Alpina B8 GT Unveiled – Most Potent Alpina, Final Model before BMW Takeover

The all-new B8 GT is not only Alpina’s most powerful car ever, it is also the last ‘true’ Alpina before the BMW takeover.

Alpina is turning 60 this year, and what better way to celebrate your 60th birthday than by launching an updated version of its 8 Series Gran Coupe build, the Alpina B8 GT. Limited to only 99 units globally, the new B8 GT not only is the most potent Alpina ever built, it is also the last model made by the tuning house before being taken over by BMW.

Unlike the M-badged Gran Coupe it is based on, the upgraded B8 GT gets a peppier version of BMW’s 4.4-litre bi-turbo V8 mill that outputs 634 HP and 850 NM—a healthy upgrade over the M8’s 617 HP and 750 NM total system output. Despite being more powerful, the B8 GT is still slower than the M8 when it comes to century sprint times, as the Alpina clocked in at 3.3 seconds as opposed to the M8’s 3.2 seconds sprint time.

Flat out, however, the B8 GT easily outperformed the M8, as it gets a much higher V-max of up to 330 KM/H, while the M-badged Gran Coupe is electronically limited to only 250 KM/H.

Besides the upgraded V8, Alpina has also tweaked the transfer case of the B8 GT’s all-wheel drive system to send more power to the rear wheels, providing it with better agility. Exhaust notes have also been tweaked with the inclusion of a new centre silencer, meaning that the B8 GT also sings better than the M8.

As with any other Alpina models, the B8 GT is decked with tons of Alpina-specific design touches. Key highlights include a slew of carbon fibre parts like the diffuser and air ducts, special Alpina and B8 GT letterings, and the signature 21-inch Alpina multi-spoke forged wheels with aluminium centre caps.

While the 99-unit limited production is enough to make the B8 GT a unicorn, only 20 of them will feature a special bi-colour coat that combines either blue or green with black. For the remaining 79 units, buyers get to choose from seven distinctive paint jobs.

The Alpina treatment continues on the inside of the B8 GT, as the four-door coupe gets a perfect blend of sportiness and luxury for its cabin layout. Among key features primed here include the Alpina-badged steering wheel, both the illuminated Alpina and B8 door sills, Merino leather-wrapped sport seats that bear the signature of Alpina founder Berkard Bovensiepen, and a special plaque that displays the unit number of this limited-edition tourer.

What also makes the B8 GT special is its price, as each of the Alpina’s GT swansongs will cost buyers around €225,000 (RM1.043 million) excluding any options. With BMW set to take the reins at Alpina from the start of next year, the B8 GT could instantly become a collector’s item.