Top Gear was Wrong About the Alpina BMW Z8

Jeremy Clarkson claimed on Top Gear back when that the Alpina V8 Roadster was neither comfortable enough to be a grand tourer, nor sharp enough to be a sports car. He was halfway right and somehow all the way wrong. Not only is the car genuinely comfy, but it’s unexpectedly, almost unbelievably good to drive.
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[@scottrichardson6864]

I’ve always credited the z8 for being one of the most beautiful cars of all time! I get super excited when I see one

[@donjuan150]

I agree and also the most beautiful interior...........

[@carlosandleon]

It also looks like it should have had a pricetag of 40 000 dollars max. I was shocked to find out how expensive it was

[@archiegeo9071]

Very ugly I think

[@ExBenzi2]

Saw one on the highway yesterday. Immediate head-turner.

[@MrCucamonga1]

Was telling my wife today the very same thing. Very beautiful. Like the Germans took a crack at a mid-century, Italian roadster and knocked it out of the park. Great looking car.

[@oumaniac]

That Alpina wheel is absolutely gangsta!

[@DriversSide]

I love the Z8! I saw one on display when I took a trip to the BMW plant in Spartanburg and I’ve always loved the design

[@campkira]

In today world.. It not very unique car...

[@StancedSalami]

Please find a new host

[@aabidamn]

He does sound like a virus.

[@daleyarborough]

The wheels take it from mild to WILD.

[@mudslide13]

Can’t get past the first 60 seconds with this guy

[@volkerjanssen7905]

Like how? I mean like... actually...

[@bend1483]

What you're forgetting is that our roads in the UK are not smooth. So yes.. It wasn't comfortable enough to be a 'GT" in the UK.

[@AH-bm4ts]

The US has terrible roads but this guy is on a racetrack

[@shittywheelies7403]

US roads are not great either.

[@yahyasajid5113]

@DroidTech the frequently of potholes, patches from road works and unevenness in UK roads makes any sports car uncomfortable as a daily driver

[@lightbox8019]

@@shittywheelies7403 If you live in a certain state that's bad with allocating road funding or winter state. Other than that, they are mostly good.

[@shittywheelies7403]

LightBox idk if that’s true. The freeways around most major metro areas are shit, and places spanning Chicago (I know IL is horrible about allocating money, but still), NY, LA, Milwaukee, Atlanta, all of Missouri, and even some parts of Florida (most of 4) are just shit. That’s only the places I’ve driven, and I’m only 23. Just cause some parts of the country have better roads than the UK, doesn’t mean they all do. The US is so much larger as well, so it’s difficult to say which is better. A roads in the UK are amazing (never driven only ridden on them) compared to freeways in most of the US.

[@dl1129]

I feel itchy just looking at him in that sweater.

[@aaronready1]

Designed by henrich Fiskar. Later to design the gorgeous Aston Martin Cars, and the huge flop....the Karma. Fantastic design though. Car deserves a modern ripping drivetrain and running gear.

[@805NAVE]

TACTICAL DAIRYMAN yea fiskar really does have some of the best car designs ever. Too bad the Karma was a flop

[@aaronready1]

I should have somehow bought one when they where down to like $ 75-80k on Ebay! 😁😔

[@richardharrold9736]

@@oinkoink2843 Fisker did not design any new cars at Aston Martin. The DB9 and V8 Vantage were designed by Ian Callum. All Fisker did was tinker around with those designs, producing the DBS, Virage, Rapide and V12 Vantage.

[@ironmantooltime]

They'll remake it again in 10 years as an electric. Not sure that's a good thing. I can't see any electric car motor being anything other than utility. When did u ever judge a washing machine on the motor? 🤔

[@richardharrold9736]

@@ironmantooltime actually, when I buy a washing machine, the motor does play a part in my evaluation of it... brushed vs induction, low noise level...

[@commonmockery1074]

This guy is deciding to drive normally on a race track? What?

[@michealvega1373]

THAT'S ILLEGAL

[@HForceClan]

Somehow I believe the old top gear more than this guy driving it slowly on the most perfect surface on a racetrack..

[@marco_loewert]

Clarkson was always more a comedian and actor than a cartester. So I would not belive him a word.

[@Orcawhale1]

@@marco_loewertWhoever has told you this is wrong. Because while he may act like a fool, his most certainly not. Just check any of his older reviews, or the written ones.

[@mattsullivan3751]

These are cruisers that looked good new and have improved over time in my opinion. Drove the Z8 new and the six speed is welcomed. The NAV was hilariously bad when new. Thankfully it’s hidden away and doesn’t take away from the design.

[@philspaghet]

Nah, needs a manual or bust!

[@clarkkent2913]

Second-best looking BMW ever (number one is the 507, no doubt). But driving around with this silly wind net makes you 30 years older...

