Alpina Burkard Bovensiepen GmbH & Co. KG is a German automaker with headquarters in Buchloe, in the Ostallgau region of Bavaria. The firm creates and markets high-performance variants of BMW vehicles.
In contrast to other performance experts, which are aftermarket tuners, Alpina collaborates closely with BMW and has methods that are incorporated into BMW’s manufacturing lines. As a result, Alpina is recognized by the German Ministry of Transport as an automobile manufacturer. For instance, the BMW Plant Dingolfing in Dingolfing, Germany, produces both the Alpina B7 and the company’s own 7 Series on the same production line. At Alpina’s plant in Buchloe, Germany, the twin-turbo 4.4-liter V8 for the B7 is hand-assembled before being delivered to BMW for installation. After installation, the car is sent back to Alpina for finishing touches.
Burkard Bovensiepen, a businessman from the Bovensiepen family, created the company in 1965.
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The Alpina Advantage
Automotive passion, cutting-edge technical training, ongoing innovation implementation, and a well-rounded staff of passionate “movers” create the distinctive and effective high-performance vehicles created by ALPINA that provide ideal daily usability. -Alpina
Alpina is the master carmaker for BMW. Hand-built engines are available, and Alpina saddlery can be chosen for the interior instead of the standard leather and stitching used by BMW. They are shipped to the BMW facility for final assembly once Alpina completes the construction of their interiors, motors, and parts. The aggressive, track-ready beast that the M’s are known for is not what Alpina aims to be. Instead, they are only strong and opulent. designed for the regular driving that takes place on our roads. In the long run, this mentality results in a car that is more pleasant and useful. Giving the performance while maintaining the comfort and luxury required for daily driving.
Luxury, Power, and Dynamics in a New Contemporary Design
The BMW ALPINA B7 has led the ALPINA model lineup since 2016, captivating enthusiasts all over the world with its excellent performance and unmatched driving experience. The BMW ALPINA B7 enters a new age in 2019 after undergoing extensive upgrades that make it smart, opulent, and powerful. The new BMW ALPINA B7 is equipped with an improved drivetrain, a completely revamped design, and cutting-edge driver assistance and connection features to satisfy even the most discerning consumers.
With bi-turbo charging, the most recent 4.4-liter V8 engine produces 447 kW (608 horsepower) and 800 Nm (590 lb-ft) of torque. The new BMW ALPINA B7 accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h (0 to 62 mph) in just 3.6 seconds (formerly 3.7 seconds) and can reach a top speed of 330 km/h thanks to an increase in power and torque at lower rpm and sophisticated transmission technology (205 mph).
Alpina Performance Brand Joins the BMW Family
After 57 years, the prestigious tiny tuning company is being acquired by the car company, and after 2025, we can anticipate that all new Alpina models will be produced directly by BMW.
- Alpina, a small but well-known German tuner, has long produced its own versions of BMW vehicles.
- After 57 years of being a separate entity, the company is now being incorporated into the BMW corporate world.
- After 2025, new Alpina variants of BMWs will no longer be developed at the company’s Buchloe, Germany, headquarters. Despite this, the future of the Alpina brand under BMW ownership is still bright.
In contrast to the size and scope of Germany’s leading automakers, Alpina has long been a colorful outlier. The tuner was created as a result of an unusual transition from office supplies to performance components for BMW. With the cooperation of the larger firm, the symbiotic connection developed to the point where Alpina was producing its own variations of BMW models and even receiving early access to upcoming vehicles to help it plan its variations. Alpina distributed popular models like the XB7 through BMW in the United States, while in other nations, the two businesses were at least nominally in direct rivalry.
The 57-year cooperation between the two companies is about to come to an end, and it appears that after 2025, the Buchloe, Germany, factory will no longer be used for the development or production of new variations. This appears to be the result of two factors, the first of which is the increased difficulty of overcoming impossibly high compliance barricades. Alpina stated in its official statement that “the demands and risks for small-series manufacturers are increasing due to the politically motivated shift to electric mobility as well as tightening global regulatory demands, especially on vehicle emissions, software validation, and requirements on safeguarding driver assistant and supervisory systems.”
At the XB7’s 2020 European premiere, Alpina CEO Andeas Bovensiepen acknowledged that electrification was a significant obstacle that the small business would find difficult to overcome.
