This snazzy BMW concept car is a very big deal. It's the first step toward a new vision for what was once a standalone tuning brand called Alpina. Now that BMW has brought it all in-house, it's time to give Alpina a car of its own.BMWIt's a stunning and elegant car that is intended to push the brand upward to fill the gap beneath Rolls-Royce, while also making its BMW roots clear. We're not sure exactly how a two-door that's longer than an X7 is going to do that, but here we are. And so far, it's all good. Very good. Welcome To The Reborn Alpina Brand BMWIt's called the Vision BMW Alpina, and it is being revealed along Lake Como at the Concours d'Eleganza Villa d'Este. The show with the very long name also has an extensive association with BMW concepts in recent years, most notably the Skytop and Speedtop models.This 204.7-inch long coupe is styled to project a wide, low, and confident presence, BMW said. The stylists want you to have to look at the car again and again; to take a "second read" to spot details you missed the first times, if you will.Those details include a modern take on Alpina's deco-lines. They're painted on before the clear coat process, which BMW Alpina describes as "a quiet gesture that reflects how the brand’s defining details can be adapted to what comes next."BMWEven the illuminated kidney grilles have new details. The illuminations beam through clear-cut crystals, the company said. The warm white tone for the front lighting is inspired by the sunrise over the Bavarian Alps, a nod to where Alpina was founded. Yes, it's a very big outline, but the proportions are dialed in and it looks like a natural fit on this car. It's infinitely better than the 4 Series grille.At the back, Alpina's lettering is a statement that makes it more clear than in the past who created this vehicle. Below that badge and the razor-thin taillamps are the four large exhaust pipes that make it clear this car is still packing a V8 engine under the hood."In Vision BMW Alpina, we distill every element of the brand to its essence and apply it in a deeply modern and sophisticated way. Every detail reflects substance: in engineering, in materials, and in the story it tells. The statements it makes are subtle and revealed only on a closer read. This interplay between purity and richness defines our approach to BMW Alpina design."- Maximilian Missoni, head of BMW Design midsize & luxury cars and BMW Alpina Wide Open Cabin With Traditional Alpina Details BMW The cabin is wide-open thanks to a massive glass panel in the roof. The one-off car is trimmed with leather from the Alps, paired with stitching that is meant to recall the Deco-lines on the outside, and it has other details like more crystal, watchmaking-inspired beveling on the metal parts, and a bridge stitch on the steering wheel that uses Alpina's traditional blue and green hues.Even rear seat passengers get some of the ultra-luxury love, thanks to a glass water bottle and a pair of BMW Alpina crystal glasses. Each of the glasses has 20 Deco-lines, matching the number of spokes on Alpina's iconic wheel design, and has a six-degree rim cut. That angle is repeated on other lines inside and outside the car.BMWBMW Alpina didn't spend much time talking about the performance details, other than to confirm a V8 under the hood. It's probably another version of BMW's 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8, which has been tuned to 612 horsepower for the XB7 SUV.The company did mention its suspension setup. While M has always been the performance fiend at BMW, Alpina has made vehicles that were more suited to grand touring. Alpina offers a Comfort+ setting for its suspension, which it says is "beyond the standard BMW comfort calibration." This car continues that, and includes a new blue and green look for the BMW Panoramic Vision system when Comfort+ is engaged.Alpina doesn't plan to build this car. It is a preview of the first model under the new regime, which will arrive next year. That model will be "inspired by the BMW 7 Series," the company said. Then again, BMW didn't plan to build the Skytop either, yet it made 50 after the car was so well-received. So never say never, right?Vision BMW Alpina Concept (20)