BMW M5 Touring | Bovensiepen 05 GT: The Dino Who Went To Finishing School

The performance wagon segment has always offered plenty of thrills, but probably not as much subtlety. High-performance estate cars are almost always a bit of a statement; helped by aggressive design, massive power outputs and plenty of tech they tend to punch above their weight in the market. The new 05 GT from Bavarian tuner Alpina goes a different way.Based on the BMW M5 Touring, it cords out a more sophisticated and subtle character that invokes great classic gran touring machines. Well, here the 05 GT is what appears to be an interesting new chapter for the people who built the legendary Alpina legacy; while its style was undertaken by another racing car company legend in automotive designer Frank Stephenson.

A New Era After Alpina

When BMW purchased Alpina and the automotive world of 2022 many motorsport aficionados believed we would never see the German tuning firm again. Actually, it is a much more complicated situation. BMW may have purchased the Alpina brand, but it’s letting its Buchloe-based family operation continue on as a separate business with an alternative title. The company, now known as Bovensiepen, will continue to provide support for vehicles built under the Alpina name until December 31, 2025. The clan responsible for the venerable badge has rolled out a new undertaking.Now Andreas and Florian Bovensiepen — sons of Alpina founder Burkard Bovensipen — are able to develop unique vehicles that translate the essence of what gave Alpina its magic, while distancing themselves from whatever BMW churns out as future (and potentially ever more basic) Alpina products.BMW’s major new project in this realm arrived with an emerging collaboration with Italian coachbuilder Zagato, which turned a BMW M4 Convertible into a stunning carbon-fiber-bodied coupe. However, this latest form bucks the trend of a generational shift towards refinement instead of rough-and-tumble transformation.

Frank Stephenson’s Elegant Touch

Perhaps the most captivating element of the Bovensiepen 05 GT is its association with Frank Stephenson.Regarded as an industry titan, Stephenson has been a huge influence behind some of the most iconic vehicles in recent history. A part of his portfolio includes the first-gen BMW X5, the new Mini and a number of memorable Ferrari and McLaren supercars.

Stephenson proves he is not just a one-trick pony when it comes to sports cars and SUVs with the 05 GT. The updates slap so M5 but this Touring isn’t subtle enough? These changes on the outside give it that extra bit of styling and visual balance. A redesigned front end incorporates a striking stainless-steel grille to help the truck achieve a cleaner, more premium aesthetic. It gets a split spoiler on the back, which adds some flair style-wise but doesn’t disrupt the nice clean long lines of the wagon.The end product is a performance estate that looks much older, far more grown up and dignified than the regular BMW M5 Touring while continuing to make its presence on the road felt like a bouncer in a bar.The final product has led many observers to comment that it looks like something a future Alpina B5 Touring might have looked very much like had development continued along the same lines as before. Still, though, Bovensiepen carefully positions the vehicle as an original creation rather than a low-key Alpina successor.

Designed for Grand Touring Comfort

The BMW M5 Touring is a car that already offers extreme performance in the type of package you can use on a daily basis, but here Bovensiepen wanted to take the vehicle farther down the grand touring spectrum.In doing so, engineers heavily tuned for ride quality and passenger comfort.

A number of suspension tweaks have been added in order to make it a more laid back driving experience. Revised ride characteristics are aided by new Eibach springs, and well-matched Pirelli tires help deliver a more composed feel. These updates are designed to make long-haul trips more comfortable for both the driver and inbound travelers.The philosophy behind the 05 GT is in line with that of Traditional Alpina cars, which are usually designed more as effortless grand tourers than as hardcore track-focused machines. This is not the ultimate M5 Touring though, but. rather the smartest.

Distinctive Details and Lightweight Enhancements

Along with the visual changes, Bovensiepen also added a number of hardware tweaks which serve to differentiate the 05 GT from its BMW context. a titanium Akrapovič quad-exhaust system is among the noteworthy additions.You can ditch the extra 17.1 pounds with a new lightweight exhaust compared to stock setup. Although this lightening is quite trivial due to the sheer size of the car, it does aid in better efficiency and an even more unique exhaust note.

The new looks are complemented by newly-crafted 21-inch forged wheels. These wheels emphasize attractive utility of the wagon without sacrificing its comfort-performance balance.The M5 Touring has not become a small vehicle and it is heavy, however the precisely chosen upgrades establish a cleaner and more exclusive driving experience.

Cabin with Extensive Personalization.level

Within the cabin, it is clear that this shares a lot with the BMW M5 Touring. The overall layout, meanwhile, remains familiar enough that it should give drivers access to the same advanced tech and functionality as in the original car.

Bovensiepen, though, has improved the ambience by covering nearly everything in leather. Other surfaces, such as parts of the center console, are finished in leather for a more premium atmosphere.The ownership experience revolves around customization. Customers can choose from more colors or materials than you care to count, and each vehicle is personalized to taste. That emphasis on personalization is not far removed from the tailored method that caught the attention of connoisseurs when Alpina first came to renown.

This translates to a cabin that feels much more bespoke and hand-finished, but with no loss of the convenience and high-tech expected from a modern luxury performance wagon.

Still more power from the electrified V8

The powertrain has not been overlooked, either, and performance is still an important part of the package. Though the car is based on the plug-in hybrid foundations of the BMW M5 Touring, a number of changes have been made to free up more performance.

A new air intake system, new software calibration, and the Akrapovič exhaust combine to increase outputs by an impressive amount. The supercharged setup yielded 790 hp along with 811 lb. ft of torque combined.It means the M5 Touring is able to offer significant improvements over what the standard version provides. The 05 GT has received 73 more horsepower and 74 pound-feet of torque than its donor vehicle.

These updates are a little curious in terms of timing since BMW has just modified the European-specification M5 for anticipated Euro 7 emissions rules. Within the powertrain, we reduced output from the combustion engine portion; improvements to the electric motor kept vehicle system power level. The modifications are more extensive than tuning and still based on hybrid architecture but push performance even further.Premium Pricing and Exclusive AppealLike any exclusivity, though, it’s priced as a luxury and the Bovensiepen 05 GT is definitely in the high-end segment. Pricing in Germany kicks off at €198,900 ($217,904) and means a significant hike over the standard BMW M5 Touring.

And that extra cost isn’t just a basic list of aftermarket parts. Shoppers are choosing to pay for one-off design, custom execution, improved functionality, maximum individualization—and the added differentiation that comes with a low-volume specialist.

Deliveries are set to begin in the fourth quarter of the year, so enthusiasts will soon have a chance to get their hands on the first large-scale touring model under Bovensiepen’s name.

Carrying Forward Proud Legacy

More than a modified BMW, the Bovensiepen 05 GT It serves as an homage to the family legacy that has shaped performance luxury cars for generations. BMW owns the Alpina name now, but the philosophy that made those cars special continues thanks to the Bovensiepen family.05 GT’s blend of refined style, improved comfort, top-tier craftsmanship and greater performance establishes individual character in the rapidly growing sphere of performance wagons. And while it may not wear the Alpina badge, it embodies many of the qualities that enthusiasts have admired since long before.

Drivers in search of a sophisticated and still visceral estate spends at least £45,490 on the sleek track but those seeking an alternatives may find229 it tempting to 05 GT offers. Which proves that there is still place for elegant restraint and grand touring refinement in a world where near-supercar styling and headline-grabbing specs tend to be the norm.