BMW killed the Z4, but Alpina's founders just brought it back
By William Fletcher MBE, Chief Executive Officer, New Reg Limited
A new company founded by former Alpina personnel is producing 99 limited-run roadsters based on the discontinued BMW Z4, with 429 hp and bespoke bodywork.
The BMW Z4 roadster has been given a second life by a small independent firm established by the people who originally built Alpina into one of Germany's most respected tuning houses, according to multiple reports. The project centres on a car called the Bovensiepen Spider, named in a clear nod to the family that led Alpina before its sale to BMW, and just 99 examples will be made.
The new venture was formed after Alpina was acquired by BMW, prompting key figures from the old guard to set up independently rather than retire. Their chosen platform is the outgoing Z4, which BMW discontinued as part of its broader product restructuring, making the Spider unusual in that it revives a model the parent company had already walked away from.
Power stands at 429 hp, a significant step up from the standard Z4's output, and the bespoke exterior bodywork was designed by the same individual responsible for shaping the McLaren P1 hypercar, according to multiple reports. That combination of tuning pedigree and high-profile design input positions the Bovensiepen Spider firmly in the low-volume specialist category rather than the mainstream aftermarket.
With only 99 cars planned, the Spider is aimed at collectors and enthusiasts who want something closely tied to Alpina's pre-BMW history but accept it carries no official connection to the current brand. Pricing details have not been confirmed in the available reporting, but the combination of limited production, a well-known design hand and a substantial power increase suggests the asking figure will reflect all three.