Alpina revealed its first concept car developed entirely under BMW’s control earlier this year in the form of the Vision BMW Alpina. However, the large, imposing coupe concept isn’t destined for production. Rather, it was built to signal the new design direction and philosophy the brand will take with future models.
It turns out the concept also offered a glimpse of Alpina’s powertrain strategy. You see, the V8 engine under its hood is set to play a central role in defining the character of the new lineup.
V8 Emotion Here To Stay
In a series of posts on its official Instagram page, Alpina said the V8 engine will lay the foundation for its driving character and performance going forward. The automaker also shared a video clip highlighting the exhaust note of the Vision BMW Alpina concept, describing the distinctive, gravelly rumble as something that will “set the tone for every journey.”
The approach ties with comments from BMW’s product director for luxury cars, Philip Koehn, during a media roundtable in July, attended by CarBuzz. He said Alpina would target the upper segments, filling the wide gap between BMW’s top models and those of its Rolls-Royce subsidiary at the ultra-luxury end of the market. With BMW no longer offering a V12 engine, the V8 now serves as its flagship power plant.
It’s worth mentioning that Alpina has never tied itself to a single engine type. The company began by tuning four-cylinder engines and has offered diesel options in recent years. But while there’s no indication that V8s will become the sole powertrain under BMW’s ownership, it’s clear from Alpina’s statements that the engine will play the leading role in defining the brand’s character.
When Does The First New Alpina Go On Sale?
Vision BMW Alpina concept at Monterey Car WeekBrett T. Evans/CarBuzz/Valnet
During the same roundtable, Koehn confirmed that the first production Alpina model under BMW’s control will launch by 2027. He didn’t reveal what it will be, but rumors point to a new generation of the Alpina B7 based on the latest 7 Series, which BMW just facelifted for the 2027 model year.
Interestingly, BMW has also filed trademark applications for XB8 and XB9, hinting at new SUVs beyond the XB7, which currently sits at the top of Alpina’s SUV hierarchy. Following Alpina’s existing naming strategy, the XB8 and XB9 could be upgraded versions of BMW X8 and X9 SUVs, neither of which currently exist. BMW could rebrand the disastrous XM as an X8 if it decides to keep the model, while an X9 could fill the gap above the X7, a larger SUV dealers have been clamoring for.
CarBuzz Insight – Why This Matters
While BMW continues to invest heavily in electric vehicles, it knows wealthy buyers still want the feel and emotion of a combustion engine, not to mention the convenience of being able to refuel quickly and keep going. BMW isn’t alone in recognizing this. Several luxury automakers that once committed to an all-electric future are now bringing back big engines, including V8s, with Audi, Cadillac, and Porsche among those adjusting their strategies.
As for what Alpina has planned, we don’t have long to wait now as 2027 is fast approaching.
Sources: BMW Alpina
