Tag Archives: Alpina

NEW CARS

BMW Alpina Teases New 7 Series-Based Luxury Sedan for 2027

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BMW Alpina has released the first official teaser of its upcoming luxury sedan, confirming that an entirely new chapter is about to begin for the legendary German performance and luxury brand. Based on the BMW 7 Series, the new model will become the first production vehicle developed since Alpina became a fully integrated part of the BMW Group. Its market launch is scheduled for 2027, with the official debut expected in the coming weeks.

The first teaser, published on BMW Alpina’s official Instagram account, deliberately keeps the car hidden behind a blurred image. Nevertheless, it reveals enough to suggest a low-slung luxury sedan featuring distinctive split LED headlights. The accompanying message, stating that the new model is already out on the road and that some people may have already passed it, strongly indicates that development prototypes are undergoing real-world testing on public roads.

For Alpina enthusiasts, this is an important moment. The new sedan will effectively mark the return of the brand’s flagship four-door luxury model following the end of production of the BMW Alpina B7 in 2022.

BMW Alpina’s New Flagship Will Be Inspired by the 7 Series

BMW first provided a glimpse of its new Alpina direction in May, when it presented the Vision BMW Alpina concept at the prestigious Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este. The concept offered an early indication of how the brand intends to combine BMW’s modern design language with Alpina’s traditional approach to exclusivity, craftsmanship and long-distance comfort.

At the time, BMW confirmed that the first new production model would arrive in 2027, drawing inspiration from the 7 Series while remaining, in the company’s own words, unmistakably BMW Alpina.

Although the upcoming sedan will share its fundamental architecture with BMW’s flagship luxury car, it is expected to receive a considerably more individual identity. Spy photographs suggest that the Alpina model will feature amber-colored daytime running lights, similar to those showcased on the Vision concept, alongside a redesigned front bumper with a more prominent lower spoiler.

Other expected exterior modifications include a distinctive grille pattern, exclusive Alpina badging and specially designed alloy wheels. At the rear, the brand’s traditional quad oval exhaust outlets are likely to provide one of the most recognizable visual signatures.

These changes should help distinguish the Alpina from the standard BMW 7 Series without abandoning the elegant proportions and understated character that have defined the brand for decades.

V8 Power Expected, but an Electric Alpina Cannot Be Ruled Out

Perhaps the biggest question surrounding the upcoming BMW Alpina concerns its powertrain.

The sound of development prototypes recorded during track testing suggests that a V8 engine could be under the bonnet. If that proves correct, the new model would continue an important part of Alpina’s heritage, combining effortless performance with the refined character expected from a high-end luxury limousine.

As a reference point, the pre-facelift BMW 760i xDrive was powered by a 4.4-liter twin-turbocharged V8 producing 544 hp. However, there is currently no official confirmation regarding the engine specifications or output of the upcoming Alpina.

An all-electric version also remains a possibility. BMW could potentially draw inspiration from the electric powertrain used in the BMW i7 M70, which produces an impressive 680 hp. Such a configuration would give Alpina an opportunity to extend its traditional luxury philosophy into the electric flagship segment.

For now, the V8 appears to be the more intriguing possibility, particularly given the sounds reportedly produced by the prototypes. Nevertheless, BMW has yet to disclose whether the new model will be offered with combustion power, electric propulsion or multiple powertrain configurations.

BMW Alpina Will Position Itself Above BMW and Below Rolls-Royce

The transformation of Alpina into a fully integrated BMW Group brand represents more than an ownership change. It also signals a clearer positioning within BMW’s increasingly diverse luxury portfolio.

BMW intends to position Alpina between its most exclusive BMW models and Rolls-Royce, with a greater emphasis on comfort, refinement, individualization and craftsmanship than outright performance.

This strategy will place the new BMW Alpina sedan in direct competition with the Mercedes-Maybach S-Class, one of the most established names in the ultra-luxury limousine segment.

Unlike BMW M, which focuses primarily on high-performance driving dynamics, Alpina has traditionally pursued a different balance. Its vehicles combine powerful engines with sophisticated suspension tuning, exceptional long-distance comfort and distinctive interior and exterior details.

That philosophy is expected to remain central to the new generation of Alpina vehicles. Rather than simply producing a more powerful 7 Series, BMW appears to be developing a genuinely more exclusive luxury automobile.

The sedan is also unlikely to be the only addition to the revived lineup. Following its introduction, an Alpina interpretation of the next-generation BMW X7 is reportedly expected, potentially extending the brand’s influence into the increasingly important ultra-luxury SUV market.

New BMW Alpina Could Cost More Than the Most Expensive 7 Series

Pricing will be another important indicator of BMW’s ambitions for Alpina.