[@ExBenzi2]

In my opinion, the Z8 and the 507 (the car on which the Z8 was aesthetically based on) are the most beautiful BMWs ever made. Proof me wrong ;).

[@herbie53opf]

I can't proof you wrong.

[@brapbrapbrapbrapbrapbrapbrap]

Looks like this dude finally brushed his teeth.

[@whal8y]

I remember when ppl compared the Z8 to a 360 spider and an SL55! Always knew that ppl didn’t get it... it’s not a hardcore sports car... it’s a cruiser, in the best ways. Looks amazing, has power...

[@scherpebocht]

The m5 was a 360 killer at the time the z8 has the same specs rly

[@Techjunkiero]

Those are probably the best Alpina wheels ever created?!?

[@JowoHD]

how does every alpina manage to make the car it's based on look a hundred times cooler?

[@aabidamn]

Putting on Alpina rims alone, makes the cars look ninety times cooler.

[@richardmesser1091]

By putting all those dollar signs on the sticker

[@K1dPhresh1]

This BMW Z8 Alpina drives SOOOOO GOOD on the track....at 30 MPH.

[@havocmwf]

Love the look of the Z8. I have a Z3 Coupe and there is a blue one just like mine there at the track :) (2 silver ones also)

[@Talynen]

As i recall Top Gear bashed on the regular Z8, not the alpina. Anyone want to link me to the relevant video being referenced here?

[@arion9696]

They bashed on both the BMW and Alpina

[@stefanfreestylez]

Stumbled upon 2 of them in storage garage that had some insane cars 918, p1 etc etc. Its a shame people are so obessed with preserving them that they ruin the whole point of this thing. It needs to be seen out in the wild. The design in person is super super clean.

[@lonerider5315]

I would like to see this drag race the new z4

[@banjopete]

Rider Made , or Supra?

[@AceMBP]

Nice driving Grandma

[@jamesclarke3248]

One of my all-time favourites!!

[@Fee.1]

Ralph why does nobody mention 4 cylinders have flat plane cranks so the revving makes sense

[@SKOMPAS]

Because you can't make a 4 cylinder that's isn't flat plane crank otherwise it would shake its self to pieces

[@mwheelznicholas]

The z8 is the only thing I liked about the world is not enough.

[@jamdc2000]

oh come on!!! it has Denise Richards in it dude!

[@mwheelznicholas]

I prefer her work in wild things

[@jamdc2000]

we all do

[@sting0072007]

Charley Day?

[@xevious2501]

Always knew those z8's were collector items.

[@mike_oe]

The "ordinary" BMW Z8 pricing starts at 200.000 EUR, so the true nature of this car is going to be a very academic question to most people....

[@oneightwo5182]

We didn't see him drive it on the road nor did we see him pushing it like Jeremy did

[@rustyHEAD3]

My dream car

[@panji7793]

That a grand touring car not the sport one,dont drive like sport car,i like those alpinas wheel

[@timjenkins7019]

The original Z8 wasn't as fast and didn't handle as well as the Ferrari 360 and the Porsche 911 Turbo. But goddammit they are beautiful!

[@booster5329]

Did they get this guy from a temp service?

[@bretnickerson8555]

2:08 did you just curb a wheel?!?!?!?

[@gerardmontgomery280]

It's got presence, it's looks scream muscle but, it's still as pretty as a postcard. Dear BMW please watch this an remember how to design cars.

[@olofsweden]

A little sad that this guy didn’t bother to find out what Alpina is... ☹️ ”first they built Z8 and then they built the Alpina...” Who are ”THEY”? Two different companies!

[@olivereuro4170]

He was good as the devil in Futurama. Google is your friend.

[@ck2503]

Oh that's fucking rich jalopy

[@Kodiak727]

It’s beautiful

[@CyclingSJH]

Weird af beginning to the video

[@chawenhalo0089]

Surprise, ze Bavarians made V8s that like to rev in the late 90's!

[@ricogallardo6876]

One of the more baffling aspects of auto manufacturing; Take the drivetrain of the greatest 4 door BMW sports sedan of all time and create a 2 door roadster with it, which weighs approx. 500lbs lighter, and it handles & performs even better, right? Wrong...

[@NorthernChev]

Well, there’s yer problem right there... You consider Top Gear as a reliable source for car information...

[@Hiluxtaco]

That Center Gauge Cluster. Ugh...

[@campkira]

It not for racing..

[@HMCarReviews]

The BMW version looks better overall. I don't like those wheels at all. Never seen one before but have seen a few Z1 driving around before. Loving the Seinfeldesque music in the background tho. Subtle little touch.

