If like me, you’re anxiously awaiting the first-ever Alpina product entirely under the BMW umbrella, you won’t have to wait much longer. BMW is set to show off its first Alpina model at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este on Lake Como, Italy and it’s shaping up to be something surprisingly special.
In a new teaser from the BMW Alpina Instagram account, you can see the silhouette of something long and low, with a hood long enough to suggest internal combustion instead of electrification. While it’s hard to tell exactly, the roofline also looks too long for only two doors, so it could be some sort of gran coupe. You only see its shadow on some mountain walls, but even that dark outline looks completely different from anything in BMW’s existing lineup. Either way, it’s called the Vision BMW Alpina, which in BMW-speak means it’s just a concept car. But still, having a unique concept is already better than what I expected.
When BMW first announced its purchase of Alpina, I was skeptical and quite loud about it. I feared BMW would just turn Alpina into the top-spec trim level of its luxury cars, like the 7 Series and X7. However, it seems that BMW might actually to use the iconic name to make truly special cars, as it’s already starting to generate some superlative buzz.
According to BMWBlog, insiders who’ve seen the car claim it to be “without exaggeration, one of the more beautiful things BMW has shown in years.” The concept cars BMW has brought to Lake Como in recent years have been stunning, so this comes as no surprise. Plus, this is the first project under the helm of designer Max Missoni, previously at Polestar, who was recently made head of Middle, Luxury Class, and ALPINA design. Missoni had some very skilled extra hands, as Alex Innes joined Alpina after the BMW acquisition, and Innes was responsible for some of Rolls-Royce’s stunning bespoke models, like the Boat Tail.
Missoni seems to understand the assignment well. “If you have to explain design, it’s failed,” he told Car Magazine, while discussing the future of Alpina. He also indicates that there will be enough distinction between Alpina vehicles and BMW M cars. “I’m excited about this. It hurts a little to see people that still wonder whether there’s even room for these two alongside each other. We have already defined these nicely. There is a real space for both.”
This Vision BMW Alpina is one of the most fascinating concepts in recent BMW history, as we simply have no idea what’s coming. There’s no precedent, no reference point, as it’s the first car to be made since the two companies joined together. We’ll find out on May 15 on Lake Como.