For decades, Alpina has been crafting bespoke grand touring machines that are faster, smoother, more exclusive, and often superior to the BMWs they are based on.
While BMW M builds raw, aggressive, motorsport-focused cars that are about as subtle as a punch in the face, Alpina is more like a martial arts-trained bouncer in a tailored suit. It still delivers a devastating punch, but is more refined when doing so. One could say Alpina’s cars are built for devouring continents at triple-digit speeds while their drivers sip espresso.
With that clarified, let’s just dive into the machines that turned Alpina from a niche tuner into one of the most respected small-volume manufacturers on Earth. These are the greatest Alpina cars of all time, proving that luxury and speed don’t have to be opposites, as these extravagant German cars will leave you in their dust.
Alpina B7 Turbo (E28)
Before the world praised the M5 for turning sedans into supercars, Alpina had already done it. The E28 Alpina B7 Turbo wasn’t just fast “for a sedan,” it was the fastest four-door car in the world.
Built from 1984 to 1987, it packed a turbocharged 3.5-liter inline-six producing up to 330 horsepower, which was absolutely savage for the mid-’80s. With its monstrous boost, rear-wheel drive, and Alpina-tuned Bilstein suspension, the B7 Turbo embarrassed sports cars costing twice as much.
Alpina B10 Bi-Turbo (E34)
Many enthusiasts still consider the E34 B10 Bi-Turbo the single greatest car Alpina has ever built. Honestly? They’re not wrong. Using a highly reworked version of BMW’s M30 straight-six, Alpina added twin turbochargers, forged internals, and custom Bosch engine management. The result was 360 horsepower, 0–60 in around 5 seconds, and a top speed north of 180 mph, making it one of the most outrageous European sedans of the 1990s.
This thing destroyed the Mercedes 500E, nuked the Audi V8, and even humbled supercars on the Autobahn. Only 507 were made, each hand-built, and it remains one of Alpina’s most collectible cars ever.
Alpina B8 4.6 (E36)
BMW never put a V8 in the E36, claiming it didn’t fit. Then Alpina looked at the same engine bay and said, “Ja, it does now,” as they stuffed the handbuilt 4.6-liter Alpina V8 into the E36 chassis, turning the light, compact 3-Series into an absolute torque monster, producing 347 lb-ft at 3900 rpm. Importantly, at just 1000 rpm, the engine produces 258 lb-ft of torque, which is the same as the maximum torque of an E36 M3 Evo, making it a very flexible engine at low revs. That, combined with 333 horsepower, gives the Alpina B8 4.6 character unlike any other E36 on Earth.
It also came with a strengthened differential, unique suspension tuning, upgraded cooling, and Alpina’s signature interior touches. Only 221 cars were ever made, including just 7 wagons, which are holy-grail collectibles today.
Alpina Roadster V8 (E52 Z8-Based)
In the early 2000s, BMW created the Z8, which enjoyed a short, three-year production run and was fitted with the E39 M5’s 4.9-liter V8 and a six-speed manual. However, its unruliness gave it what’s best described as a lukewarm reception, and by 2003, Alpina took the Z8 reins.
Alpina went to work and swapped the S62 engine for a 4.8-liter Alpina V8, which lowered the power from 395 to 375 hp, and increased torque from 369 to 384 lb-ft. They also replaced the manual transmission with a 5-speed Steptronic automatic and gave the Z8 a softer and more refined suspension setup. Voilà, the harsh Z8 was now transformed into an excellent grand tourer, and only 555 people got their hands on one. Purists complained, but buyers loved it. Today, the Alpina Roadster V8 is significantly more valuable than the standard Z8.
Alpina B12 5.7 (E31)
The E31 8-Series was already a complex, futuristic German spaceship, but Alpina turned it into a hyper-GT long before the term existed. The Bavarian tuning house took BMW’s 5.0-liter V12, enlarged it to 5.7 liters, and fitted high-flow heads, forged pistons, a performance exhaust, a strengthened automatic gearbox, and a bespoke digital gauge cluster.
Power jumped to 416 thoroughbred stallions, making it the most powerful Alpina ever at the time. The Alpina B12 5.7 could cruise at 186 mph all day without breaking a sweat, which is exactly what it was built for.
Alpina B12 6.0 (E38)
If the E31 B12 was a grand tourer, the E38 Alpina B12 6.0 was a luxury ballistic missile. This beast was powered by a highly reworked 6.0-liter V12, producing 424 horsepower and enough torque to warp the earth’s crust. The B12 6.0 was engineered purely for “outside-lane, unlimited-speed Autobahn dominance.”
