Following last week’s report of BMW giving the 8 Series and M8 Competition their respective mid-cycle facelifts, the changes made to the 8 Series have been applied to the Alpina B8 Gran Coupé. Based on the M850i Gran Coupé, the Alpina B8 Gran Coupé offers an antidote to the high-performance, track-focused M8 Competition Gran Coupé with its own brand of high-performance luxury, which includes more torque than the M car. The Alpina B8 Gran Coupé has only been around for one year though, which makes the update for 2023 one the fastest in recent memory.
The updates given to the Alpina B8 Gran Coupé LCI largely mirror those applied to the 8 Series, and include a redesigned kidney grille with U-shaped slats and illumination for the frame, along with illuminated door sill finishers which display the Alpina name. The interior also receives BMW’s larger iDrive control display, which measures 12.3 inches, up from 10.25. While the 8 Series range received two new wheel designs, the Alpina is retaining its current setup, but will be available with the newly added 8 Series colors including Portimao Blue, San Remo Green, Skyscraper Gray, along with Tanzanite Blue II and Frozen Pure Grey from BMW Individual.
Engine output for the Alpina-modified N63 twin-turbocharged V8 engine (internally designated N63M30) remains unchanged with 612 horsepower from 5,500 to 6,500 rpm, and 590 pound-feet of torque from 2,000 to 5,000. That’s nearly 90 more horsepower than the M850i and just shy of the M8 Competition’s 617, and a substantial increase in torque over the M850i and M8’s 553 pound-feet. It’s also enough to propel the Alpina B8 Gran Coupé to a de-limited top speed of 201 mph, or just a bit less than its B7 stablemate. Like the M850i and M8 Competition, the B8 Gran Coupé uses BMW’s xDrive all-wheel-drive system and comes with it as standard equipment.
Pricing remains unchanged with a starting MSRP of $139,900 not including destination. The Alpina B8 Gran Coupé used to slot between the conventional M8 Gran Coupé and the M8 Competition Gran Coupé, but after BMW reduced the price of the M8 lineup and made the competition models the only option, the Alpina costs just a bit more than the $130,000 four-door M8—but it’s definitely the one you’d rather be driving on a daily basis.—Alex Tock
[Photos courtesy BMW AG.]