In 2022, BMW announced that it had come to an agreement to fully acquire Alpina, the German tuning house long associated with producing exquisitely modified BMWs focused on grand touring comfort and power. At the time, BMW and Alpina had an agreement to continue collaborating as they had in the past until the end of 2025, with full rights to the name transferring at the end of that year.
Well, it’s now 2026, and that means that Alpina is fully part of BMW. What does that mean, you ask? Well, a few things. The Bovensiepen family—the ones behind Alpina—and the team in Buchloe are still active, but are now working under the family name to create bespoke, modified BMWs. The first one was shown at Villa d’Este, and it’s the Bovensiepen Zagato (pictured below), an M4 convertible-based pillarless coupe with more power and a body from legendary Italian designer Zagato.
This also means BMW has now taken full control of the Alpina name, and some excerpts from its press release give a hint as to what it plans to do with it:
Key elements of the BMW ALPINA brand are its unique balance of maximum performance and superior ride comfort, combined with hallmark driving characteristics. This is complemented by an exclusive portfolio of bespoke options and custom materials along with unmistakeable details.
The new wordmark provides a first indication. It radiates clarity, calm and confidence. Positioned at the centre of the rear, it underlines the standalone character of the new exclusive brand and its independent personality within the BMW Group.
BMW ALPINA vehicles are manufactured according to rigorous standards for materials selection and craftsmanship. They fulfill the most demanding expectations in terms of visuals, acoustics and feel. Moreover, buyers can choose from a remarkable portfolio of bespoke options. These ensure that every BMW ALPINA has its own, unmistakeable character. Each vehicle will be an exclusive object for connoisseurs in pursuit of the extraordinary, without compromises on performance, comfort and individuality.
The new BMW Alpina wordmark.
It’s no longer a trim level, but a brand within the group, one that will seemingly continue to provide the balance of luxury and power Alpina has been known for. However, BMW will also integrate Alpina more deeply into the development process, there is an in-house designer, and it’s likely that models that receive the Alpina treatment will feature deeper changes to powertrain, options, interior, and even styling, than before. The goal appears to be to create a luxury brand above BMW but below Rolls-Royce, sort of like how Mercedes now uses the Maybach brand.
The next X7/iX7 and refreshed 7 Series are most likely the first candidates to get this BMW Alpina treatment. Let’s see what they come up with.