[@vwsaiphone]

I miss my old BMW Z4m it was better in every way Vs this thing ... Only reason why i would want this Is bc of James Bond lol 😂

[@BlitzkriegRap]

I would rather have a regular Z8 over a Z4M to be honest. If they were offered for free ofc:)

[@musquito333]

The worst thing about this car is you driving it wearing those clothes!! 😂

[@aabidamn]

Still not as bad as the noise that comes out of his mouth.

[@g.wheels]

Those 2 clown shoes sitting back of shot tho..

[@805NAVE]

Top gears wrong about a lot of things, most notably the Lexus SC430

[@lukecowell7516]

No they really Weren't the car is horrid

[@mikegill6558]

Haha ..wrong about what ? Ugly ugly UGLY ..but apart from that errrrr ITS UGLY .. but yes not the worst car ever built ...

[@taelorwatson9822]

@@mikegill6558 There were several factors involved including a company like lexus should make a much better vehicle. If it had been made by Fiat it would have been considered decent.

[@gtlegacy8]

i dont see why would anyone pay $200k for that bmw, do you get a free new Z4 and A90 supra with the purchase?

[@doug960]

I saw one of these in the wild a couple months ago in the Tysons, VA area. I followed it for a little while and got close enough to see that, sure enough, there was an ALPINA badge above the license plate. Just out and about during lunch hour on a weekday.

[@nofameculture]

Jalopnik honest review's!! 👍

[@solarflare1008]

Beautiful but worthless after Top Gear review was sentenced to pull out of production by the manufacturer.

[@zbrembo]

BMW X5 4.8is engine?

[@sebdries]

Not exactly, but close. Alpina provided the engines directly to Munich and used the 4837ccm Alpina F5 Engine (based on the M62; stroked to 89.0mm / bored to 93.0mm) known from the E39 B5s; the 4.8is N62 came a tiny bit later with 4799ccm (stroke 88.3mm / bore 93.0mm). Rumor has it though, that Alpina was heavily involved with the N62 engine (... as they were with the Z8 Automatic Version; they basically used the existing engine package because they couldn't find an automatic transmission that could hold the power from the S62B50).

[@BlitzkriegRap]

What was Alpina thinking? - "Yup we're gonna take out the best part of the Z8 out (E39 M5s engine & manual box) and swap our boring drivetrain in."

[@no1DdC]

The idea - and I think Top Gear explained it back then - was to turn a car that couldn't decide between being a sports car into a cruiser into one of these things - and they chose the latter. Normally, Alpinas are sort of the more sophisticated alternative to M cars, very fast, but stealthy, less obvious, unless you are someone who knows what to look for, like the Alpina crest, subtle pin stripes, unassuming body kits. A normal Alpina is an Autobahn and German country road stealth weapon, capable of both demolishing most sports cars while being as comfortable as a car can be and not sticking out in your standard company parking lot. You can't really do that with a Z8, it's an extremely flashy and easy to notice car. Anyway, they thought it would work far better as a boulevard cruiser and GT, thus the choice for a lower-revving, torquier engine and an automatic gearbox, as well as other changes that made it easier and more comfortable to drive. If we think about it, it makes a lot of sense. The vast majority of expensive sports cars, even ones clearly designed around achieving fast lap times, are not used on the track, but on the boulevard and as GTs. Most of their drivers do not have any special driving abilities or the knowledge to appreciate sophisticated engineering, just a lot of money to burn. By giving them a car that comes much closer to their needs, Alpina acknowledged how these types of vehicles are actually being used.

[@aabidamn]

The irony is that the Alpina Z8 is probably the only Alpina that increases in price.

[@daverunner3397]

Beautiful car to look at but as far as driving Ill take my Z4......

[@gnrrpreacher]

Clarkson pees standing up...well, it is a quaint car...

[@Gman941]

Top Gear prides themselves on being wrong, they even admit it.

[@quackman]

Z3 M Coupe clownshoes 4:32

[@keithnewton8981]

It's not a zeeeee8 it a zed8 thus was a grand tourer it was not a sports car it was a large well powered GT like the Mercedes SL or jaguar xk it a cruiser

[@arion9696]

He is American so it’s zeee8

[@Chris-kc3is]

Le graal

[@jamesmoran9802]

Z8 had an M5 V10, not V8

[@richardmesser1091]

No V10 in Z8's

[@EugenioBrenes]

Like Jalopnik can like open opportunities like to awesome cars and like uh amazing reviews and like they have like awesome writers but like uh they don’t translate like uh to video

[@swanblake]

Still gorgeous. Would love to see a track day of this vs the Lexus SC430

[@mitchellbarnow1709]

BMW's before Bangle made them all hideous with their strange trunk lids. I remember when the new 7 series came out that he designed, I couldn't believe what they did to it's gorgeous predecessor. Sorry, I don't know the chassis number nomenclature.

