Beware of the Crocodile

Who would have thought that a nickname would one day become one of the world’s most famous brand logos? In the 1920s, tennis player and founder René Lacoste was nicknamed ‘Le Crocodile’ because of his combative playing style – and he made the crocodile the logo of his brand. A few decades later, another Frenchman made motorsport history: Jean Rédélé founded Alpine and established the brand as a fixture on Europe’s racetracks with its lightweight, agile sports cars.

Both shared the same ethos: sporting ambition, technical innovation and a flair for style. That the two brands have now channelled this spirit into a joint project? It makes perfect sense. And, in a way, it was about time. The ideal representatives for this collaboration were quickly found in the form of Alpine Formula 1 driver Pierre Gasly and actor and Lacoste brand ambassador Pierre Niney.

At the heart of the collaboration is the Alpine Lacoste A290 Rallye, a one-off model based on the all-electric A290 Rallye. Rather than a mere design piece, the result is a motorsport vehicle with a wider track, specialised rally suspension, optimised aerodynamics and an electric powertrain designed for maximum responsiveness.

Visually, too, the worlds of both brands converge. The red tongue of the Lacoste crocodile inspired the all-red interior, whilst the white exterior paintwork is reminiscent of alpine snow-covered landscapes. A special detail: a total of 290 crocodiles are hidden within the vehicle’s design.

To mark the launch, Lacoste and Alpine also released the short film “Le Test”, starring Pierre Niney and Pierre Gasly. It’s a real treat. Both the film and the car. The only question that remains is: why is the car a one-off? 

→ lacoste.com      |       → alpinecars.de