The Bovensiepen family is back with a third new model of its post-Alpina era. Like the previous 05 GT and Zagato, the Bovensiepen Spider is based on a BMW and makes no attempt to disguise it. The Spider is based on the BMW Z4, and while it has some subtle design tweaks from famous car designer Frank Stephenson, it still looks like a Z4. Thankfully, it packs some mechanical changes, too, which seem to make far more of a difference than its looks do.
This is the second Bovensiepen car that Stephenson worked on, the first being the 05 GT. And while it’s a sharp looking car, that’s mostly because the Z4 already was. I’m an unapologetic Z4 lover, so I dig this. But for the many that found the latest Z4 odd, this won’t change your mind. The main differences here are the wheels, the lower front lip, the quad exhausts, the bigger ducktail spoiler, and the angular fender vent. If you saw this driving around, though, you’d just assume it was a normal Z4. Even the kidney grille is the same as the Bimmer’s.
Inside, the cabin looks mostly the same but Bovensiepen replaces BMW’s Vernasca leather with Lavalina leather, what Alpinas always had. There’s also Alcantara all over, like on the A-pillar covers, and customers can customize the interior to their heart’s desire.
Where things really change is under the skin. When the Bovensiepen family ran Alpina, it was always brilliant at taking already great BMW engines and making them better, and that’s what Bovensiepen continues to do. So the new Spider has BMW’s B58 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six but gets an upgraded intake air duct, with an additional ram air channel, a bigger intake silencer, an upgraded exhaust, and a better cooling package. The latter comes with a new 1000-watt fan to help keep things cool. All of that helps pump out 429 horsepower and 428 lb-ft of torque. Its eight-speed ZF automatic remains unchanged, but there’s an optional Performance Pack that brings a finned aluminum differential cover that keeps it cooler at constant high speed. With that Performance Pack, the Spider’s top speed is 183 mph, higher than any BMW Z4 could ever do. It also gets an underbody V-brace, for added structural rigidity and improved handling.
While this Bovensiepen Spider isn’t that much different looking than the Z4, I expect it to ride more comfortably, pull harder, steer sweeter, and sound more exciting. That’s been my experience with every car to come from the Bovensiepen family. Sure, it’ll cost a fortune, but it’s nice to see Bovensiepen making cars, as they’re always some of the best on the planet.
