05:53 24-11-2025

BMW's ALPINA overhaul: Munich-built 7 Series leads 2026

BMW Group acquired the rights to the ALPINA brand back in 2022, but real changes were pushed to the end of 2025. The company now says that on December 31 ALPINA will hand over management of all its official social-media channels to BMW. The only exception is the ALPINA Classic account, which will remain independent and continue to handle service, parts, and accessories for both modern and historic models.

The production playbook is shifting too: new ALPINA-badged cars will be engineered and signed off in Munich. The opening act will be a series based on the G70 7 Series—three versions, 740, 760, and the electric i7 70. A debut is expected in 2026, with sales following closer to 2027. After that, the next-generation X7 is slated for an update, including an electric variant.

Enthusiasts worry the badge could be reduced to just another trim level. BMW counters that ALPINA will move upmarket, effectively bridging the gap between BMW and Rolls-Royce. That shift rules out lower-cost lines such as B3/D3 and B4/D4, and a B5 return looks unlikely. It reads as a bid to sharpen the marque’s identity rather than chase volume.

Meanwhile, the Bovensiepen family—the founders of ALPINA—are launching a new marque, Bovensiepen, and preparing their first project: a rare coupe take on the M4 with bodywork by Zagato. One chapter is closing, but ALPINA’s legacy is set to continue in a new guise.