BMW’s First Alpina Model Is Coming—and Could Revive a Classic Luxury V8

A New Period for Alpina

BMW and Alpina could also be intently associated, however the latter has been an unbiased automaker in its personal proper from the beginning. Nevertheless, that each one modified when BMW purchased the rights to the corporate in 2022. The transfer was made to ensure the survival of the brand, and it isn’t as a result of Alpina is not making sufficient cash.

If something, Alpina is doing too nicely for what’s supposedly a small-volume producer. Because of this, it might not skirt the emissions laws it has lengthy tried to keep away from. In different phrases, the corporate has to decrease common emissions throughout its lineup, or else it faces heavy fines and penalties. Alpina cannot do this by itself, therefore BMW’s takeover.

BMW

The First Alpina Below BMW is Coming Quickly

BMW Blog studies that Alpina’s first automobile beneath BMW’s wing will likely be primarily based on the 7 Collection. If that’s the case, it might mark the return of the B7. The corporate hasn’t constructed a flagship sedan because the newest technology of seven Collection got here out, and that might all change prior to later. That mannequin might additionally develop into the primary Alpina-badged car primarily based on a more moderen BMW platform.

There are different fascinating particulars within the report, too. As an example, the automobile is alleged to be primarily based on the facelifted version of the 7 Series that’ll be launched someday in 2026. We are saying it is for one of the best, because it’ll profit from important updates inside and outside. On the similar time, it would carry its personal inner designation to present it extra distinction over normal 7 Collection fashions. For reference, the flagship sedan presently carries the chassis code G70, whereas the factory-armored model is dubbed the G73.

It May Get a V8, Too

America ought to take into account itself fortunate, because it’s the one market that formally will get a V8 7 Collection. Emission legal guidelines in Europe stop that, that means the 7 Collection fashions over there have to avoid that by means of (admittedly potent) six-cylinder plug-in hybrid choices as a substitute. With Alpina coming into the image, it might be the Previous Continent’s solution to get V8 energy again in BMW’s largest sedan.

Its longtime rivals, the Audi A8 and Mercedes-Benz S-Class, nonetheless supply eight-cylinder energy, though you may need to go for the S8 if you’d like a V8-powered German limo with 4 rings.

In different phrases, Alpina can maintain doing what it is doing with out the anxiousness of looming emissions penalties hovering over it. Its mother or father firm can maintain churning out electrified autos to maintain common emissions comparatively low in Europe. It is excellent news for the American market, too, as there isn’t a high-performance by-product of the V8 7 Collection in the mean time. Granted, the 760i’s S68 twin-turbo V8 makes a heady 536 hp, however there’s all the time room for extra.

We’ll discover out extra about Alpina’s plans later in 2026, nevertheless it’s secure to say that BMW will not be placing its newly-acquired subsidiary to waste. Except for the 7 Collection, there has additionally been discuss of the slow-selling XM getting replaced by an Alpina-badged car down the road, together with more bespoke models.