Yesterday

First new BMW Alpina is due this weekend

Amelia Island debut for what looks like a new XB7

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Building on the momentum of the new brand announcement in the first month of 2026 and the new logo in February, we now know that the first new BMW Alpina will be revealed this weekend. It will be exclusively for the US and Canada (so you might say that we’re being spared it), revealed as part of a BMW bonanza at the Amelia Island Concours from March 6th-8th. 

While no firm details have been released for the moment, it’s pretty evident from this image that BMW Alpina isn’t bringing a new GT to sit outside the Ritz Carlton hotel all weekend. We’d bet our Alpina Classic Christmas jumper that this is a revision of the XB7, the original version of which was as shockingly good as it was shockingly gaudy. The perfect Alpina for a limited run return in North America, you might say, as well as a smart product to relaunch such a storied brand with: there isn’t a BMW M equivalent of the XB7, and therefore not an in-house rival to be compared with. Plus it’s probably a lot easier to ask a lot more for very few examples of what’s already very expensive, rather than, say, a 3 Series or an X4. 

For what it’s worth, BMW Alpina (that’ll still take some getting used to) seems to understand the brief when it comes to continuing the legacy: ‘ALPINA has long defined a singular expression of maximum performance and supreme ride comfort — an exceptional balance that has made the marque revered among connoisseurs of refined performance.’ So expect more of the same from this XB7, with acres of Lavalina leather, oodles of V8 power and - hopefully - the sort of long-distance serenity and handling poise that has marked an Alpina out for decades. Despite everything, it was a pretty persuasive package the first time around, so don’t expect this 2.7-tonne apple to have fallen far from the Alpina tree. 

For those not really interested in the future of Alpina, there’ll be plenty of BMW’s iconic past to appreciate at Amelia Island this weekend thanks to BMW Classic USA. That’s set to include a 40 years of M3 celebration, plus the big 5-0 for the 6 Series and 60 years of the 2002. Just in time for the new Neue Klasse saloon. So expect a busy BMW weekend on your socials. And don’t say you weren’t warned about the XB7 - the full reveal is coming Friday morning. 

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• Alpina XB7 vs. VW Tiguan R
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[CronxDriveBy]

Sigh. Kudos for trying to put a positive spin on this one, but its becoming pretty clear that BMW bought Alpina with the intent of creating a Maybach equivalent based on some charts the consultants pulled together.

Alpina was M before M from a racing standpoint. It offered a legitimately differentiated alternative afterwards. We'll all miss it, and be envious of those who own the real thing.

[Megaflow]

FFS...

[blasos]

Lemme guess - 6 tonnes, BBQ grille, Xmas tree lights wrapped around said grille, fake engine sounds pumped inside L.

[MDT]

To own an Alpina has always been a small life goal I have held.

I love how they kind of did their own thing and that included building their own engines. This has been diluted over the past few years.

I will just go back to hankering after a e46 B3.4

[Wab1974uk]

Oh dear. Pick the ugliest car they make, and slap an Alpine trim & badge on it. Hope people buy it.

[BikeSausage]

How depressing. That is a hippo.

[Noserider5]

Oh well, looks like BMW have missed the point of what Alpina represented, enhanced, subtle, refined, understated power. If you know, you know & BMW clearly don't

[nismo48]

CronxDriveBy said:

Sigh. Kudos for trying to put a positive spin on this one, but its becoming pretty clear that BMW bought Alpina with the intent of creating a Maybach equivalent based on some charts the consultants pulled together.

Alpina was M before M from a racing standpoint. It offered a legitimately differentiated alternative afterwards. We'll all miss it, and be envious of those who own the real thing.

Good comment and agree too

[Mad Maximus]

Rather ugly. Bet it’s nice though.

[Water Fairy]

No looker for sure but no doubt a lovely place to be in whilst driving

[LRDefender]

I don't think I'm the target audience for one of these but I don't find this product something that I'd like to have a look at, to see if I would buy one.

I do like the Alpina wheels though, Alpina wheels always look great IMO.

[Nathan Modern Classics]

I know that there’s a pile on about this being an SUV but in fairness to New Alpina, the XB7 was a major success for Old Alpina, so it is only understandable that this would be the first model for New Alpina.

To explain, Old Alpina had a contract to produce 2000 cars per year on the BMW production line. 750 of those were XB7s for the US.

It also follows the way the market is going, Audi is launching a special line called Horch, with an SUV the first European use of the name (it was on a special version of the A8 in China IIRC). The large Alfa Romeo SUV above the Stelvio is now going to be a Maserati as a proper replacement for the Levante.

[Googie]

On a brighter note presumably BMW will be happy to give it a 3 year warranty.

[NGK210]

Googie said:

On a brighter note presumably BMW will be happy to give it a 3 year warranty.

Yeah, so why didn’t Alpina give 3-year warranties?

Edited by NGK210 on Tuesday 3rd March 19:39

[Earthdweller]

Cue the interest, almost excitement .. then opening the thread and the disappointment and deflation

I hoped for a moment it was a new incarnation of the Z4 coupe or similar but no it's just a lardy oversize SUV

Oh well

[NGK210]

PH said:

First new BMW Alpina…

Umm, ‘ang on, Autocar says: “The final car to come from Alpina as it has existed for the past 60 years will be a limited-run special edition of the XB7…”
https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/final-...
So it’s not the “first new BMW Alpina”, then?

[alexpa]

will stick with my B6 3.5S thank you

[Baldchap]

alexpa said:

will stick with my B6 3.5S thank you

My B5 isn't going anywhere either.

[DeadShed]

NGK210 said:

PH said:

First new BMW Alpina

Umm, ang on, Autocar says: The final car to come from Alpina as it has existed for the past 60 years will be a limited-run special edition of the XB7
https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/final-...
So it s not the first new BMW Alpina , then?

I think it depends on how you look at it. It was developed before the sale, but is the first after the sale.

[McGee_22]

I’ll stick with these old things as I could never afford anything newer or nicer