We sometimes affiliate fashionable taking pictures brakes with Zagato’s gorgeous automobiles. Nonetheless, the Speedtop unveiled this previous weekend on the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este was an all-BMW effort based mostly on the M8. The legendary Italian coachbuilder additionally attended the annual occasion held on the shores of Lake Como to introduce a special automobile. Coincidentally, additionally a BMW beneath the floor. Say whats up to the Bovensiepen Zagato.

If the Bovensiepen title sounds acquainted, the corporate was created by brothers Andreas and Florian Bovensiepen, sons of the late Alpina founder Burkard Bovensiepen, who handed away in October 2023. Whereas Alpina now operates beneath the BMW Group umbrella, Andreas and Florian are venturing out with a brand new agency, which can also be headquartered in Buchloe. Their first challenge is a collaboration with Zagato, based mostly on the M4.

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Reasonably than utilizing the coupe as the muse, Bovensiepen took the convertible and eliminated its electrically folding material roof. You may inform it’s based mostly on the droptop as a result of it lacks B-pillars. Moreover, the small rear-side home windows go down, enhancing the distinctive character of a pillarless coupe.

Zagato’s signature double-bubble roof, a design motif courting again to the Nineteen Fifties, replaces the manufacturing facility delicate high. The curvature of the rear glass and the built-in rear spoiler sign that that is no extraordinary M4. Newly designed 20-inch solid wheels additional distinguish it from the donor automobile. Nonetheless, the laser taillights unmistakably reveal its M4 origins, even when the bodywork is totally new.

Most panels are crafted from carbon fiber, and a redesigned entrance finish options an elongated hood with a U-shaped vent. We will all agree that the absence of outsized kidney grilles is refreshing. BMW itself did a current-generation M4 with a special tackle the controversial entrance grille. In 2022, it celebrated 50 years of M with the retro-flavored 3.0 CSL. So, who wore it higher?

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Bovensiepen and Zagato have additionally developed a extra aggressive rear diffuser, flanked by twin exhaust suggestions from a titanium Akrapovič system that reduces weight by 40 p.c in comparison with the M4’s normal exhaust. The wraparound design at each ends provides the automobile a contemporary id, although the inside stays unmistakably BMW. Blue leather-based and Alcantara trim the cabin, however the elaborations can’t utterly disguise its origins, not that there’s something improper with that.

Below the hood lies an upgraded S58 engine: a twin-turbo 3.0-liter inline-six producing 602 hp and 516 lb-ft (700 Nm) of torque. That’s extra horsepower than the three.0 CSL, BMW’s strongest inline-six manufacturing automobile thus far. It additionally delivers extra torque than the M4 CS. Bovensiepen quotes a 0-62 mph (100 km/h) time of three.3 seconds and a high velocity exceeding 186 mph (300 km/h). Because it’s based mostly on the M4 Convertible, this new coupe with Italian aptitude comes completely with an computerized transmission and all-wheel drive.

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Remodeling the M4 Convertible into the Bovensiepen Zagato takes greater than 250 hours, so it’s secure to imagine the automobile received’t come low-cost. Pricing and manufacturing numbers might be introduced within the fourth quarter of the 12 months. Deliveries are anticipated to start within the second quarter of subsequent 12 months. A base M4 Convertible in the USA already begins at almost $100,000, so this “strictly restricted” grand tourer will enterprise deep into six-figure territory.

It’s been a minute since Zagato labored on a BMW. In 2012, it unveiled a coupe and roadster pair based mostly on the second-generation Z4 (E89). The previous additionally debuted on the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este, whereas the latter was revealed a couple of months later at Pebble Seashore. In contrast to Bovensiepen’s inaugural automobile, neither idea entered manufacturing.

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As for the way forward for the historic Alpina model, BMW has indicated plans to maneuver the area of interest marque additional upmarket. Below this new course, which goals to place Alpina as a bridge between BMW and Rolls-Royce, lower-end fashions based mostly on the three Collection and 4 Collection may very well be phased out. Consequently, anticipate the brand new Alpina to concentrate on BMW’s largest autos, such because the 7 Collection and X7.