BMW has registered a new trademark for Alpina XB8, a name not previously used in the brand’s lineup. Overseas journalists spotted the entry among BMW’s recent applications to protect Alpina designations. In Alpina’s naming logic, XB8 would typically point to a gasoline-powered crossover with an X index, yet there is no BMW X8 in series production.

Alpina, acquired by BMW in 2022, has long specialized in more comfortable and more powerful takes on standard models, setting them apart from the harder-edged M variants. Today, the flagship is the Alpina XB7 based on the X7. The appearance of the XB8 name could either hint at groundwork for a new crossover or reflect a defensive play to shield the index from competitors. A filing like this also keeps options open—quietly and without locking the brand into a launch timeline.