Spy photos published on Nov. 9–10 show a camouflaged BMW i7 wearing Alpina styling cues, a sighting that outlets read as the first-ever electric car to carry the Alpina name. The images were credited to SH Proshots and first circulated on Nov. 9; coverage that followed appeared on Nov. 9–10, 2026.
What the spy shots reveal
The prototype shares the combustion‑powered Alpina 7 Series’ razor‑thin LED daytime running lights, lower bumper shape and wheel design, but the grille is blanked off and the rear shows no oval exhaust outlets — two visual clues that the mule is electrically driven rather than V8‑powered. Those differences are highlighted in the published photos and in reporting by Carscoops and Morning Overview.
Reporters note that the electric prototype appears to be based on BMW’s facelifted i7 M70 hardware: the M70 xDrive was reported in 2026 as making about 670 hp (680 PS) after a 20 hp increase, giving a 0–62 mph time of roughly 3.8 seconds, and using BMW’s newer 112.5 kWh round‑cell battery with peak DC charging raised to about 250 kW. Electrive’s table (as cited by coverage) lists the M70 at 500 kW peak power rating and a WLTP figure reported at about 650 km for certain configurations; those figures are the baseline the Alpina prototype would inherit if BMW uses the same drivetrain.
Alpina under BMW and timing
Alpina became a full BMW Group brand at the start of 2026, and BMW has signalled the first production Alpina — a combustion‑engine 7 Series variant — will arrive in 2027. The spy coverage makes clear BMW is testing both combustion and electric treatments of the 7 Series under the Alpina badge; BMW itself has not confirmed an Alpina i7 launch date.
What this means for the market
An Alpina‑badged i7 would create a new high‑luxury, high‑performance electric halo for BMW’s flagship line. For premium buyers in Central and Eastern Europe the model would matter as part of the broader premium EV ladder — a rival to trimmed, chauffeur‑oriented large electrics from other German marques — and it would reshape options at the very top of the region’s luxury market. Because the spy shots show the prototype using standard i7 components (battery, motors, wheels and DRL signature), the launch—if confirmed—would likely lean on BMW’s existing i7 production and supply chain rather than bespoke Alpina mechanicals at introduction. Morning Overview and Carscoops underline that the photos alone cannot settle whether Alpina will treat the EV as a one‑off flagship or the first step in a wider EV range.
For suppliers and dealers across Europe, including CEE, the move is a reminder that premium EVs are extending upward in price and equipment: Carscoops notes the 2026 i7 M70 already carries a six‑figure price and projects an Alpina version could push toward the $200,000 mark depending on options. That pricing and positioning will affect orders for bespoke trim, luxury interiors and higher‑capacity battery modules in the supplier pipeline.
BMW has not issued an official statement on the electric Alpina prototype photographed in early November; until BMW or Alpina confirm details, the published photos and the hardware figures from the facelifted i7 remain the best publicly available evidence of where the Alpina nameplate could go next.
Alpina i7: WorldTrader24 EV listings for buyers and sellers →
Sources: Carscoops, Morning Overview, Autoevolution
