Alpinas have never been the flashiest way to get around. The German tuning firm has always been about discreet speed with the comfort to match, and the Alpina B8 is no exception. It's a sleek four-door coupe that will happily whisk you around town or across the continent with both grace and pace. There are a number of cars that claim to be grand tourers these days, but few blend all of the elements of a great GT as well as the B8. If the M8 Gran Coupe is a bit too in your face and a Bentley Flying Spur screams "Russian oligarch" to you, the Alpina will hit the spot.Read full review
Fractionally slower than less expensive M8 Gran Coupe counterpart
What's new
After a mild refresh last year, the Alpina B8 returns unchanged for 2024
Based on the first 8 Series Gran Coupe generation introduced for 2020
Overview
For BMW, Alpina is the equivalent to a secret handshake in the automotive world. It takes already impressive BMW vehicles and makes them even more special with its own brand of interior upgrades, performance tuning and subtle exterior styling. The 2024 BMW Alpina B8 Gran Coupe is based on the 8 Series Gran Coupe, which is the second-largest sedan in BMW's lineup. Not surprisingly, you'll pay a hefty sum to get the Alpina experience, but you'll be repaid with the satisfaction that comes with owning an uncompromising, exclusive and understated vehicle.
Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2024 BMW ALPINA B8 Gran Coupe 4dr Sedan AWD (4.4L 8cyl Turbo 8A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.67 per gallon for premium unleaded in Nebraska.
With 612 horsepower at your command, you won't want for more power. Handling also exceeds most drivers' appetite for cornering without a punishingly stiff ride. The Alpina B8 glides down the autobahn as fast as 201 mph so imagine how composed it is at U.S. speed limits. To get a full appreciation, we suggest taking a tour of Alpina's operation outside of Munich, Germany, as we did. There, you'll realize the firm's fanatical devotion to craftsmanship and just how different it is from the "regular" BMW models. It's as though Rolls-Royce renovated the interior without fundamentally changing the general layout. Our Expert Rating below covers its excellence as well as words can, but there's no substitute for experiencing it firsthand.
Competitors to consider
At this lofty level, competition is scarce. We'd consider the Audi S8 and Porsche Panamera, though they don't challenge the Alpina B8 when it comes to interior refinement. The Mercedes-Benz Maybach and Rolls-Royce Ghost do, but they're larger sedans that prioritize posh over performance. If you're considering the switch to an EV, the Lucid Air and Sapphire or Mercedes-Benz AMG EQS are certainly worth checking out. In the end, if you're considering the BMW Alpina B8 Gran Coupe, our response is, "Do it."
Edmunds Expert Rating
Our Verdict
The Edmunds Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.
Great
8.4
out of 10
edmunds TESTED
Alpinas have never been the flashiest way to get around. The German tuning firm has always been about discreet speed with the comfort to match, and the Alpina B8 is no exception. It's a sleek four-door coupe that will happily whisk you around town or across the continent with both grace and pace. There are a number of cars that claim to be grand tourers these days, but few blend all of the elements of a great GT as well as the B8. If the M8 Gran Coupe is a bit too in your face and a Bentley Flying Spur screams "Russian oligarch" to you, the Alpina will hit the spot.
How does the ALPINA B8 Gran Coupe drive? Right out of the gate, thrust from the Alpina's 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 engine is immense. Thanks to 612 horsepower and 590 lb-ft of torque, the B8 scoots from 0 to 60 mph in 3.4 seconds. That's slightly quicker than the M850i Gran Coupe but a tick slower than the M8 Gran Coupe. If you're going to go fast, you're going to need exceptional brakes, and the B8 has them. Massive Brembo calipers clamp down on equally huge steel discs, stopping the B8 from 60 mph in 94 feet. That's shorter than an M5 CS and BMW M8 Gran Coupe. For a car that weighs 4,715 pounds and is geared more toward luxury than all-out performance, that is nothing short of exceptional.
All that weight, though, shows up quickly once you start driving up twisty roads. You can really feel the mass of the B8, and the steering simply doesn't offer nearly enough feedback for the Alpina to be considered a driver's car. Even though hustling this luxury barge down a backroad can be fun, there are other high-dollar performance luxury cars that are better for the job. Instead, the Alpina is about comfort, and it crushes that purpose no matter if you're in the city or cruising down an interstate.
