{"id":530863,"date":"2026-07-03T09:35:11","date_gmt":"2026-07-03T09:35:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/530863\/"},"modified":"2026-07-03T09:35:11","modified_gmt":"2026-07-03T09:35:11","slug":"lacoste-transforms-alpines-a290-rallye-into-one-off-ev-racer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/530863\/","title":{"rendered":"lacoste transforms alpine\u2019s A290 rallye into one-off EV racer"},"content":{"rendered":"

lacoste and alpine reimagine the A290 Rallye<\/p>\n

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French brands Lacoste and Alpine<\/a> collaborate for Beware of the Crocodile Alpine Lacoste A290 Rallye, a one-off electric<\/a> competition car<\/a> that pairs Alpine\u2019s customer racing platform with Lacoste\u2019s visual identity and material language. By choosing the A290 Rallye as its foundation, the project begins with a purpose-built motorsport machine, making design an integral part of the vehicle.<\/p>\n

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Lacoste engages directly with Alpine\u2019s most performance-focused version of the A290, using competition engineering as the framework for a shared design exercise. The design and engineering teams of both companies come together for this one-off to retain the technical architecture of the A290 Rallye. Widened tracks, dedicated rally suspension, exposed carbon fiber, an oversized rear spoiler, roof air intake, and aerodynamic bodywork reflect the competition origins of the car, while the electric powertrain is calibrated specifically for rally use.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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Lacoste\u2019s contribution begins with one of the brand\u2019s smallest but most recognizable graphic elements: the red tongue of its crocodile logo. That detail becomes the central design motif of the project, extending across the entire vehicle. The bluish white exterior, inspired by Alpine\u2019s snowy landscapes, is punctuated by vivid red accents, while the front lighting subtly recalls the gaze of the crocodile. Closer inspection reveals dozens of discreet graphic references embedded throughout the bodywork, turning the car into a playful exercise in visual storytelling.<\/p>\n

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all images \u00a9 Marcin KEMPSK, unless stated otherwise<\/p>\n

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the crocodile becomes a design language<\/p>\n

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The interior shifts even further into Lacoste\u2019s universe<\/a>. Finished almost entirely in red, the cockpit imagines the driver stepping inside the crocodile. Lacoste\u2019s signature petit piqu\u00e9 fabric covers the seats and door panels, while embroidery is produced by Potencier, the historic workshop behind the crocodiles stitched onto the brand\u2019s polo shirts. A co-developed Alpine x Lacoste emblem appears throughout the cabin as a sculpted bas-relief, reinforcing the collaboration without relying on oversized logos.<\/p>\n

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Structural elements receive a red anodized finish, while parts of the rally seats are manufactured using 3D printed lattice structures developed by ERPRO. The lightweight components improve comfort and reduce weight, reflecting a principle both brands have championed throughout their histories: performance achieved through intelligent design.<\/p>\n

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The project arrives at a moment when Alpine is redefining itself around electric performance. As the brand<\/a> expands beyond the A110 into a new generation of battery-powered sports cars, the A290 Rallye demonstrates that electrification is becoming part of its motorsport strategy as well.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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Alongside the one-off vehicle, Lacoste and Alpine introduce a capsule collection of apparel and accessories inspired by the tennis court and the rally stage, accompanied by The Test, a short film starring Pierre Niney and Pierre Gasly.<\/p>\n

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the electric rally car adopts a bluish white finish with red graphic accents<\/p>\n

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the rear hatch reveals one of the collaboration\u2019s many hidden crocodile details<\/p>\n

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three crocodiles emerge beneath the rear window<\/p>\n

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Pierre Niney and Pierre Gasly\u2019s names appear on the rally side window<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"lacoste and alpine reimagine the A290 Rallye \u00a0 French brands Lacoste and Alpine collaborate for Beware of the…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":530864,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[143400,20238,160793,61,60,80],"class_list":["post-530863","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-technology","tag-alpine","tag-car-design","tag-electric-automobiles","tag-ie","tag-ireland","tag-technology"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/530863","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=530863"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/530863\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/530864"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=530863"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=530863"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=530863"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}