These Rally-Inspired EVs From France And China Look Like They Were Separated At Birth

Two wildly different electric hatchbacks—one from France, one from China—have emerged with such similar rally-inspired looks that they could pass for twins separated at birth.

The Chinese Firefly APW Storm Eye and the French one-off Alpine A290 Tour de Corse tribute share a motorsport aesthetic that blends retro racing nostalgia with modern EV tech, despite coming from entirely different corners of the world.

Both electric subcompacts rock bright yellow paint jobs layered with black and white graphics, white alloy wheels, and rally-style LED light bars on their noses.

The Firefly Storm Eye, a custom build by high-performance studio APW (Active Planet Walk), debuted at the 2025 Guangzhou International Automobile Exhibition in November.

It’s based on the Firefly EV, a model owned by NIO, and packs a carbon fiber bodykit with wide fender flares, a front splitter, side skirts, a rear diffuser, and a massive rear wing.

Coilover suspension lowers the stance, while roof rails allow for a Thule roof rack setup—perfect for hauling rally gear. Inside, the Storm Eye mixes white upholstery with yellow stitching and matching seatbelts.

Performance specs remain stock for now: a 141 HP (105 kW / 143 PS) electric motor churns out 200 Nm (148 lb-ft) of torque, fed by a 42.1 kWh battery pack.

The French contender, the Alpine A290 Tour de Corse tribute, is a one-off creation by automotive photographer and designer Oscar Molero (SAMM.O) in collaboration with Atelier Alpine Barcelona.

Wrapped in a modern take on Alpine’s iconic 1975 Tour de Corse rally livery, the A290 features a yellow body (reminiscent of the Renault 5) with black and white stripes, a black hood outlined in white, yellow lower-body accents, and Tour de Corse lettering on the charging port. It rolls on white “Snowflake” wheels with red brake calipers.

Under the hood, the R5-based Alpine A290 packs a front-mounted electric motor making up to 215 HP (160 kW / 218 PS) and 300 Nm (221 lb-ft) of torque, paired with a 52 kWh battery.

While the Firefly Storm Eye technically debuted first, the Alpine’s livery is a direct homage to the legendary 1975 A110 Tour de Corse rally car, mirroring the limited-run A110 Tour de Corse 75 special edition from 2022. The takeaway?

Chinese automakers are diving into motorsport-style custom builds, but whether these one-offs ever make it to production remains to be seen.