The Bovensiepen Zagato : A Secret BMW Hidden Beneath Coachbuilt Elegance
Making its world debut at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este, the all-new Bovensiepen Zagato marks the return of Alpina’s founding family to the world of high-performance, handcrafted automobiles — with BMW DNA still running deep beneath its stunning carbon fiber skin.
A New Chapter for Alpina’s Founders
Following BMW’s full acquisition of Alpina in 2022, the Bovensiepen family has launched a new automotive venture under their own name. Their goal? To become a manufacturer of “exceptional automobiles that embody the concept of fine driving.” No small ambition — but one they’re clearly serious about.
Their first creation, the Bovensiepen Zagato, is a coachbuilt grand tourer based on the BMW M4 Coupe. It’s a collaboration with legendary Italian design house Zagato, and the result blends Bavarian engineering with Italian artistry in a truly unique package.
An M4 in Disguise
At first glance, it’s difficult to identify the BMW roots. The silhouette hints at influences from the BMW 8 Series and even the discontinued BMW i8, but this is no simple rebadge. Instead, it’s a thoroughly reimagined coupe that retains the M4’s high-performance underpinnings, while adopting an entirely new and bespoke body made almost entirely of carbon fiber — requiring over 250 hours of handcrafting.
The design is clean and elegant, though arguably conservative at the front. Notably, the M4’s controversial double-kidney grille is gone, replaced by a more refined and streamlined fascia. At the rear, slim light signatures and subtle cues recall Alpina’s classic design language, while 20-inch wheels give a nod to performance heritage.
Specs at a Glance
- Power: 611 hp / 449 kW
- Torque: 700 Nm / 516 lb-ft
- 0–100 km/h: 3.3 seconds
- Top Speed: > 300 km/h / > 186 mph
- Weight (DIN): 1,875 kg / 4,134 lbs
- Length: 4,943 mm / 194.6 in
- Width: 1,913 mm / 75.3 in
- Height: 1,394 mm / 54.9 in
- Exterior: Full carbon fiber body
- Build Time: Over 250 hours
A Fusion of Heritage and Vision
Zagato’s signature double-bubble roof is proudly present, paying homage to decades of Italian design tradition. “It was a team effort driven by the excitement of the project,” says Andrea Zagato, president of the design house. “When you combine two DNAs, the result should be a stronger DNA.”
And indeed, this BMW-based coupe isn’t just a collector’s dream — it’s a statement of intent from the Bovensiepen family: Alpina may have been absorbed by BMW, but the spirit of handcrafted, high-performance luxury lives on.
Deliveries Start in 2026
Production will be highly limited, with the first deliveries expected in late Q2 2026. Pricing has not yet been announced, but given the bespoke craftsmanship and exclusive nature of the car, expect it to land in rarefied territory.
