- BMW‘s Vision Alpina concept signals a sharp pivot toward bespoke luxury territory.
- The reveal at Villa d’Este puts Alpina in direct line of sight with Bentley.
- Our shooting brake study stretches the 204.7 in. long coupe even further for impact.
BMW made a statement at this year’s Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este with the reveal of its stunning Vision Alpina GT coupe. It points to a dramatic change in direction for the Alpina brand that has been long associated with understated luxury and quietly tuned hot-rod performance.
Also: Our Mazdaspeed 6 Revival Ditches The Turbo Four For 536 HP Of Electric Power
Comment consensus suggests it’s a return to form for BMW design, though that hasn’t stopped us from visually putting the boot into it, which is to say morphing the concept into a wagon. Let’s get into it.
Shooting For The Stars
While some may question Munich’s grand new vision for Alpina, the reality is that it widens the scope for bespoke products. Simply put, Alpina now has the freedom to compete against Bentley and Aston Martin.
At 204.7 inches (5,200 mm) in length, the Vision coupe concept has the scale to grab anyone’s attention, yet we’ve lengthened it further to emphasize impact, stance and to accommodate its stretched glasshouse. The good bits, like its forward-leaning twin-kidney face and sculpted hood, remain, while chrome detailing has been added to cement its luxury intent.
Future Cars: Jaguar’s 1,000-HP Answer To Bentley Looks Nothing Like The Jaguar You Knew
Those finger-thin horizontal taillights carry over, while the tailgate features a Range Rover-style split-opening mechanism. We’ve pumped out the rear haunches with a pronounced shoulder line that dials up surface tension, and the rear roof section tapers for that ultimate shooting brake aesthetic.
Eight Cylinder Magic
In a breath of fresh air, BMW has avoided the fully electrified route and equipped the Vision Alpina with a thunderous V8. Design boss Adrian van Hooydonk confirmed the concept is built on the bones of the discontinued 8-Series Gran Coupe. Specs are still under wraps, but platform aside, any production version would likely run an uprated twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter unit from the M5.
Also: BMW’s Vision Alpina Is Built Around A Car It Already Killed
Expect partial electrification to linger, with the M5’s plug-in hybrid system helping put at least 727 hp (535 kW) and 1000 Nm of torque to all four wheels. The current electric range from that vehicle’s 18.6 kWh battery hovers around 25 miles (40 km), though we’d expect the Alpina’s slippery styling to improve on this.
Practical Luxury
BMW Group
While not exactly a minivan in svelte clothes, the extra length dialed into our study helps transform it into a practical load-hauler with seating for five. Ideally, it would offer over 21 cubic feet or 600 liters in leather-lined cargo space, with an assortment of chrome hooks, tie-downs point and power outlets.
Future Cars: BMW’s i3 Sedan Divided The Internet, So We Drew The i4 Coupe Instead
At the business end of the cabin, occupants are treated to a revised BMW Panoramic iDrive display, with the central screen now symmetrical. A pillar-to-pillar display still spans the dashboard, yet the graphics are all Alpina-specific.
Feeling spiritual? Alpina has employed clear-cut crystal for many of the controls, and surfaces are dominated by rich-grained leathers, polished surfaces and Art Deco-style ambient lighting.
A Unique Proposition
If Alpina were ever to test the waters in the luxury shooting brake segment, it would almost have the market all to itself. Sure, there is the Porsche Taycan GTS Sport Turismo and perhaps a limited production version of the Genesis G90 Wingback Concept, but Alpina’s version could sit above both, trading sportwagon practicality for something closer to a bespoke grand tourer with a longer roof and the kind of cabin Bentley buyers expect.
Would you love to see Alpina offer a large shooting brake? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
