Alpina might be a longtime collaborator with BMW and has tuned just about anything with a BMW badge that you can think of, but Alpina isn’t your typical tuner. Where some companies will dazzle you with oodles of power and impressive lap times, Alpina sticks to a more traditional – and usable – recipe. Alpina is more known for tweaking BMWs in just the right way, it builds a little on performance, but it also brings mild improvements to the appearance and, more importantly, it makes every single model it works on ride more comfortably than BMW ever could. For a big, bulky model that the BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe, that’s a very big deal, and we’re here to tell you that Alpina did it just right.

Alpina B8 Powertrain & Performance

The Alpina B8 Gran Coupe isn’t based on the M8 competition, but the BMW M850i, with the same 4.4-liter, twin-turbo, V-8. As is the usual case, however, the B8 GC features Alpines own tune alongside other enhancements. Keep in mind that this isn’t going to be an outrageous tune, though, as that’s not what Alpina is about.

How Much Power Does the Alpina B8 Have?

Alpina doesn’t tune the B8 to the point that it has ridiculous power, but it does deliver a cool 612 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque. That figure positions it at 73 horsepower and 37 pound-feet higher than the M850i that it’s based on and just 5 horsepower short of the M8 Competition. In terms of torque, it blows the M8 Competition out of the water by 37 pound-feet. Compared to the V-8 powered Audi RS7 Sportback and AMG GT 63, the Alpina B8 also comes out on top. The former is good for 591 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque while the latter delivers 577 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque.

How Fast is the Alpina B8?

The Alpina B8 can sprint to 60 mph in 3.3 seconds and will keep going all the way up to 201 mph. In terms of an all-out drag race, the B8 will run the quarter mile in a respectable 11.5 seconds. In comparison, the Audi RS7 makes the sprint to 60 mph in three-seconds flat according to Car & Driver, which also clocked it down the quarter-mile in 11.3 seconds at 122 mph. As for the AMG GT 63, you can expect the sprint to 60 mph to come in at three-seconds flat, and a similar trap time in the quarter-mile. As for top speed, the RS7 and GT 63 fall inferior at 190 mph and 191 mph, respectively.

What Transmission Does the Alpina B8 Have?

The Alpina B8 has the same ZF eight-speed automatic transmission found in the M850i that it is based on, however, Alpina has given it a special tune for more comfortable driving. This means that it won’t be as snappy between shifts, and it won’t downshift has hard when you stomp on it. The RS& comes with a similar eight-speed auto while the AMG GT 63 sports a nine-speed shiftable automatic.

Alpina B8 Fuel Economy

The Alpina B8 delivers an EPA estimated 17 mpg in the city, 24 mpg on the highway, and 19 mpg combined. This fuel economy actually puts it well ahead of the competition, despite the extra horsepower. The RS7, for example, garners 15 mpg in the city, 22 mpg on the highway, and 17 mpg combined while the AMG GT 63 is good for 16,21, and 18, respectively.

Alpina B8 Fuel Economy

How Much Does the Alpina B8 Weight?

The Alpina B8 is not a small vehicle, so it shouldn’t be surprising that it tips the scales at 4,795 pounds. It is lighter than the 4,928-pound Audi RS7, but a bit heavier than the 4,707-pound Mercedes-AMG GT 63. With a weight of nearly 2.5 ton, that 3.3-second sprint to 60 mph is pretty impressive, right?

Is the Alpina B8 RWD or AWD

The Alpina B8, much like the M850i it is based on, comes standard with AWD – something we can also say holds true for both the Audi RS7 Sportback and the AMG GT 63.

Alpina B8 Interior Design and Comfort

Alpina’s focus on luxury and comfort over performance really shines through the B8’s interior. While the 8 Series in general, especially the M8, has been criticized for ride quality, the B8 harkens back to the days when a big luxury car will actually float down the road like the modern-day land yacht that it is. That’s not so say that it won’t handle like a beast with a V-8 under the hood, but this cabin is all about what matters most – bringing comfort, elegance, and pleasure to boring commutes and longer road trips. And it does that job well.

In the front, you can enjoy first-class comfort while slinging the B8 around corners, so you really have the best of both worlds – for a larger car, anyway. The front of the cabin is roomy with more than your fair share of soft leather, and the attention to detail, especially fit and finish, is just ridiculous. The steering wheel, for example, almost feels a little too thick because of the amount of leather and padding. Then you’ve got things like the cut-crystal shifter handle or the faceted infotainment dial. The shiny trim in the center console can actually be a nuisance when the sun hits it just right but stroke a little of the leather on the extra-thick door handle and you’ll probably forget about it.

Rear seat passengers might not be as thrilled about the longer trips, though. The ride is, of course, impressively comfortable, but the seats aren’t as big as those in the front, and while the concept of softness was a nice thought, we found the B8’s rear seats to be a little too giving – almost like sitting on that worn out couch you probably spent too much time on in college. Getting out wasn’t the easiest thing to do, either, but that’s mainly because of that sink element that is apparently a natural part of owning a B8.

The downside to the Alpina B8 is that it also comes with some of the silly nuances found in regular BMW 8 Series models – like the need to pay for the upgraded stereo system or the driver assistance package. That’s something you might not expect when you pay $140,000 for a car, which is – ironically – some $8,005 more expensive than the M8 Competition Gran Coupe. Then again, the Alpina B8 isn’t for everyone and, let’s be honest, there is an outrageous amount of luxury here, so we’re not saying it’s not worth it, just that including the upgraded stereo and driving assistance package would be a nice touch.

How Much Interior Space Does the Alpina B8 Have?