Comfort
9/10
How comfortable is the ALPINA B8 Gran Coupe? This BMW doesn't have a single M badge on it, and that means all sporting pretense is gone. The Alpina is all about continent-cruising comfort, and it excels. The seats are covered in soft Merino leather and are exceptionally comfortable, and they're adjustable in more than a dozen ways. The cabin is always whisper-quiet regardless of speed. Even the B8's ride quality, despite the oversized 21-inch wheels, is excellent.
The B8 was designed to get you and a few of your friends from wherever you are to wherever you want to be exceptionally quickly without a moment of discomfort. It's a grand tourer through and through, and it lives up to expectation almost faultlessly. If we had to nitpick we'd say the Alpina's Comfort Plus drive mode can be a little too floaty, but simply never using the setting remedies that problem.
Interior
8/10
How’s the interior? BMW's interiors have been cold and technical in recent years, but the B8 finally restores some much-wanted luxury. Yet the conversion to an Alpina doesn't upset the standard 8 Series' good ergonomics. The seating position itself is spot on, and there's plenty of adjustment range for the seat and the steering column.
Even though it's a very low-slung four-door coupe, visibility isn't too bad, though the view out of the rear window is definitely compromised. Inside you'll find plenty of legroom for up to four passengers, but headroom in the back is limited so you might want to put your taller friends up front.
The Alpina's BMW iDrive system isn't the most intuitive to learn. However, once you've become acquainted with it, it works well and doesn't distract from driving duties. The presence of a dial controller and touchscreen provides much-appreciated redundant control. In contrast, Audi and Porsche have gone full-touchscreen.
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2024 BMW ALPINA B8 Gran Coupe pricing in Hastings, NE
How’s the tech? Even though this is an Alpina-badged car, it still gets BMW's iDrive infotainment. Take note: It's one of the most menu-dense infotainment systems on the market. It's not easy to master and takes plenty of getting used to. However, owners should give themselves time to overcome the learning curve. BMW's menu structure is logical, there are multiple ways of using the system (touch, a dial, gestures and voice commands), and it eventually becomes second nature. If you're interested in any modern BMW, spend some time sitting in a showroom and checking out iDrive to make sure it's right for you.
Driver aids like blind-spot warning and forward collision warning were helpful without being intrusive. Then there is BMW's optional Driving Assistance Professional package, which, when certain road conditions are met, will drive the car completely by itself at speeds up to 40 mph. All it asks is the driver pay attention to the road, but there's no need to keep your hands on the wheel. It made traffic-laden mornings a breeze, and while not as complete as GM's Super Cruise or Tesla's Autopilot, it's an aid that shouldn't go unmentioned.
Storage
8/10
How’s the storage? Despite its sleek shape, this long and lean coupe offers a usable amount of trunk space — 15.5 cubic feet of free air to be exact. It neatly splits the difference between competitors like the Porsche Panamera and Mercedes-Benz AMG GT, but the Alpina's 40/60-split rear seats do allow for the loading of longer items like multiple bags of golf clubs. Because the whole car is quite low, the load lip is too, and hands-free operation of the trunk makes loading easier.
Interior storage in the B8 is just about adequate, but you're likely to run out of room if you're carrying a lot of small items. There are four cupholders up front that only fit medium-size bottles, with a center console that's nice and deep for larger items. There is also a small cubby beneath the center stack where you can hide away smaller items, and it features a wireless charging mat for your smartphone.
Continue reading Edmunds Expert Rating below
Fuel Economy
6.5/10
How’s the fuel economy? The EPA says the Alpina B8 will deliver 19 mpg combined (17 city/24 highway). Over the course of 10 days and nearly 1,000 miles in the B8, we averaged 16.6 mpg, a bit below the EPA's estimates.
Value
8/10
Is the ALPINA B8 Gran Coupe a good value? The higher you go up the proverbial food chain, the less money matters, but the concept of value remains the same. Is the Alpina B8 worth the $150,000 asking price? That's entirely up to those who can afford it, but there are very few cars that so seamlessly meld understated luxury and barn-storming performance as well as the B8 does. As well built as a Mercedes S-Class, as quick as some supercars, and beautiful to behold, the B8 almost makes you think $150,000 is a bit of a bargain.
BMW's three years/36,000 miles of free maintenance and four years of roadside assistance is on par with competitors in this segment. The basic and standard drivetrain warranties both extend to four years/50,000 miles.
