polo shirts, T-shirts, and accessories that let fans wear a piece of the collaboration even if they'll never sit behind the wheel of this particular A290.

It's unlikely this crocodile-themed hatch will ever see series production, but that's rather beside the point. Projects like this exist to spark conversation, blur the line between automotive engineering and fashion design, and remind us that even a serious rally-bred EV can have a sense of humor. For Alpine and Lacoste, this is less about selling cars and more about reinforcing what both brands represent: French craftsmanship, bold identity, and a willingness to have fun with their heritage.