BMW unveils new V8-powered Vision of Alpina

Not the Alpina that will go on sale, sadly, but a good indicator of what's to come...

By Matt Bird / Friday, 15 May 2026 / Loading comments

You can always rely on BMW to bring a stunner to Lake Como in mid-May, and that’s no different for 2026: this is the Vision Alpina, a preview of what to expect as the new (old) brand embarks on its first production cars from 2027. It won’t be this grand two-door, unfortunately, but rather something four-door based on the 7 Series - nevertheless, as Alpina aims to occupy the space between the upper echelons of BMW and the Rolls-Royce range, we can surely expect more stuff of this scale. They’re going big, in every sense of the word.

Where to start? Well, best news first: there’s a V8 under the long, dramatically shark-nosed bonnet, so you can rest easy there. Not the M5’s PHEV setup, either, just unadulterated eight-cylinder swagger. Head of BMW Alpina Oliver Viellechner was at a recent media preview event attended by PH, and while he conceded that being part of the wider group meant Alpina powertrains could “grow a second leg” in time and embrace electrification, the feedback from prospective customers at this time was pretty clear: “they want combustion at this price point.” So combustion is what they’re going to get. That seems unlikely to change for whatever the 7 Series-based creation becomes.

Paying the dues to Alpina heritage isn’t going to change either, albeit now with ‘contemporary purpose, aesthetics and technology.’ So the wheels are still beautiful 20-spoke items, albeit now 22-inch front and 23-inch rear. Some green and blue details feature inside. There is still what might traditionally be called a Deco Set too, now a painted line beneath the clearcoat and less overt than what’s come before. BMW suggests the arrangement on the Vision car is a ‘quiet gesture that reflects how the brand’s defining details can be adapted to what comes next.’ Those who know the Alpina calling cards are going to recognise the latest generation, that seems certain. The splitter script has survived the transition also, now in the new brand font.

Not that anyone will be paying very much attention to that on the shores of Lake Como, not with a bold new BMW grille to assess. Inspired by the classic B7 (based on the E24 6 Series) and with some 507 influence as well - that also used chrome only inside the kidneys - the front end ‘reinterprets BMW’s kidney grille as a three-dimensional sculpture that leads the car’s form and frames the brand emblem with quiet confidence.’ To these eyes it works, especially with the super slim lights, though it would also be fair to assume that it might seem like too drastic a departure from the subtlety that previously characterised an Alpina schnozz.

There’s plenty more to take in about the Vision Alpina as well. First is the sheer size of it: at 5,200mm it’s longer than even the old M8 Gran Coupe, though that does at least mean that four can sit comfortably on a cross-continent cruise. Those in the back even get magnetic crystal glasses, complete with a six-degree rim profile that mirrors the six-degree speed feature line along the side of the car. There’s attention to detail for you. The exterior feature is described as ‘assertive enough to suggest motion, controlled enough to remain refined.’ Again, expect it to feature on the actual production car.

As will, to be blunt, a design that marks out an Alpina as something discrete from a series production BMW. Classic Alpinas, for want of a better phrase, were always recognisably derived from an existing model - clearly that won’t be the case so much now. They’re going to be distinct luxury cars separate from the rest of the lineup. The rear of the Vision in particular, four exhausts aside, isn’t like anything we’ve really seen from BMW.

Alpina was always known for lavish, elegant interiors, and that’ll be ramped up several notches for the reinvention. The crystal glasses were probably a good clue to that. So while recognisably BMW features like Panoramic iDrive will feature in production models, as with Vision, expect touches like the bridge stitch, bevelled metal components, polished finishes and opulent leathers from the Alpine region to elevate the experience quite a bit. Note as well the Speed mode: out with Sport for Alpina, that’s far too uncouth. There will be Comfort Plus (another recent hallmark retained), Comfort, Speed and Speed Plus. Alpinas have always been renowned for their ability to cover big distances at big speed; the same attributes seem guaranteed this time around, up to and including no speed limiter being fitted. Another good bit of heritage retained.

See, there wasn’t any need to be too worried. BMW-Alpina, like Alpina beforehand, will make large, luxurious, exclusive GTs with their roots in proven BMW platforms - and not necessarily encumbered with electrification. Albeit even more expensively and extravagantly than ever before. Viellechner again: "BMW Alpina fills a gap in our portfolio between BMW and Rolls-Royce as we see even more potential in the high-end segment. With Alpina we have a strong legacy and a global community, which we want to build on, while preserving the essence of what the brand stands for - speed, comfort and sophistication.” The 7 Series that’s coming will be ‘unmistakably BMW Alpina’, they say - don’t forget this car as the reference for that…