First BMW Alpina: a V8 7 Series beyond 300 km/h

On 3 November 2026, BMW revealed the first images of the first production model from its new BMW Alpina brand. It is a large saloon with a V8 engine, still camouflaged, which the manufacturer has taken beyond 300 km/h on the Nardò test track in southern Italy.

Its name, power output and price are not yet official. In the spring, BMW simply promised that this first model would arrive in 2027 and that it would be inspired by its large saloon. Here we look at what has been confirmed, what the press is reporting, and the BMW saloon you can already drive.

What did BMW show on 3 November?

The manufacturer published a press release and a short video on the same day. They show the first BMW Alpina production model in black and white camouflage on the Nardò high-speed ring, a 12.6-kilometre track that is one of the best known among car makers. The video shows it passing 300 km/h.

BMW is not focusing on top speed alone. “Speed has always been baked into the Alpina brand’s DNA. However, we are not just interested in top speed alone. What matters is how natural, stable and confident it feels to drive at that speed,” says Oliver Viellechner, Vice President of BMW Alpina. The brand sums up the idea with its motto “Speed, not Sport”.

The press release also details the settings specific to Alpina on this first model.

• A V8 engine, with maximum torque available across virtually the entire rev range.
• Engine management and accelerator pedal mapping tuned for smooth power delivery that never feels aggressive.
• A transmission adapted to higher engine speeds and increased power.
• 20-spoke wheels, developed with specific tyres that have an extra layer of foam.
• An exhaust system with four oval tailpipes and a deep sound.

While you wait for this Alpina, the large BMW saloon it is based on is already available to drive with Turismo.

Is it a 7 Series?

Yes, even though BMW does not say so in its November press release. In May 2026, when it presented the Vision BMW Alpina concept at the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este in Italy, the brand announced that its first model would arrive the following year, “inspired” by its large saloon.

The photos from Nardò confirm the link. According to the British magazine evo, the prototype's silhouette and lights are those of BMW's large saloon, which was recently updated. evo is already calling it the B7, like the last Alpinas based on this saloon, but BMW has not given it a name yet.

May's concept gave a direction without being the future model. It was a large 5.20-metre coupé, built as a one-off, which already featured the V8, the four-pipe exhaust and the 20-spoke wheels that Alpina has used since 1971.

What about power and top speed?

BMW has not yet given the power output or the top speed. The only official figure is the 300 km/h mark passed at Nardò, which the video presents as the model's first speed test.

The specialist website BMWBlog spotted a screen in this video displaying 439 kW, or around 597 hp, and 784 Nm under hard acceleration. These figures have not been confirmed by BMW and may not be those of the production model. The manufacturer has not specified the V8's displacement either, or whether it will be paired with a hybrid system.

When will the BMW Alpina be released and at what price?

BMW has announced the first model for 2027, without a more precise date. evo magazine expects a reveal in the first half of 2027 and sales from the autumn, an estimate that BMW has not confirmed.

No price has been announced. Oliver Viellechner places the brand between BMW and Rolls-Royce, which belongs to the same group. It will therefore sit above the most expensive BMWs.

What is changing for Alpina?

Alpina was founded in 1965 in Buchloe, Bavaria, where Burkard Bovensiepen built faster and more comfortable BMWs. BMW bought the brand in 2022. Since 1 January 2026, it has been a brand in its own right within the group, with its own models built in selected BMW plants.

It keeps its hallmarks. The BMW Alpina name will appear in the centre of the rear, in lettering inspired by the 1970s, and the new emblem keeps the throttle body and the crankshaft. Heritage colours, 20-spoke wheels and a wide choice of personalisation are also part of the plan.

That leaves the difference with BMW M, the manufacturer's sports division, which is for example preparing an electric M3. M models are also designed for the track. Alpina focuses on long journeys at high speed, with greater comfort, as shown by its Comfort+ driving mode, softer than the comfort setting of BMWs.

Can you already drive a BMW 7 Series?

Yes. At Turismo, you can drive BMW's large saloon with a subscription in Luxembourg, Belgium and France, as the 750e xDrive M Sport plug-in hybrid. It is not an Alpina, but it is the same family, with all-wheel drive and part of your journeys in electric mode.

Our view

With the V8, the 300 km/h, the four exhaust tips and the 20-spoke wheels, BMW has kept what makes an Alpina in the eyes of enthusiasts. The real answer will come in 2027, with the price and the actual gap with BMW's large saloon. Now that it belongs to the manufacturer, Alpina will have to prove it is more than a trim level.

FAQ: the first BMW Alpina

In summary

• The first production BMW Alpina is a large V8 saloon derived from the 7 Series.
• Its camouflaged prototype passed 300 km/h during testing at Nardò, shown on 3 November 2026.
• Its name, power output and price are not official yet.
• BMW announces its arrival in 2027, and evo expects a reveal in the first half of the year.