The upcoming model is expected to cost more than the most expensive BMW 7 Series variant, reflecting its more exclusive positioning, bespoke design elements and additional luxury appointments.

That would place it firmly in the territory traditionally occupied by the Mercedes-Maybach S-Class, although the final pricing structure will depend on the model’s powertrain, equipment and available customization options.

The new sedan will also carry considerable symbolic importance. It is not simply another derivative of the BMW 7 Series, but the first production model representing Alpina’s future under BMW Group ownership.

With its debut expected in the coming weeks and customer deliveries scheduled for 2027, the upcoming luxury sedan could become one of the most significant additions to BMW’s high-end portfolio.

After several years without a new B7 flagship, Alpina is preparing to return with a different identity, a renewed strategy and a clear ambition: to offer an alternative to the world’s most prestigious luxury limousines while preserving the distinctive character that made the name famous.

Source: BMW Alpina via instagram

NEW CARS

Bovensiepen Spider Is a 429bhp BMW Z4 Collector’s Special with Alpina DNA

Bovensiepen, the new automotive marque founded by the creators of Alpina, has revealed the Spider, a limited-production roadster based on the BMW Z4 M40i. With 429bhp, a 183mph top speed and production capped at just 99 examples, the Spider is designed to preserve the appeal of the lightweight, two-seat sports car in an increasingly SUV-dominated market.

The BMW Z4 may have reached the end of its production run, but its story is far from over. Bovensiepen, the marque established by the former Alpina founders, has transformed the latest Z4 into a bespoke performance roadster that combines more power, sharper dynamics and the kind of handcrafted luxury that made Alpina famous.

Called the Bovensiepen Spider, the new model is the company’s third production car, following the £320,000 Zagato coupé and the £144,000 05 GT estate. It is also the brand’s first convertible, although its connection to the Z4 goes back much further than its recent launch.

The Spider is, in many ways, a modern successor to the Alpina Roadster S, the Z4-based roadster created by the same team around two decades ago. This time, however, Bovensiepen has taken the latest-generation Z4 M40i and developed it into a considerably more powerful and exclusive machine.

Only 99 examples will be built, with deliveries scheduled to begin in early 2027. Despite its limited production and bespoke engineering, the Spider is positioned below Bovensiepen’s other models, with a German price equivalent to approximately £99,000—roughly the same territory as a new BMW M4 Convertible.

A 429bhp Straight-Six Roadster

At the heart of the Bovensiepen Spider is BMW’s familiar 3.0-litre turbocharged straight-six engine. In standard Z4 M40i specification, the unit already delivers strong performance, but Bovensiepen has substantially increased its output to 429bhp and 428lb ft of torque.

That is enough to propel the Spider from 0 to 62mph in 4.2 seconds, while the top speed rises to 183mph. According to Bovensiepen, those figures make the Spider quicker than any previous version of the BMW Z4.

The engine has not simply been given a software upgrade. Bovensiepen has reworked the intake system to help it breathe more freely, while a redesigned exhaust system has been optimised for improved gas flow and a more exhilarating, sporty soundtrack.

Cooling has also been upgraded to ensure the engine can maintain peak performance under demanding conditions. Buyers seeking even greater capability can specify an optional Performance Pack, which adds enhanced differential heat management to improve performance during sustained high-load driving.

Sharper Handling, More Grip

The Spider’s performance upgrades extend beyond its engine. Bovensiepen has retuned the dampers to improve responsiveness and give the roadster a more focused driving character.

The suspension is supported by Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tyres, fitted to lightweight forged wheels. These high-performance tyres are intended to provide the grip necessary to exploit the Spider’s additional power, while optional high-performance brakes offer buyers the opportunity to further enhance its stopping ability.

Unlike the Z4’s recently available six-speed manual option, the Bovensiepen Spider uses the standard ZF eight-speed automatic transmission. That decision prioritises rapid, consistent performance and reflects the marque’s focus on delivering a refined but engaging driving experience.

A More Exclusive Take on the Z4 Interior

Bovensiepen has retained the basic architecture of the BMW Z4’s cabin, but the interior has been extensively retrimmed using premium materials.

The seats are available in Vernasca leather, while the steering wheel is finished in Lavalina leather. Alcantara is used around the windscreen surround, adding a more sporting feel to the cabin.

As with the company’s other models, personalisation is a major part of the Spider’s appeal. The Bovensiepen Saddlery customisation programme is designed to offer a level of individual specification comparable with Bentley’s Mulliner or Aston Martin’s Q division.

Customers can work with the company to create a highly personalised car, with options including Alcantara boot lining, bespoke headrests and custom embroidery. These details are intended to make each Spider feel less like a conventional production sports car and more like a collector’s commission.

