BEWARE OF THE CROCODILE

words by FELICITY CARTER

Alpine and Lacoste are taking their one-off electric A290 Rallye to Chantilly Arts & Elegance Richard Mille this weekend. With a red interior, Lacoste piqué and 290 crocodile references worked into the design, subtle it is not.

There will be some very beautiful cars arriving at the Château de Chantilly this weekend, but only one comes with 290 crocodiles. Beware of the Crocodile - Alpine Lacoste A290 Rallye is the one-off creation from Alpine and Lacoste, based on the electric A290 Rallye and reworked with the French fashion house’s most recognisable character at its centre.

The starting point was the red tongue of the Lacoste crocodile; red covers the cabin and appears across the exterior, while the brand’s petit piqué fabric has made its way inside the car. Look more closely and there are 290 references to the crocodile throughout. It isn’t simply an A290 with a new paint job either. The car is based on the A290 Rallye, Alpine’s competition version of its electric hot hatch, with widened tracks, reinforced brakes and dedicated electric powertrain management.

The collaboration between the two French brands first appeared in June, when the car was unveiled alongside a capsule collection, where Alpine Formula 1 driver Pierre Gasly and French actor Pierre Niney also starred in The Test, a short film centred on the car, with both appearing as themselves.

On September 13, the A290 Rallye heads to Chantilly Arts & Elegance Richard Mille, held at the Château de Chantilly and its grounds. Richard Mille has partnered with the event since it began in 2014, adding Chantilly to the watchmaker’s long-standing involvement in motoring; its automotive partnerships also include Le Mans Classic and the Rallye des Légendes Richard Mille.

Chantilly combines rare historic cars and modern concepts with fashion, art and gastronomy, plus a garden party on the Le Nôtre lawns. Alpine will also bring a selection of heritage cars representing its 70-year history, joined by customer and club models. For a crocodile usually found on a polo shirt, an electric rally car is quite the change of scenery.