BMW’s First Alpina Model Is Coming—and Could Revive a Classic Luxury V8

A New Era for Alpina

BMW and Alpina may be closely related, but the latter has been an independent automaker in its own right from the start. However, that all changed when BMW bought the rights to the company in 2022. The move was made to ensure the survival of the brand, and it's not because Alpina isn't making enough money.

If anything, Alpina is doing too well for what's supposedly a small-volume manufacturer. As a result, it could no longer skirt the emissions regulations it has long tried to avoid. In other words, the company has to lower average emissions across its lineup, or else it faces heavy fines and penalties. Alpina can't do that on its own, hence BMW's takeover.

The First Alpina Under BMW is Coming Soon

BMW Blog reports that Alpina's first car under BMW's wing will be based on the 7 Series. If so, it could mark the return of the B7. The company hasn't built a flagship sedan since the latest generation of 7 Series came out, and that could all change sooner than later. That model could also become the first Alpina-badged vehicle based on a more recent BMW platform.

There are other interesting details in the report, too. For instance, the car is said to be based on the facelifted version of the 7 Series that'll be released sometime in 2026. We say it's for the best, as it'll benefit from significant updates inside and out. At the same time, it might carry its own internal designation to give it more distinction over standard 7 Series models. For reference, the flagship sedan currently carries the chassis code G70, while the factory-armored version is dubbed the G73.

It Could Get a V8, Too

America should consider itself lucky, as it's the only market that officially gets a V8 7 Series. Emission laws in Europe prevent that, meaning the 7 Series models over there have to circumvent that through (admittedly potent) six-cylinder plug-in hybrid options instead. With Alpina coming into the picture, it could be the Old Continent's way to get V8 power back in BMW's largest sedan.

Its longtime rivals, the Audi A8 and Mercedes-Benz S-Class, still offer eight-cylinder power, although you'll have to go for the S8 if you want a V8-powered German limo with four rings.

In other words, Alpina can keep doing what it's doing without the anxiety of looming emissions penalties hovering over it. Its parent company can keep churning out electrified vehicles to keep average emissions relatively low in Europe. It's good news for the American market, too, as there is no high-performance derivative of the V8 7 Series at the moment. Granted, the 760i's S68 twin-turbo V8 makes a heady 536 hp, but there's always room for more.

We'll find out more about Alpina's plans later in 2026, but it's safe to say that BMW won't be putting its newly-acquired subsidiary to waste. Aside from the 7 Series, there has also been talk of the slow-selling XM getting replaced by an Alpina-badged vehicle down the line, along with more bespoke models.

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