Vision BMW ALPINA, the prototype that opens a new chapter for the brand

So far in 2026 we have already had several surprises, and one of the most striking was the announcement that Alpina would become an exclusive brand within the BMW Group, thus becoming BMW ALPINA. Obviously there was eagerness to know what this new brand would have in store after the success of Alpina itself, born in the mid-1960s, whose first car arrived just five years later, in 1970, with the launch of the Alpina B7 based on the BMW E24 6 Series.

Well, BMW ALPINA was present this past weekend at the latest edition of the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este, held on the shores of Lake Como in northern Italy, where it showed the world and attendees the Vision BMW ALPINA, a prototype that arrives as a design concept to begin a new chapter “for a brand defined by its extreme capability, its sophistication and its mastery of both performance and comfort,” according to BMW itself.

The Vision BMW ALPINA looks imposing thanks to its 5,200 mm length and a low silhouette with the typical coupé shape, but with a noticeably long, sloping roofline that conveys a sense of speed. In fact, this sense of speed is carried through from its shark-nose front end, where a line rises from the lower front corners at an angle of six degrees, running along the side and wrapping around the striking rear, suggesting movement and elegance. The front also reinterprets the BMW kidney grille as a three-dimensional sculpture, with interior surfaces featuring a fine-scale Deco-line graphic and a hidden perimeter that is subtly backlit only when active.

Decorative lines have been a hallmark of Alpina, and they also appear on the Vision BMW ALPINA as a tribute, but modernized, simplified and painted onto the bodywork’s side beneath the clear coat. From this view, the 20-spoke wheels stand out, another Alpina trademark, measuring 22 inches at the front and 23 inches at the rear, as well as the inward-facing surfaces in a dark metallic finish inspired by the BMW 507, which used chrome only on the inner frames of the front grille. At the rear, the four elliptical exhaust outlets draw particular attention; they are responsible for reproducing and projecting the powerful sound of the V8 engine this vehicle would carry.

Opening the doors of the Vision BMW ALPINA, we find an interior capable of comfortably carrying four people, an adjective pushed to the extreme in this car, since according to Burkard Bovensiepen, founder of Alpina, a comfortable driver is a faster driver. That is why it offers the Comfort+ setting, which goes beyond the standard BMW comfort calibration and delivers a more flexible and refined character. Added to this is the latest BMW technology already seen in some of its recent models, such as the BMW Panoramic iDrive together with a dedicated screen for the front passenger.

Beyond this, the interior of the Vision BMW ALPINA is based on the characteristic six-degree line of the exterior, running through the cabin and dividing it into a darker upper segment and a lighter lower one, in which full-grain leather sourced from producers across the Alpine region has been used, with contrasting stitching inspired by Art Deco lines. For the metal parts, a bevelling technique inspired by watchmaking has been used, combining satin and polished finishes, while clear crystal is used on the controls that determine the car’s behavior.

For now this is a preview of everything BMW ALPINA may offer, and fortunately we will not have to wait long to see the first model from this new brand; specifically, it will arrive in 2027 and will take as its basis the BMW 7 Series.