UPDATE: March 20, 2026 Added new information on Alpina's long history with BMW, providing additional context to the new Alpina models coming soon.For decades, Alpina was one of the premier BMW tuners, with a relationship so close to the German automaker that Alpina models were available directly from dealers. In 2022, BMW announced it had acquired the modification specialist but promised to keep the brand alive.Until now, the company has kept its plans for the new BMW Alpina brand quiet. However, a top BMW exec has just given us a very clear idea of what to expect. Speaking to Auto Express, Joachin Post, BMW board member for research and development, said the company will start from the top of the range with the 7 Series sedan and X7 SUV. How Does Alpina Fit Into BMW's Lineup? Bring A TrailerBMW hasn't said anything specific about what changes it has planned for the next-gen Alpina 7 Series. Judging from the past, Alpina generally doesn't focus on achieving record-setting track times. Instead, the company usually adds a dose of power so that the vehicle can be a fast but comfortable daily driver. There is also often a luxurious cabin."Alpina is always different [to BMW M] in the past. BMW M is for the race track, and Alpina we talk about speed not sport. Speed, comfort, and luxury. But completely different from M."- Joachin Post, per Auto ExpressJudging from his statement, BMW doesn't seem to plan to change the things that make Alpina great. While we don't know the specific revisions coming to the new 7 Series, the brand has decades of experience modifying these sedans that we can use as a guide.The previous-generation B7 had a production run from 2016 through 2022 and was based on the BMW 7 Series from the same era. It packed a tuned twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 making 600 horsepower, versus up to 523 hp in the contemporary 750i. The comfy sport sedan could hit 62 miles per hour in 3.7 seconds. CarBuzz's review notes the sublime driving experience. "While it may not have an M badge, the Alpina B7 is a dream to drive. In fact, it feels even better than the usual performance models from BMW," it noted. Alpina History: Why It's So Important To BMW You have to step all the way back to the early 1960s to appreciate Alpina's place in the BMW world. Burkard Bovensiepen founded the company in 1965 but as early as 1962, he was developing carburetors for BMW vehicles. The work was so well-received by BMW proper that the upgrades were honored by BMW's factory warranty.Alpina Alpina continued as a tuning company through the 1970s and into the early 1980s, tweaking Bimmers in much the same way as AMG was modifying Mercedes cars. Then in 1983, Alpina transitioned from a tuner to a standalone manufacturer. The first Alpina-specific cars were born. However, the relationship with BMW was so good that Alpina cars could still be serviced by BMW. So, though Alpina is now in-house at BMW, the symmetry is unlikely to change much given the close history between these companies. When Will We See The New Alpina? CarBuzz / Valnet The launch timing for the new Alpina 7 Series is still a mystery, but we know that the BMW version of the sedan has a model refresh on the imminent horizon. Judging from the spy shots, it adopts a more chiseled nose and revised headlights. At the other end, there are updated taillights and a tweaked lower bumper. We expect the revised 7 Series to debut before the end of the year. Expect the brand to bring out the Alpina with a separate event to highlight its special product.BMW just revealed the XB7 Manufaktur as the final product to be part of the old Alpina brand. The special-edition model is limited to just 120 units for the United States and Canada. The changes include the exclusive Frozen Alpina Green and Frozen Alpina Blue paint colors, as well as a set of 23-inch 20-spoke wheels. Inside, there's Tartufo Full Merino leather upholstery with Walnut Nature Black trim. Prices for the limited-run vehicle start at a hefty $180,000 plus $1,550 for destination and handling.