BMW Alpina’s First Vision Concept Looks Like The Flagship Coupe BMW Is Missing

Key Points

• Vision BMW Alpina concept debuts May 15 at Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este.
• Teasers indicate a large, unique coupe likely not sharing design with other BMWs.
• Concept expected to blend luxury, performance, and exclusive design, possibly with a V8 engine.

Nobody knew exactly what to expect when the BMW Group assumed ownership of Alpina, but we now know when we’ll get our first clear glimpse of BMW Alpina’s future. On May 15, the Vision BMW Alpina will be unveiled at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este. The company also shared a teaser image and video of this model, which seemingly has the proportions of a large coupe like the 8 Series. Given that the standard BMW 8 Series has been discontinued, a flagship coupe of this kind could be the perfect way to kick off the BMW Alpina era.

Not Just A Fancier BMW

The teaser image suggests a vehicle that won’t share its basic lines with any other BMW currently in production. It appears to have a tall front fascia, a long, flowing roofline, and a unique rear lighting signature. Two or four doors are possible, but BMW concealed just enough in the teasers to make it hard to tell.

The “Vision” part of the name strongly suggests this will be a concept, but a production version is likely. Villa d’Este on the shores of Lake Como is a telling location to reveal the new car, as the event is often associated with concept cars specifically centered around dazzling design. It suggests the Vision BMW Alpina will be an object of desire first, with its undoubtedly impressive performance credentials possibly taking a back seat at the event.

Alpinas have traditionally been the perfect blend between standard BMWs and hardcore M cars. We anticipate a vehicle with no shortage of speed but with more of a bias towards comfortable, cross-country trips than the canyon-carving capabilities of an M car.

High-End Underpinnings

Another sign that this will be an 8 Series-sized vehicle came a few months ago, when BMW Group R&D boss Joachim Post said the first new Alpina models would be based on the 7 Series and X7. In other words, they’ll be larger, lower-volume models with high price tags but the very best in technology, comfort, and performance from the BMW Group. The coupe-style concept, then, will likely have 7 Series underpinnings. 

This also opens the door for an electric Alpina coupe, since the 7 Series is also offered as the electric i7. Launching this new Alpina era with an electric powertrain may be a bit hasty, though. It’s more likely that a larger coupe of this kind will have a specially tuned version of BMW’s turbocharged V8. BMW Alpina teased its iconic quad elliptical exhaust earlier this year, further bolstering hopes that a big V8 powers the concept.