With signature multi-spoke wheels, Alpina pinstriping, Lavalina leather, and velvety power delivery, the E38 B12 6.0 was widely considered the world’s finest luxury sedan in the late ’90s. It was the car BMW should have built to rival the Mercedes S-Class, but instead Alpina did it for them.
Alpina B3 3.3 (E46)
While BMW M3s grabbed headlines, the Alpina B3 quietly became one of the best real-world Bimmers ever made. With a handbuilt 3.3-liter straight-six producing 280 horsepower living under the hood, the Alpina B3 3.3 was never meant to be a high-revving track monster. Instead, it delivered oodles of torque and perfect throttle response.
In addition, it had a chassis tuned for real roads, meaning the ride quality was near-magical. Most cars were specced with Alpina’s slick Switch-Tronic automatic, which has shift buttons on the steering wheel. However, purists could opt for a manual transmission, but only 250 coupes were built with this option. Available in coupé, cabrio, sedan, or wagon form, the B3 3.3 represented Alpina’s core philosophy better than almost any other model.
Alpina B5 (E60)
The E60 M5 was a screaming V10 exotic disguised as a sedan. As cool as it is, there’s no denying that the V10 came with some serious headaches. Luckily, Alpina’s B5 was fitted with BMW’s 4.4-liter V8 instead, but it was no less insane than the M5, as they bolted on a giant supercharger.
In doing so, Alpina created a 500-horsepower, torque-heavy monster that didn’t need 8,000 rpm to come alive. It delivered effortless, neck-snapping brute force at low rpm, and a more forgiving nature than the high-strung M5.
Alpina B6 S (E63)
Before BMW moved fully into turbos, Alpina was one of the last manufacturers keeping supercharged engines alive. The Alpina B6 S Coupé packed a 530-horsepower blown V8, launching it to 60 mph in 4.4 seconds and onward to a continent-crushing 198 mph top speed.
It was fast, but what made it truly special was its maturity compared to the BMW it was based on. Here, there’s no screaming V10, no twitchiness, just relentless grand-touring speed and poise. It was also rare, with only a tiny number produced, making it one of the most collectible modern Alpinas.
Alpina D3 (E90)
The Alpina D3 might be the ultimate enthusiast daily driver, as it’s light on fuel, high on torque, and shockingly fun to drive. It’s built on the lightweight BMW 320d, but Alpina extracted 200+ horsepower and 300+ lb-ft from its small four-cylinder diesel engine.
Because the D3 weighed less than its six and eight-cylinder petrol siblings, the Alpina D3 handled brilliantly. In Europe, journalists said it’s one of the best real-world BMWs money could buy, and in many ways, they were right.
Alpina B7 (G12)
The G12 B7 is the perfect example of a modern-day Alpina car. This is a high-performance luxury sedan produced from 2016 to 2022, based on the long-wheelbase BMW 7 Series platform.
It features a modified 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 engine producing 608 horsepower, a special 8-speed ZF automatic transmission, and an all-wheel-drive system, combining luxury with sports car-like performance. In fact, it’s faster than a Ferrari F355, Lambo Gallardo, and most modern Porsches, but you can drive it daily without ever breaking a sweat
Alpina XD3/XD4
Alpina’s diesel SUVs are so fast, driving one kinda feels like they break physics. The reason for that is found up front, in the shape of a quad-turbo straight-six engine producing 388 horsepower and massive torque, ensuring that the Alpina XD models deliver explosive acceleration.
Thanks to all-wheel drive, an electronically controlled active rear limited-slip differential, adaptive sports suspension with electronically adjustable dampers and Performance Control, which uses selective brake intervention to increase agility during cornering, the XD models deliver surprisingly sharp handling for their size. Basically, these vehicles cater to drivers who want a sports car but need a capable daily vehicle and refuse to compromise on performance.
Alpina B4 Gran Coupé (G26)
With BMW purchasing Alpina and folding it deeper into the brand, the B4 Gran Coupé may be one of their last pure, independent creations, and what a finale it is! Based on the BMW 4 Series Gran Coupé, it is powered by a modified twin-turbo 3.0-liter inline-six engine packing 495 horsepower.
It also features a unique chassis tune, bespoke suspension, and design enhancements, such as its signature Alpina pinstripes, 20-inch wheels, and an interior dripping with hand-stitched Lavalina leather. Combining powerful performance with luxurious and comfortable touring, the Alpina B4 fills a gap between the standard M440i and the more hardcore M4 as an all-weather, all-day Autobahn cruiser that can still hustle when you ask it to.
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