Alpina B8 Gran Coupé: Alpina’s latest take on the BMW 8 Series Gran Coupé

Alpina’s interpretation of BMW’s four-door flagship is called the Alpina B8 Gran Coupé, a take on the Munich brand’s 8 Series Gran Coupé.

With BMW already working on the usual mid-cycle update, Alpina has stepped in with a version that sits very close to the BMW M8 Competition Gran Coupé in intent.

Alpina B8 Gran Coupé exterior: restrained but distinctive

As is typical of the Buchloe-based company in Bavaria, Germany, the styling hasn’t been radically reworked versus the 8 Series, yet it gains model-specific touches that give it extra character. That starts with the paintwork: a bespoke Alpina metallic green.

Around the back, the Alpina script is the obvious calling card, joined by four new circular tailpipes, replacing the pair of geometric exhaust finishers seen on the BMW M850i Gran Coupé.

A luxury cabin

Inside, the Alpina B8 Gran Coupé remains broadly familiar, with changes focused on finer materials and brand details. There are new leather trims (available in multiple colours), Alpina-specific graphics within the digital instrument cluster and, of course, a special plaque positioned below the iDrive controller.

Chassis changes to sharpen dynamics

Its dynamic capability has also been pushed on, thanks to new Eibach springs and dampers with a firmer feel. The standard anti-roll bars make way for stiffer items, while the braking system has been upgraded and is now supplied by Brembo.

Adding to that package are a limited-slip rear differential and active integral steering, allowing the rear wheels to turn by up to 2.3°. The aim is clear: to raise the agility of a model that now also delivers more power.

More drama, more power

At the centre of the Alpina B8 Gran Coupé is the same 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 found in the BMW M850i Gran Coupé. However, with new pistons, revised intake and exhaust manifolds, two larger turbochargers and a new engine control unit running a fresh injection map, output climbs to 621 hp and 800 Nm of maximum torque.

That uplift of 91 hp and 50 Nm brings a sizeable jump in performance. The Alpina B8 Gran Coupé needs just 3.4s to accelerate from 0-100 km/h and reaches 324 km/h flat out, compared with the 3.9s and 305 km/h BMW quotes for the M850i Gran Coupé. It is also only 0.2s behind the M8 Competition Gran Coupé in the benchmark 0-100 km/h run.

The bad news comes last: price. The new Alpina B8 Gran Coupé is already available to order and starts at 161 200 euros in Germany. For context, it’s worth noting that the BMW M850i Gran Coupé is offered in our country from 152 000 euros.