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The Bovensiepen family, founders of legendary German BMW tuning house Alpina, have launched their own coachbuilding business with the unveiling of a new 600bhp super-GT at the Villa d'Este Concorso d'Eleganza.

With Alpina now owned by BMW itself, the family is shifting its focus to become "a manufacturer of outstanding automobiles that embody the ambition of fine driving". 

The first post-Alpina project from the outfit – named simply Bovensiepen – is an imposing, BMW M4-based grand tourer called Zagato, in reference to the famous Italian design house responsible for its styling.

Zagato has previously collaborated with Aston Martin, Ferrari, Bentley, Maserati and Alfa Romeo, and its first effort for Bovensiepen is described as "a harmonious composition of individual design" which "features and bears the unmistakable signature of the traditional Milanese design studio".

It is said to take more than 250 hours to build the Zagato, of which production will be "strictly limited" - though no precise figure has been given. Pricing and availability will be given at the end of this year, ahead of deliveries beginning in summer next year. 

Each car can be, Bovensiepen promises, "as unique as its owner", with extensive personalisation options available for the interior and exterior. 

It is extensively differentiated from the BMW on which it is based by a totally bespoke treatment at the front and rear, a reshaped bonnet and side profile, and Zagato's trademark 'double bubble' roof.

The Bovensiepen Zagato features a 3.0-litre straight six engine that produces 603bhp and 516lb ft for a 0-62mph time of just 3.3 seconds, and a top speed in excess of 186mph, Bovensiepen claims.

It has bespoke Bilstein dampers that can be configured in three driving modes – Comforst, Sport and Sport Plus – which Bovensiepen says offers "a range from pronounced comfort to athletic driving dynamics". It also gains a lightweight, twin-exit titanium exhaust system from Akrapovic, which is said to be 40% lighter than the standard system.

BMW will reveal the next steps for the Alpina brand in 2026, it has said, with ex-Polestar designer Max Missoni joining the German firm to lead the styling for all luxury models, including Alpinas.

The Bovensiepen Zagato's unveiling comes just a day after BMW revealed its own 8 Series-based special edition, the £430,000 Speedtop shooting brake, which is due in production next year.

BMW has lifted the covers off the hot new M2 CS, bringing dramatic styling tweaks that include a ducktail rear spoiler and a more aggressive stance.

Technical details of the new sports coupé remain under wraps until Tuesday night, but a series of visual tweaks hint at significant developments under the skin.

The car’s gold-finished wheels appear to better fill the chunky arches than those on the existing M2, for instance, suggesting the CS has a more track-focused suspension set-up.

Meanwhile, the cracked finish on the brake discs suggests they may be made from carbon-ceramic, which better resists fade over repeated, intensive use than more conventional metals.

The CS also gains a new bootlid that is moulded into a ducktail-style rear spoiler, most likely improving stability at high speeds. The rear diffuser appears to have been reworked to boot.

In addition to the more aggressive look, the new variant has been confirmed to receive a 50bhp boost in output to 523bhp, with torque ramped up to a thumping 479lb ft.

No other technical specs have been given, but the M4 CS was 20kg lighter than the M4 Competition, thanks to a titanium exhaust backbox and copious amounts of carbonfibre, and the M2 CS is likely to receive a similar treatment.

Inside, it appears to get the same bucket seats as the regular M2, plus red CS logos in the doorcards.

Notably, the example shown at Villa d'Este features an automatic gearbox, suggesting the M2 CS could follow the CS versions of the M3 and M4 in omitting a manual option.