The 10 Best Alpina Cars and SUVs of All Time

When reading through this ranking, you may reach the conclusion that today’s Alpinas are no good—or, at the very least, not as good as what came before. That couldn’t be further from the truth, though. The tuner continues to build some of the most impressive luxury vehicles around. The XB7 is a perfect example of this. Introduced in 2023, the tuner’s version of X7 features a heavily upgraded hybrid-assisted 4.4-liter twin-turbo V-8 that makes 630 hp and 590 ft lbs of torque, comfortably making it one of the most powerful SUVs in the world at the time of its release.

When it came time to say goodbye to the Z8 in 2003, BMW tasked Alpina with giving it a proper sendoff. Rather than just release a more powerful car, the tuner focused on turning the Roadster V8 into an even more fitting tribute to the 507 convertible from the 1950s. This involved outfitting the car with a sleeker exterior and reducing power a tad, from 395 hp to 375 hp, which shifted the emphasis to its driving dynamics.

Throughout the years, Alpina has shown an ability to turn any BMW into a supercar. Just look at the B12 6.0 E-Kat. Introduced in 1999, the 5.7 E-Kat’s replacement was a high-performance version of the automaker’s biggest and most luxurious saloon, the capable E38 750i.  Alpina’s four-door came with a massive 6.0-liter V-12 that kicked out 430 hp. Thanks to all that power, the brawny cruiser could sprint from zero to 60 mph in under six seconds and reach a top speed of 181 mph. It was also hard to get, with just 94 examples built during the three years it was in production.

The B6 2.8, which debuted in 1978, showed that Alpina’s builds were just for the track. Based on the first-generation 3 Series, specifically the flagship 323i, this is the car that would lay the blueprint for the tuner’s future cars. The shop swapped out the range topper’s car’s 2.3-liter inline-six for the 2.9-liter mill from the 528i. Some key upgrades, including forged pistons, boosted output to 200 hp, resulting in a proto-M3 that could hit a top speed of 140 mph.

The Alpina Roadster Limited Edition is based on BMW’s first open-top Z model, the Z1. The two cars look almost identical to one another—including, thankfully, the slide-down doors—but the tuner added a side stripe and 20-spoke wheels to its build. The bigger changes can be found under the hood, where a bigger 2.7-liter inline-six that, thanks to its larger displacement and slew of upgrades, made 200 hp. It was also exclusive, with only 62 built across 1990 and 1991.

For a certain type of enthusiast, the early ‘90s BMW 8 Series coupe is one of the defining sports cars of that decade. Alpina’s versions, the B12 5.0 and 5.7 Coupe, were even more impressive. The latter, which was built between 1992 and 1996, was based on the range-topping E31 850CSi. It featured a 5.7-liter V-12—compared to the 5.6-liter mill found in the standard car—that made 416 hp. Thanks to the added grunt, the two-door could reach a top speed of 186 mph. Add in its lean and mean look and the fact that it was only available with a manual, and it’s little wonder it’s still so highly thought of.

The original B7 S Turbo sedan, which was introduced in 1978, may have been based on the E12 528i, but the coupe, which launched four years later in 1982, was based on the E25 635CSi. The elongated two-door came equipped with a turbocharged 3.5-liter inline six that made 330 hp and could push the vehicle to a supercar-like 166 mph. It was also rare, with only 30 built during the single year it was in production.

Here’s the car that started it all. Alpina began building parts for BMW race cars in the 1960s, but it wasn’t until the next decade that the automaker approached the tuner about building a lightweight version of the E9 3.0 CS that it could enter in the European Touring Car Championship. The resulting 3.0 CSL wasn’t just lighter than the standard coupe; it also featured a more potent 3.0-liter inline-six, which made over 200 hp, and a specially developed suspension. Thanks to those changes, the homologation special would prove to be the dominant ETCC car of the decade.

When it debuted in 1989, the B10 Bi-Turbo raised the bar for every single sedan, not just those made by BMW. Based on the E34 535i—and with nearly double the price tag—the four-door came with a twin-turbocharged version of the 3.4-liter inline-six found in the B6 3.5 S. The addition of the water-cooled turbochargers, along with a Bosch variable boost control, pushed output to 355 hp and 384 ft lbs of torque. That was enough oomph to push the car from zero to 60 mph in 5.6 seconds and to a top speed 180 mph, and gave credence to Alpina’s claim that it had built the best sedan in the world.

There’s a good case to be made for the B6 3.5 S as the best 3 Series of them all. This version of the B6, which debuted in 1987, was based on the first M3, the E30. It kept that car’s angular body kit and lightweight construction, but swapped out its 2.3-liter four-cylinder for the 3.4-lighter inline-six found in bigger Bimmers of the era. It may not have screamed as loud as the standard E30 M3, but it offered more power (254 hp and 255 ft lbs of torque) and smoother performance. It was also exclusive, with just 62 examples leaving the factory.