Lacoste and Alpine have unveiled a new collaboration that explores the intersection of fashion, motorsport and French design through a one-off electric rally car and an accompanying capsule collection. Inspired by the shared legacies of Lacoste founder René Lacoste and Alpine founder Jean Rédélé, the project reflects the values both brands have championed for decades: technical innovation, purposeful design and understated elegance.
At the heart of the collaboration is the Beware of the Crocodile – Alpine Lacoste A290 Rallye, a bespoke concept developed jointly by the design and engineering teams of both maisons. Rather than serving as a styling exercise, the project is based on Alpine’s A290 Rallye customer competition car, bringing together motorsport engineering with Lacoste’s distinctive visual identity.
The collaboration is accompanied by The Test, a short film produced by Ninety Films and starring actor Pierre Niney alongside BWT Alpine Formula One Team driver Pierre Gasly, both ambassadors for Lacoste. The campaign captures the playful spirit of the partnership while highlighting the shared appreciation for precision and performance that underpins both brands.
A rally car reimagined through the Lacoste lens
Built on the most competition-focused version of Alpine’s new electric hot hatch, the A290 Rallye has been reinterpreted with a series of bespoke design elements inspired by Lacoste’s iconic crocodile emblem. The most striking reference comes from the vibrant red used throughout the interior, inspired by the crocodile’s tongue, creating an immersive monochromatic cabin that contrasts dramatically with the car’s cool-toned exterior.
Finished in a textured bluish-white paint inspired by Alpine landscapes, the exterior combines widened wheel arches, exposed carbon fibre, a prominent rear spoiler and functional aerodynamic elements that remain faithful to the rally car’s competition roots. The lighting signatures have also been subtly redesigned to echo the shape of the crocodile’s eyes, while numerous hidden design references are incorporated throughout the bodywork.
Inside, Lacoste’s signature petit piqué fabric appears across the seats and door panels, with embroidery produced by Potencier, the French workshop long associated with the crocodiles found on Lacoste’s polo shirts. Contemporary manufacturing techniques also play a role, with selected interior components produced using lightweight 3D-printed lattice structures that balance comfort, durability and weight reduction.
Although visually distinctive, the car retains the engineering focus expected of a modern rally machine. Competition suspension, reinforced braking systems, a dedicated electric powertrain calibration and rally-specific chassis tuning ensure the one-off remains firmly rooted in Alpine’s motorsport programme.
From the circuit to the wardrobe
Alongside the vehicle, Lacoste and Alpine have introduced a capsule collection inspired by both the tennis court and the racing circuit. The collection includes polo shirts, T-shirts, technical outerwear, accessories and co-branded lifestyle pieces that combine functional performance with the clean, contemporary aesthetic associated with both French brands.
Rather than leaning heavily into motorsport graphics, the collection adopts a more restrained approach, drawing on lightweight fabrics, considered detailing and subtle co-branding that reflects the collaboration’s broader design philosophy.
Together, the car, collection and campaign celebrate a distinctly French approach to design—one that places equal importance on craftsmanship, innovation and usability. While the Beware of the Crocodile – Alpine Lacoste A290 Rallye remains a one-off creation, it offers an intriguing glimpse into how two heritage brands from different disciplines can reinterpret their shared values through a contemporary lens.
The result is a collaboration that feels less like a conventional brand partnership and more like a creative conversation between fashion and performance engineering, united by a commitment to purposeful design.
