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Electric BMW Alpina 7 Series prototype spotted on test drives
A camouflaged prototype resembling the upcoming electric Alpina 7 Series has been spotted, potentially marking the first fully electric Alpina under BMW's ownership.
By Charlotte Redford · 3 min read
A camouflaged prototype that appears to be an electric version of the BMW Alpina 7 Series has been spotted on the road, possibly marking the first time an electric Alpina has been seen testing. The car closely resembles a V8-powered 7 Series in disguise that was shown earlier in the same week, but several details point to a fully electric drivetrain rather than a combustion engine.
Observers noted the absence of the quad exhaust tips typical of the V8 model, and the car appeared to make no engine noise. The registration plate, ending in the letter E, is also believed to signal a fully electric vehicle rather than a plug-in hybrid. The prototype is thought to be based on the BMW i7 M70, which is rated at up to 686 kilometres on the WLTP cycle. An electric Alpina would reportedly carry the internal codename G72, while the regular 7 Series uses G70.
Alpina has operated as a separate brand within the BMW Group since its acquisition in 2022, and the first Alpina model of the BMW era is confirmed for 2027. BMW's design chief has said the Alpina range will offer both electric and combustion options, which suggests the electric car will sit alongside petrol-powered models rather than replace them. The second-generation X7 is also expected to receive the Alpina treatment. A six-cylinder version has been rumoured, but BMW has not confirmed it, so its existence remains speculative.
Pricing is expected to exceed €200,000 in Germany, compared with €182,400 for the i7 M70, which would place the Alpina at a clear premium over its standard electric counterpart. That gap reflects the bespoke engineering and finishing that have traditionally defined Alpina models.
The timing also coincides with strong growth for electric cars in Britain. Electric vehicles accounted for about 33 per cent of new car sales in October 2026, close to the government's mandated target. The year-to-date share stands at 30.4 per cent, comfortably above the zero-emission vehicle mandate requirement of 24.6 per cent. Car makers hope a government review will ease the rising targets, which they argue are becoming harder to meet. Higher fuel prices linked to the war involving Iran have also been cited as boosting interest in electric models, and that shift in buyer behaviour may help explain why manufacturers are keen to launch high-end electric variants of established names.
Source: bmwblog.com
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