Wildcard
9/10
This Alpina might be one or two cuts above anything else BMW will sell you right now, and the best part might be that no one knows it. There is a fly-under-the-radar quality about the B8, and only those who are in the know really know. It's special without shouting about it, and that understated excellence is definitely part of the B8's appeal.
Which ALPINA B8 Gran Coupe does Edmunds recommend?
The Alpina B8 comes extremely well equipped in standard form, but we'd suggest adding every option left. The Driving Assistance Professional package is at the top of our list and adds plenty of reassurance while driving. We also recommend adding the Bowers & Wilkins premium audio upgrade for audiophiles and the 20-inch wheels for increased ride comfort.
2023 BMW ALPINA B8 Gran Coupe 4dr Sedan AWD (4.4L 8cyl Turbo 8A)
My 2023 Alpina B8, is hands down the best car I have ever owned. 5 stars doesn't do it justice from the exterior to the interior, from the front bumper to the rear spoiler, from the moon-sunroof to the underside, all perfection. Sexy, powerful and sophisticated. A very rare "peach", one I am very proud and thankful to say good morning and good night to every day.
We have a limited number of reviews for the 2024 BMW ALPINA B8 Gran Coupe, so we've included reviews for other years of the ALPINA B8 Gran Coupe since its last redesign.
Key safety features on the ALPINA B8 Gran Coupe include:
Back-up camera
Lane Departure Warning
Alarm
Tire Pressure Warning
Stability Control
Pre-collision safety system
Post-collision safety system
FAQ
Is the BMW ALPINA B8 Gran Coupe a good car?
The Edmunds experts tested the 2024 ALPINA B8 Gran Coupe both on the road and at the track, giving it a 8.4 out of 10. Edmunds’ consumer reviews show that the 2024 ALPINA B8 Gran Coupe gets an average rating of 5 stars out of 5 (based on 1 reviews) What about cargo capacity? When you're thinking about carrying stuff in your new car, keep in mind that the ALPINA B8 Gran Coupe has 15.5 cubic feet of trunk space. And then there's safety and reliability. Edmunds has all the latest NHTSA and IIHS crash-test scores, plus industry-leading expert and consumer reviews to help you understand what it's like to own and maintain a BMW ALPINA B8 Gran Coupe. Learn more
What's new in the 2024 BMW ALPINA B8 Gran Coupe?
According to Edmunds’ car experts, here’s what’s new for the 2024 BMW ALPINA B8 Gran Coupe:
After a mild refresh last year, the Alpina B8 returns unchanged for 2024
Based on the first 8 Series Gran Coupe generation introduced for 2020
To determine whether the BMW ALPINA B8 Gran Coupe is reliable, read Edmunds' authentic consumer reviews, which come from real owners and reveal what it's like to live with the ALPINA B8 Gran Coupe. Look for specific complaints that keep popping up in the reviews, and be sure to compare the ALPINA B8 Gran Coupe's 5-star average consumer rating to that of competing vehicles. Learn more
Is the 2024 BMW ALPINA B8 Gran Coupe a good car?
There's a lot to consider if you're wondering whether the 2024 BMW ALPINA B8 Gran Coupe is a good car. Edmunds' expert testing team reviewed the 2024 ALPINA B8 Gran Coupe and gave it a 8.4 out of 10. Our consumer reviews show that the 2024 ALPINA B8 Gran Coupe gets an average rating of 5 stars out of 5 (based on 1 reviews). Safety scores, fuel economy, cargo capacity and feature availability should all be factors in determining whether the 2024 ALPINA B8 Gran Coupe is a good car for you. Learn more
How much should I pay for a 2024 BMW ALPINA B8 Gran Coupe?
The least-expensive 2024 BMW ALPINA B8 Gran Coupe is the 2024 BMW ALPINA B8 Gran Coupe 4dr Sedan AWD (4.4L 8cyl Turbo 8A). Including destination charge, it arrives with a Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of about $149,300.
Other versions include:
4dr Sedan AWD (4.4L 8cyl Turbo 8A) which starts at $149,300
What are the different models of BMW ALPINA B8 Gran Coupe?
If you're interested in the BMW ALPINA B8 Gran Coupe, the next question is, which ALPINA B8 Gran Coupe model is right for you? ALPINA B8 Gran Coupe variants include 4dr Sedan AWD (4.4L 8cyl Turbo 8A). For a full list of ALPINA B8 Gran Coupe models, check out Edmunds’ Features & Specs page. Learn more