ALPINA, as we’ve come to comprehend it over the many years, is not any extra. The Bovensiepen household, which has owned the corporate since its inception, offered the rights to the identify and badge to BMW, which is taking the model upmarket and doesn’t plan on making any smaller fashions. So no matter BMW could bear the ALPINA badge beginning in 2026, it’s not going to be a “actual” ALPINA as a result of it’s not going to be a automotive that comes out of Buchloe.
However the ALPINA we all know will not be lifeless. It’s evolving and in addition transferring upmarket, nevertheless it’s additionally staying true to its roots. Since it could possibly not use the ALPINA identify, the corporate is now known as Bovensiepen Car, and its first product is this positively beautiful Zagato coupe. I’ll admit I’m not often a fan of some Zagato designs, however the Bovensiepen Zagato is up there with a few of Zagato’s finest latest efforts, just like the automobiles it created for Aston Martin.
This Is the First Automotive From Bovensiepen After ALPINA: A Zagato-Constructed Stunner
We answered Bovensiepen’s invitation to witness the revealing of the Zagato coupe dwell close to Lake Como, and we had been glad to see the automotive in particular person and study extra about its story and the rebranded firm’s future route.
The coupe relies on the G83 BMW M4 cabriolet, nevertheless it has a hard and fast hardtop roof. Bovensiepen selected the drop-top as the bottom as a result of it didn’t desire a B-pillar, which detracts from the expertise of driving a elaborate coupe. So that they eliminated the manufacturing unit roof and its electrical folding mechanism and put their very own double-bubble carbon fiber roof as an alternative.
How a BMW M4 Convertible Turned a Hand-Constructed Carbon Coupe
All the automotive’s physique is carbon fiber. Nevertheless, an entire M4 convertible remains to be hidden beneath there, with all its manufacturing unit physique panels. Bovensiepen did this as a result of it wanted to protect the M4’s security credentials and primarily not need to homologate the Zagato as a very new automotive. But even with each layers of bodywork, the automotive stays lighter than the M4 on which it’s primarily based, primarily as a result of the heavy folding roof has been eliminated.
It weighs 4,133 lbs (1,875 kg) in comparison with the donor M4’s 4,243 lbs (1,925 kg), so a distinction of 110 lbs (50 kg). It’s additionally longer and wider than the M4. It grows from 74.3 inches (1,887 mm) in width to 75.3 inches (1,913 mm) with out mirrors, and size will increase from 189 inches (4,801 mm) to 194.6 inches (4,943 mm), though it doesn’t appear like a much bigger automotive once you see it within the metallic. It’s marginally decrease than the M4, however solely by a number of millimeters.
Contained in the Bovensiepen Zagato: Luxurious Leather-based, Retro Particulars, and Craftsmanship
Bovensiepen doesn’t attempt to cover the hardtop design, leaving a transparent seam the place the highest meets the physique. That seam stays seen as a result of physique flex would ultimately trigger the paint to crack if it had been lined, and there’s an additional dose of fanciness that’s derived from leaving it there—I believed it added to the posh really feel of the automotive.
Nonetheless, making a completely new physique for a automotive is a departure for the corporate previously referred to as ALPINA. It outsources the carbon fiber parts and places all the things collectively in its Buchloe facility, and every automotive takes over 250 man-hours to finish, not together with the manufacturing of every particular person piece.
There’s a lot to say concerning the exterior design. It enhances the M4’s broad and aggressive stance, and the beltline has a extra pronounced rake than it does within the BMW. The rear flanks have a extra seen sharp character line that rises and continues into the massive rear spoiler. The wheels subtly nod to the basic ALPINA design acquainted to fanatics, they usually look nice on the automotive.
Bovensiepen retained the M4 LCI’s headlight internals, however they’ve a distinct form, which works very nicely with the design of the entrance finish, which doesn’t actually have a trace of a kidney grille. For the rear, the M4/4 Sequence laser lights are carried over unchanged, however they appear totally different within the context of the redesigned again.
The automotive’s inside is beautiful, utilizing the identical Lavalina leather-based that ALPINA automobiles have. Bovensiepen calls the shade of blue used all through “Heaven,” and whereas which will sound a bit corny, seeing and experiencing the inside in particular person, it begins to make sense. Identical to in ALPINAa, leather-based covers most surfaces, and it’s a visible and tactile delight.
The seats are carried over from the M4, however they’re reskinned and redesigned for an much more premium aesthetic. The design of the duvet for the seat squab is totally totally different from the M4, hinting on the longitudinal stripes that you simply would possibly see within the basic BMW E9 or an previous Alfa Romeo.
Over 600 HP, Carbon Fiber Every thing, and Restricted to Only a Few Hundred Items
Underneath the hood, which can be made out of carbon fiber and has an embossed “Bovensiepen” script on the underside, lies a tweaked model of the M4’s S58 twin-turbo 3-liter straight-six. With Bovensiepen’s particular consumption, turbos and tuning, it pumps out 602 bhp (611 PS) and 516 lb-ft (700 Nm), sending the automotive to 62 mph (100 km/h) from a standstill in 3.3 seconds and on to over 186 mph (300 km/h).
The brace that Bovensiepen positioned over the engine for additional torsional rigidity and improved steering really feel is lifted straight out of the M4 CS, nevertheless it was painted black for a extra refined integration. The engine cowl, similar to the remainder of the automotive, is all in carbon fiber and it proudly shows the Bovensiepen brand, which is new, nevertheless it nonetheless hints on the automotive’s BMW roots.
Bovensiepen hasn’t launched any official manufacturing figures for the Zagato two-door, however it is going to be someplace within the low lots of yearly. Since every automotive is hand-assembled, the annual manufacturing capability can be very low. Preserving the determine low can be key to making sure the automobiles’ exclusivity and their worth over time, so it’s Bovensiepen taking part in on its strengths right here.
The goal worth for the automobile hasn’t been finalized, and it is determined by what number of automobiles they may truly construct, however they anticipate the Bovensiepen Zagato to price between €400,000 and €500,000. It’s round 4 occasions greater than the donor automotive and in the identical worth bracket because the manufacturing variations of BMW’s Skytop and Speedtop ideas. That appears a bit steep, nevertheless it options much more craftsmanship than the BMW, it has a novel Zagato-designed physique that actually stands out and it has the heritage of ALPINA backing all the things up. We’re excited to see this automotive hit the highway and for what Bovensiepen has deliberate subsequent.