The Alpina B8 has 40.6-inches of headroom, 57.2-inches of shoulder room, and 42.1-inches of legroom in the front. Rear passengers have 37.1-inches of headroom, 54.6-inches of shoulder room, and 36.6-inches of leg room. These figures are about on par with the Audi RS7 and AMG GT 63, however, the B8 could benefit from more width in the front and rear. A full breakdown of interior dimensions is available in the table below.

How Much Cargo Room Does the Alpina B8 Have?

The Alpina B8 has 15.54 cubic-feet of cargo room, which is enough for some groceries or a few smaller pieces of luggage. The Audi RS7 Sportback offers much more cargo room at 24.6 cubic-feet while the AMG GT 63 falls even worse at 12.7 cubic-feet.

Alpina B8 Exterior Design

Alpina’s job with the B8 wasn’t to make a car that’s overly fast and overly aggressive, so it comes as no surprise that updates to the exterior are quite subtle. The front fascia has been upgraded with larger air intakes, while the rear end has a new black diffuser and a sporty little spoiler on the decklid. Of course, there’s an Alpina badge outback as there is on the new B8-specific 20-spoke, 21-inch wheels wrapped in Pirelli tires that were specially tuned for Alpina. You can also opt for 20-inch wheels with all-season tires if you want, but the four-piston Brembo brakes that hide behind them remain. The calipers are finished in bright cobalt blue with 15.6-inch rotors int eh front and 15.7-inch rotors in the rear.

How Big is the Alpina B8?

The Alpina B8 measures 200.39-inches long, 75.98-inches wide (without the mirrors), and 56.3-inches tall. It rides on a 119.09-inch wheelbase, while the front and rear track measure up at 63.98 and 65.55 inches, respectively. In short, the B8 is a large vehicle, so don’t even consider one if you don’t have a garage that can accommodate it. Compared to the competition, it’s a bit longer than the RS7 and GT 63, but it’s not as wide. The table below includes a full breakdown of exterior dimensions for all three models.

Alpina B8 Exterior Dimensions

How Much Does the Alpina B8 Cost?

The BMW M850i that the Alpina B8 is based on starts at $99,900, so it might be bit overwhelming when you find out that Alpina wants a minimum of $139,900. Does the extra leather and finer details inside the B8, paired with some power updates and subtle exterior design changes warrant a $40,000 price hike that puts it just $8,000 shy of the $146,000 M8 Competition? Well, you can be the judge of that, but you could get an Audi RS7 Sportback for $118,500 or the AMG GT 63 for a similar price of $140,600. The big selling point over the competition, however, is that Alpina doesn’t built thousands and thousands of the B8, so while you might not see that many RS7s or AMG GT63s, the Alpina B8 is far more exclusive, and we’d be remiss for pointing out that it counts for something.

Is the Alpina B8 Better than the Audi RS7?

The Audi RS7 has three major selling points over the Alpina B8. Despite not being as powerful, it’s faster to 60 mph by at least three seconds and it’s significantly cheaper at $118,500 vs. the B8’s entry price of $139,900. The third major selling point is that its design offers up 24.6 cubic-feet of cargo room, which is very impressive for this segment. The downside of picking the Audi RS7 is that the interior isn’t as exclusive and not quite as luxurious, either. With the exception of rear shoulder room or rear leg room, the RS7 is equal to or falls shy to the B8 as well, so it’s a bit of a mixed bag.

All told, the Audi RS7 has a 4.0-liter V-8 that delivers 591 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque, all of which is sent to all four-wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission. Fuel economy sits at 15 mpg in the city, 22 mpg on the highway, and 17 mpg combined, which puts it 2 mpg below the B8 in each category. The interior is very nice and comfortable, but it’s not exactly up to the luxurious amenities offered in the B8. The starting price of less than $119,000 still isn’t for the faint of heart, but if you don’t need ridiculous amounts of luxury or extra thick leather, the RS7 might be a better choice.

Alpina B8 Gran Coupe vs Audi RS7 Sportback

Read our full review on the Audi RS7

Is the Alpina B8 Better Than the Mercedes-AMG GT 63?

The Mercedes-AMG GT 63 certainly wears the price tag of a luxury vehicle and is actually a bit more expensive than the Alpina B8 at $140,600 vs. $139,900. The premium-drinking 4.0-liter V-8 throws out one hell of a soundtrack when all 577 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque are sent to the pavement too. Like the RS7, the AMG GT 63 is faster to 60 mph than the B8 at three-seconds flat, but it also tops out a bit slower at 191 mph. Not that it really matters because the B8 is meant to be more of a luxurious cruiser as opposed to an all-out sports car, but then again, the AMG GT 63 is able to blend the best of both worlds together.

The GT 63 is also a bit shorter in length, but it’s wider and taller with a much shorter wheelbase, so it doesn’t necessarily handle as well in certain situations. Fuel economy comes in at 16 mpg in the city, 21 mpg on the highway, and 18 mpg combined, which is short of the B8. The interior is pretty well on point, though, with Mercedes MBUX infotainment system and some of the most comfortable sports seats we’ve ever sat in. The AMG GT 63 is, honestly, the best competitor for the Alpina B8, but again, it’s also not quite as exclusive and for the same price, the exclusivity of the B8 might be worth it.

Alpina B8 Gran Coupe vs Mercedes-AMG GT 63

Read our full review on the Mercedes-AMG GT 63

Final Thoughts

The Alpina B8 is an impressively fun car to drive, and it’s also quite refreshing to check out a “tuner” car that isn’t focused solely on devastating the pavement with raw, unneeded amounts of power. The B8 is packed full of luxury and surprising elements that you wouldn’t really expect, and despite some of its shortcomings – like the strange rear seats – that’s something that very appealing and intriguing about it. I can’t say for sure that I’d be happy throwing $140,000 at it just for the sake of owning one, but then again, it sure did grow on me and the entire TopSpeed team over the week we had to play with it.