The family behind Alpina has revived the BMW Z4 in limited-production form, adding more power, sharper handling, and a hand-finished cabin.
BMW ended Z4 production in spring 2026, and there is currently no direct successor planned for the roadster. But that doesn't mean the Z4 is completely gone. You can still buy a brand-new one—just without a BMW badge and at a very different price.
The Bovensiepen family, which founded Alpina and spent decades refining BMW models, has unveiled the new Bovensiepen Spider. The car is based on the G29-generation BMW Z4 M40i, but it gets an upgraded engine, revised chassis tuning, bespoke exterior parts, and a far more upscale interior.
The story behind the car is almost as interesting as the car itself. BMW acquired the rights to the Alpina brand in 2022, with the final transition to BMW control completed in early 2026. The Bovensiepen family, however, remained in the automotive business and launched a new company under its own name.
The Spider is already the third vehicle from the new marque. The first was the Bovensiepen Zagato, a heavily redesigned coupe based on the BMW M4, followed by the 05 GT, which was developed from the BMW M5 Touring. Now the company has turned its attention to a much smaller sports car.
For the Bovensiepen family, the Spider also represents a return to an old idea. More than 20 years ago, Alpina built its own version of the first-generation Z4 called the Roadster S.
The company says the Spider also comes at a time when traditional two-seat roadsters are becoming increasingly rare. Modern vehicles continue to grow larger and heavier, crossover demand dominates automakers' lineups, and there are fewer compact open-top sports cars left on the market.
Andreas Bovensiepen says his interest in cars like this dates back to the late 1990s, when he was involved in the development of the BMW Z8. In his view, lightweight and responsive roadsters offer a direct driving experience that is becoming increasingly difficult to find in modern vehicles.
The original BMW Z4 hasn't been completely hidden beneath new bodywork, either. Unlike the Bovensiepen Zagato, which received an almost entirely new body, the Spider is immediately recognizable as a Z4. Still, the exterior has received a significant makeover.
Bovensiepen once again brought in designer Frank Stephenson, whose resume includes the McLaren P1, Ferrari F430, Maserati MC12, the first modern Mini, and the BMW X5.
The front end has been revised relatively subtly. A new gloss-black splitter is the most obvious addition, while the more noticeable changes begin around the front fenders. New vents have been added, along with small Spider badges beneath the hood-to-fender seam.
The side skirts receive bespoke extensions, while the rear gets a new diffuser and a larger integrated spoiler on the trunk lid. BMW emblems have been replaced by Bovensiepen lettering.
The Spider also rides on its own set of 20-inch forged wheels wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires measuring 255/30 up front and 285/30 at the rear.
At launch, buyers can choose from five BMW colors: Frozen Deep Grey, San Remo Green, Skyscraper Grey, Thundernight, and Black Sapphire. Bovensiepen will also paint the car in virtually any color requested by the customer.
Under the hood is the familiar 3.0-liter turbocharged B58 inline-six from the Z4 M40i. But the standard engine tune was considered too conservative for the new project.
Engineers fitted a revised intake system designed to improve airflow at speed, along with a new sport exhaust. Output rises to 435 horsepower and 428 lb-ft of torque.
The engine remains paired with an eight-speed ZF automatic transmission sending power to the rear wheels.
The Bovensiepen Spider accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in 4.2 seconds, roughly three-tenths quicker than the original Z4 M40i. Top speed is electronically limited to 162 mph in standard form.
For customers who want more, the optional Performance Package raises the top-speed limiter to 183 mph.
The changes extend well beyond the powertrain. Engineers retuned the dampers and revised the chassis to make the car more precise through corners while preserving the balance between handling and comfort that became a hallmark of Alpina.
A V-shaped brace has also been added underneath the car to increase structural rigidity. A more powerful brake system will be available as an option.
Bovensiepen isn't trying to turn the Z4 into a stripped-down track weapon, either. The company describes the Spider as a classic road-going roadster designed for fast road trips and winding back roads.
That's why the interior received so much attention.
The standard cabin combines Vernasca leather and Alcantara, but the personalization options go much further. For an additional cost, virtually every surface can be covered in Bovensiepen's signature Lavalina leather, which was one of the defining features of Alpina vehicles for decades.
Customers will be able to choose from numerous colors, stitching patterns, and material combinations. Every car will also receive an individual numbered plaque.
The result occupies an unusual place in the market. Technically, it's still based on the BMW Z4 M40i, but the way it's built is much closer to a hand-finished, low-volume specialty car than a conventional factory tuning package.
The price reflects that difference.
In Germany, the Bovensiepen Spider starts at €115,500 including taxes. That's roughly $135,000 based on current exchange rates, putting it in the same general territory as a new BMW M4 Convertible and well above the price of the Z4 M40i before production ended.
Still, comparing the Spider with a regular Z4 purely on price isn't entirely fair. Production is limited to just 99 examples, and each car will be assembled and finished according to its owner's preferences.
The first cars are scheduled to be delivered to customers in early 2027.
For Bovensiepen, the new Spider is more than another BMW-based project. After the Alpina brand moved under BMW's control, the family is effectively starting a new chapter while continuing to do what it has done for decades: take a production BMW, add power, carefully retune the chassis, upgrade the interior, and build the result in limited numbers.
The only difference is what's written on the trunk lid. Instead of Alpina, it now says Bovensiepen.