Paradoxically, Alpina’s rising success is the second factor. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic’s consequences, 2021 was the business’s most prosperous year to yet, with more than 2000 cars shipped worldwide. BMW obviously sees room for growth in that number and is likely considering how to include Alpina into its larger portfolio in a manner similar to how it has done with its own M division. (Alpina has traditionally mixed speed with increasing luxury; M’s brief is pure performance.)
Up until 2025, Alpina will continue to produce modified versions of current (and upcoming) BMW vehicles in Buchloe, after which the company will fully integrate the brand into the corporate Borg. Then, we assume, BMW’s facilities will handle development and production. The Bovensiepen family will also establish a new business under its own name, which will continue to work with vintage vehicles (presumably still BMWs) and provide engineering consulting services to other automakers in addition to BMW.
We are saddened by the demise of such a fascinating, independent firm, especially one that developed automotive pinstriping into such an art, and we hope that there will be more intriguing Alpina-branded vehicles in the future.
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Is Alpina a brand of BMW?
The BMW Group is pleased to welcome the ALPINA brand as a new member of its family of brands. The BMW Group will acquire the rights to the ALPINA brand, expanding the variety of its own line of high-end vehicles. ALPINA Burkard Bovensiepen GmbH + Co. and BMW AG
Who manufactures BMW Alpina?
Burkard, Andreas, and Florian Bovensiepen are the owners of the family-owned, medium-sized business ALPINA Burkard Bovensiepen GmbH + Co. KG, which was established in 1965.
The foundation of our business is the engineering and production of high-end vehicles based on BMW models. Between 1,200 and 1,700 autos leave the factory each year and are sent all over the world. Every single BMW ALPINA is equipped with a unique production plaque and a VIN unique to the ALPINA model in the inside, identifying the vehicle as a creation of an officially recognized automaker.
A seamless material flow for the production process, which is carefully coordinated with BMW, is ensured by daily logistical transports to the BMW factories. Sales are only coordinated through BMW dealerships and importers. This cooperation is exclusive to the automobile sector.
ALPINA currently employs over 290* individuals, and it offers numerous apprenticeships across all disciplines.
Why did BMW purchase Alpina?
After more than 50 years of cooperative separation, BMW Group has acquired the Alpina name in an effort to bring the venerable tuning company and its well-established branding within its umbrella. We already know this because it was revealed in mid-March 2022.
What model year did Alpina BMW debut?
Alpina automobiles began competing in racing competitions in 1968 and won numerous races. The 1970 European Touring Championship, German Hillclimb Championship rallies, and Spa 24 Hours victories by Alpina were significant victories. In 1988, Alpina stopped competing because of engine limitations.
Alpina automobiles were known for their 20-spoke alloy wheels, “Alpina Blue” metallic paint, and plush interiors. The Alpina C1, which was based on the BMW E21 3-series, was a pioneering example. The vehicle had a 170 horsepower output and a 0-60 time of 7.5 seconds. On the seats was the standard blue and green Alpina interior design.
The German Federal Ministry of Transport recognized Alpina as a car manufacturer in 1983. Unlike BMW, Alpina vehicles are branded with the Alpina name. Specific BMW dealerships still sell Alpina automobiles.
The increased focus on high performance was another way that Alpina and BMW were different. For instance, the Alpina B5’s 4.4-litre V8 engine was supercharged to produce a significant amount of torque.
Alpina has drawn interest from other companies in the past, including Jaguar, which once intended to buy the business. Alpina has never wavered in their mission to create quick and potent vehicles throughout the history of the brand.
Is the BMW Alpina unique?
I first saw this BMW Alpina at Virginia International Raceway six years ago while attending a race there with a friend. I was a huge fan of BMW M automobiles, the company’s series of high-performance consumer vehicles. I owned four of them, including a 2002 Z3 M coupe that the BMW people refer to as the “clown shoe” because it is shaped like, well, a clown’s shoe, and a 2004 BMW M3 convertible in an unique Laguna Seca blue paint that I love. But when I saw this BMW Alpina, I became immediately intrigued. due to the rarity of an Alpina in the United States. In fact, even in Germany, it’s uncommon to see one.
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