[@toprod9493]

If you read the comments first, you won't watch the video.. 🇬🇧

[@04dram04]

3400lbs is insaine

[@pwally2714]

Why am I buying this over a Ferrari 430 Scuderia?

[@Catalina._]

This car is the true successor of the Jaguar E-Type

[@gf4353]

That's not true. XK-8s are..!!!!!

[@deathwatch27]

So this is a sponsored video? I'm not saying Clarkson is always right but he has been test driving cars before this guy was born

[@alikool0001]

By US standards any European car should be heaven.

[@theusersurfer]

Oh man, I really like that car. I just hope there is a cheap used one on the market

[@xtlmad]

not the most beautiful BMW. The most beautiful car.

[@Avrelivs_Gold]

This guy should stick to reviewing Miatas. And Starbucks coffee. And Nintendo Switch games. Not cars like this.

[@skioet]

Nice touch w. the stretched out pantyhose hanging off the headrests. It's included on the price which is passed the 200K mark for a 'good' one..

[@timmietz]

BMW V8s appeared in 1992 if I am not mistaken. Not the late 80s.

[@raphaelorlove]

debuted at the start of the decade but is a product of the '80s boom years if I'm not mistaken: jalopnik.com/how-america-killed-bmws-forgotten-3-0-liter-v8-1827456057

[@campkira]

With cpu... All of them just shit waiting to break down.. I reset my ecu so many time. Every time it had a little misfire nor lack of oxygen.... @ new z4 was better

[@michaelplehman]

Anyone else think it was absolutely weak for Jalopnik to tittle this video, Top Gear was Wrong About the Alpina BMW Z8? This is first video I've seen by this author, the title makes him sound needy and desperate to get views from a beloved show like Top Gear / Grand Tour.

[@danger450]

Duh. It's called click bait.

[@TomesEsq]

Yeah automatic only, no thanks. Universally agreed to be the worst version of the Z8.

[@danger450]

By universally retarded people who only love manuals, and take 4 minutes longer to shift.

[@Orcus1030]

danger450 LoL, can you hear how long that transmission takes to shift? This didn’t exactly come out in the age of the ZF 8spd.

[@danger450]

@@Orcus1030 It doesn't matter if it came out yesterday, the "Save the Manuals" retards are going to sing the same song until they die ....

[@LiLNaStYpLaZmA]

@@danger450 the car shifting for you isnt driving bud

[@GoGo-ix2sp]

Hipster tramp makes mouth noises

[@cpaaretrofit]

You are wrong taking Clarkson seriously

[@europroject1]

You are the best automotive journalist.. Greetings from Italy

[@EtowahValleyRovers]

The real question is why your driving in the grass at 2:04

[@bipolatelly9806]

I had an old late 80s bmw... It had a straight 6 donk, tho' I cant remember the details.... It was an expensive can't to keep on the road. Especially when the primitive computerer farked up! Then it was a can't of a car car.

[@campkira]

When German gone computerized... Their car become shit.... Guess they just want something to argument with customers... Most my German car doesn't own it for long...

[@richardmesser1091]

Clarkson was just too fat for it

[@carloscabrera08]

Donut Media is better.

[@timjenkins7019]

Alpina actually made this car worse.

[@control2791]

*z8> z8 alpina> 2020 supra > z4m> z3m > z1, > z3 >z4*

[@RxPii]

*_S L O P P Y_*

[@snikwadRR]

What? When did BMW not have a V8? Does this guy know anything about anything?

[@SirGeldi]

from 1965 to 1988

[@bipolatelly9806]

I can't stand those can'ts from Top Gear.

[@unggrabb]

Clarksson always hates BMW. He loooooves Mercedes, sadly not being able to be unbiased

[@mikegill6558]

Clarkson Changed ..he then liked BMWs ... But his comments are fun .. life would be sad without biased Jezza

[@Skippy-id9yt]

Top gear were wrong alot , with their contradicting view and biased to british view including the Rubbish Range Rover and anti American and Australian view on cars made in these countries

[@aabidamn]

Problem is, they only test new/press cars which were in tip top condition. When they are working right, there is nothing rubbish about Range Rovers. I've never seen any reviewer who says otherwise.

[@ChrisSaddlerSam]

Top Gear and especially those stupid "Holy GT 3" were sooooo wrong about soooo many things.... I simply don't understand all the attention they got during the past years!!! WHATEVER

[@mikegill6558]

Beautiful looking machine ... Zed 8 NOT A ZEE 8 wtf is wrong with Americans ..why can't they speak English? Love that car though ..maybe BMW should make them again ....

[@banjopete]

Mike Gill , because they learnt their alphabet on SESAME STREET!?

[@verakoilish8705]

so negative vid....

[@johnkreimer2734]

This guy is "like" annoying .

[@CarToneHK]

Well Top Gear has gotten alot of things wrong