Bovensiepen’s Answer to the Disappearing Roadster

Bovensiepen says the Spider was created in response to a broader change in the automotive industry. Modern cars are becoming larger, heavier and increasingly influenced by SUV design, while traditional lightweight two-seat roadsters are becoming harder to find.

The company describes the Spider as a deliberate effort to preserve a vehicle class that has long represented one of the most direct forms of driving pleasure.

Its philosophy is summed up by the phrase “fine driving”—a concept that places emphasis not only on outright performance, but also on balance, craftsmanship and the experience behind the wheel.

The result is a car that occupies an interesting position in the market. It is based on a BMW Z4, but its limited production, increased power, bespoke materials and extensive customisation move it well beyond the standard model.

Price, Production and Availability

The Bovensiepen Spider will be limited to 99 units worldwide, with deliveries expected to start in early 2027. Its German price is approximately £99,000, making it significantly more accessible than the marque’s Zagato coupé and 05 GT estate.

For buyers looking for a rare, handcrafted performance convertible, the Spider offers a compelling combination of BMW straight-six power, Alpina-inspired engineering and exclusive ownership appeal.

Bovensiepen Spider: Key Specifications

  • Engine: 3.0-litre turbocharged straight-six
  • Power: 429bhp
  • Torque: 428lb ft
  • 0–62mph: 4.2 seconds
  • Top speed: 183mph
  • Transmission: ZF eight-speed automatic
  • Base model: BMW Z4 M40i
  • Tyres: Michelin Pilot Sport 4S
  • Production: 99 examples
  • Deliveries: Early 2027
  • German price: Approximately £99,000 equivalent

Source: Bovensiepen

CONCEPT CARS

BMW Alpina Vision Concept Signals a New Era of Ultra-Luxury GTs

At the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este, where concept cars tend to oscillate between rolling sculpture and thinly veiled production previews, BMW quietly showed something more strategic than sensational: the Vision BMW Alpina, a V8-powered grand tourer that feels less like a one-off and more like a declaration of intent.

Long, low, and deliberately restrained, the concept stretches to roughly 5.2 meters—about the footprint of a long-wheelbase luxury sedan—but its proportions are doing more than filling space. They signal where BMW Group is positioning its newly fully integrated Alpina sub-brand in the post-transition era: not as an aftermarket specialist, but as a formalized pillar of ultra-luxury grand touring.

And yes, there’s a V8 under the skin. BMW hasn’t released official output figures, but the expectation is familiar territory: an evolution of the 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 seen in models like the M5, tuned the way Alpina traditionally does—less about peak theatrics, more about effortless, sustained thrust. The unofficial benchmark? Well north of 600 horsepower, delivered with the kind of calm reserve that defines Alpina’s best work.

This is also where BMW is drawing a clearer ideological line than it has in years. The M division remains the hard-edged performance arm—track-leaning, aggressive, and unapologetically sharp. Alpina, by contrast, is being framed as the long-distance specialist: comfort at speed, not just speed itself. According to BMW design leadership, the two identities are not intended to overlap. That separation is not just philosophical; it is baked into the hardware.

Take the suspension. The concept’s Comfort+ mode reportedly goes beyond anything offered in the standard BMW lineup, softening responses to a level that prioritizes isolation without dissolving control. It’s a deliberate statement: this is not a car meant to attack apexes, but to erase the distance between them.

Visually, the Vision BMW Alpina leans into understatement in a way that feels almost countercultural in today’s performance design language. There are echoes of the classic BMW 507 in its surfacing and restraint, while the front end adopts a “shark nose” interpretation with closed kidney grilles rather than overt aggression. The wheels—multi-spoke and intricate—read more as jewelry than engineering flex, a reminder that this car is aimed at a different kind of status signaling.

Inside, the theme shifts from luxury to what might best be described as quiet luxury with a technical edge. Large panoramic displays dominate the dashboard, but they’re paired with Alpina-specific interface graphics and crystal-finished physical controls. Materials are sourced with a regional nod to the Alpine identity, emphasizing leather craftsmanship over visual drama.

The most telling detail, though, is almost theatrical in its subtlety: a set of crystal glasses integrated into the rear center console, sliding out like a mechanism from a high-end watch. It’s not just a design flourish—it’s a clear indicator of who this car is for, and how it expects to be used. This is not a driver-first machine in the traditional sense. It is a high-speed lounge.

Looking ahead, the production model most directly foreshadowed by this concept—the next-generation Alpina B7 based on the redesigned 7 Series—is expected to enter production around July 2027. It will be the first Alpina model fully developed and manufactured under the full oversight of BMW Group, marking a new chapter for a brand that has long balanced independence with close BMW cooperation.

If BMW M is about intensity, the Vision BMW Alpina suggests something more restrained but arguably rarer in today’s performance landscape: confidence at speed without the need to prove anything at all.

Source: BMW