Words: Richard Edwards
Published 16 May 2026
BMW has used the 2026 Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este to reveal a design study that signals where its newly absorbed Alpina brand is heading, and in a world of electric concept cars, it’s making a statement with a V8 under the bonnet.
The Vision BMW Alpina is a one-off coupé that reinterprets the German tuning house’s heritage through a modern lens, pairing a V8 powertrain with a cabin pitched squarely at the luxury end of the market. In an era where most manufacturer concepts arrive with battery packs and electric motors, BMW is leaning into combustion for Alpina’s relaunch: the concept is tuned to produce what the company describes as ‘rich, deep exhaust notes at low speed and a sonorous character at high revs, delivered through the brand’s signature elliptical four-pipe exhaust.’
We like the sound of that!
At 5,200 mm long, the concept is a substantial thing: low, wide, and wearing a raked coupé roofline that BMW says can still accommodate four adults in genuine comfort. That’s a deliberate nod to Alpina founder Burkard Bovensiepen’s philosophy that comfort and speed are complementary rather than competing priorities.
“Alpina has always represented a very specific idea of performance and refinement,” says Adrian van Hooydonk, head of BMW Group Design. “Our role as the new custodians of this brand is to preserve this distinctiveness and shape it for a contemporary context.”
The exterior is organised around what BMW calls a “speed feature line,” a single crease rising at a six-degree angle from the front corners, running along the flanks, and wrapping around the rear. The signature Alpina deco-lines, part of the brand’s visual language since 1974, are painted beneath the clear coat rather than applied as external graphics.
The front end features a reinterpreted shark nose grille with concealed backlighting and inner surfaces carrying a fine deco-line graphic. The wheels are 22 inches at the front and 23 at the rear, using the 20-spoke design Alpina has carried since 1971.
Inside, the six-degree feature line continues through the cabin, dividing darker upper surfaces from lighter lower ones. Full-grain leather is sourced from Alpine region producers, with stitching inspired by the deco-line motif. Crystal controls are reserved for driving-related functions, reinforcing where the brand places its emphasis.
A party trick sits behind the rear console: crystal glasses rise on a self-deploying mechanism, paired with a glass water bottle.
BMW Alpina became an exclusive brand within the BMW Group in 2026, sitting between BMW and Rolls-Royce in the portfolio. Oliver Viellechner, head of BMW Alpina, says the brand fills a gap the group sees in the high-end segment.
The first production BMW Alpina model arrives next year, inspired by the 7 Series but carrying its own identity. No pricing or specification details have been confirmed for the production car.
