Alpina

Alpina is a high-end luxury automobile brand by BMW. Alpina originally started as an automobile manufacturing company named Alpina Burkard Bovensiepen, based in Buchloe, in the Ostallgäu district of Bavaria, Germany that develops and sells high-performance versions of BMW cars. The company was officially renamed BMW Alpina in 2025. Alpina works closely with BMW and their processes are integrated into BMW's production lines, and is recognized by the German Ministry of Transport as an automobile manufacturer, in contrast to other performance specialists, which are aftermarket tuners. The Alpina B7 is produced at the same assembly line in Dingolfing, Germany (BMW Plant Dingolfing), as BMW's own 7 Series. The B7's twin-turbo 4.4-litre V8 is assembled by hand at Alpina's facility in Buchloe, Germany, before being shipped to BMW for installation, and the assembled vehicle is then sent back to Alpina for finishing touches.

The firm was founded in 1965 by Burkard Bovensiepen (1936–2023), a member of the Bovensiepen family of industrialists. On 10 March 2022, BMW announced its intention to acquire Alpina. That same day, BMW wrote on its website that it had officially acquired the brand.

History

Alpina's roots can be traced back to 1962, when Burkard Bovensiepen developed a Weber dual carburetor for the BMW 1500. This carburetor was well received by the automotive press, as well as BMW's own sales boss Paul G. Hahnemann. In 1964, BMW certified the quality of this Alpina product by awarding BMW vehicles fitted with the Alpina system the full factory guarantee.

Alpina Burkard Bovensiepen KG was established on 1 January 1965 in Kaufbeuren, Bavaria. The company had eight employees. Although Alpina started by producing typewriters, the original Alpina ceased to exist at the end of the 1960s in their attempt to move into the textile industry. In 1965, Burkard established a BMW tuning business, following his success with investments in the stock market. He started the tuning business in an outbuilding of the original Alpina typewriter factory. The company worked on carburetors and revised cylinder heads. By 1970, with seventy employees, the original facility changed locations from Kaufbeuren to Buchloe.

In its first years, Alpina established its core competency by tuning carburetors and camshafts to extract more power from BMW engines, elements that eventually defined the company's logo, which came into being in 1967. Between 1968 and 1977, Alpina cars did very well in competition. The highlight was in 1970, when the team's cars won the European Touring Car Championship, the German Hillclimb Championship, rally and track racing championships, and the prestigious Spa 24 Hours.

Alpina officially withdrew from racing in 1988 because of capacity limitations and restrictions. Tied to this was the decision to begin production of a new set of BMW Alpina automobiles.

Brand distinctions Since 1983, Alpina has been recognized by the German Federal Ministry of Transport as an automobile manufacturer, thus Alpina-built cars are branded and registered as Alpina instead of BMW, although an Alpina can be serviced at all BMW dealerships, and is fully covered if a warranty issue arises. Alpina automobiles are also sold at some BMW dealerships.

Distinctive features of Alpina vehicles are the fact that these models are literally "manu-factured", meaning "hand-made". The production process switches between fine tuning the engine, delivering it to the BMW plant, marrying engine and body there, and bringing it back to Alpina for interior upgrade with Alpina's specific components, again all in a hand-made process that allows only limited production numbers. Besides engine and interior, Alpina also optimizes the transmission and installs steering wheel-mounted button shifters (called Switch-Tronic) on most cars, with paddle shifters used on the B4 S Edition 99. This has historic reasons, since Alpina was the first to mount shifting buttons on the steering wheel. Distinguishing marks from the exterior are the 20-spoke alloy wheels with hidden valves under the center cap and the "Alpina Blue" or "Alpina Green" metallic exterior colours. Inside, "the finest materials are used to fabricate the exclusive feel". A typical blue and green pattern is often used on interior parts such as stitching on leather. A thin, pinstriped style outside body decor set in gold or silver is also a hallmark of older Alpina cars which is an option on new Alpina models. Another distinguishing mark is the Alpina wordmark at the bottom of the car's front, a design heralded from its racing cars. A metal plate inside also proves the heritage and the serial number of the car.

Compared to cars from BMW's in-house performance subsidiary, BMW M, Alpina's vehicles have more emphasis on Touring, higher torque, and have their own Alpina-style shiftable ZF automatic transmissions instead of manual or semi-automatic transmissions. For instance, regarding the high performance variants of the BMW E60 5 Series, the B5 offers a different take on performance and how to accomplish it. Unlike BMW M's own M5 which has a naturally aspirated, high-revving 5.0L V10, the Alpina B5 uses a supercharged 4.4L V8 which produces similar horsepower and greater torque at lower rpm.

Current lineup Alpina XB7: based on the BMW G07 X7 - featuring a 4.4 L V8 bi-turbo engine producing 621 PS (457 kW; 612 hp) /

Previous models

Petrol-engine + Alpina Previous Models (Petrol engines) Alpina model BMW donor model Alpina Engine Power at rpm Torque at rpm Production A1/3 E21 320 A1/3 at 5,800 at 4,000 1975–1977 A2/3 E21 320 A2/3 at 6,900 at 5,500 1975–1977 A4/3 E21 320i A4/3 at 6,700 at 5,500 1976–1977 A4S/3 E21 320i A4S/3 at 6,700 at 5,500 1976–1977 B7 Turbo Coupé E24 630CSi B7 at 6,000 at 2,500 1978–1982 B6 2.8 E21 323i B6 at 6,200 at 4,500 1978–1981 B7 Turbo E12 528i B7 at 6,000 at 3,000 1978–1982 C1 2.3 E21 323i C1 at 6,000 at 4,500 1980–1983 B7 S Turbo E12 528i B7S at 5,800 at 3,000 1981–1982 B9 3.5 E28 528i B9 at 5,700 at 4,000 1981–1983 B6 2.8 E21 323i B6 at 6,000 at 5,000 1981–1983 B7 S Turbo Coupé E24 635CSi B7S at 5,800 at 3,000 1982-1982 B9 3.5 Coupé E24 635CSi B9 at 5,700 at 4,000 1982-1982 B9 3.5 Coupé / 1 E24 635CSi B9/1 at 5,700 at 4,000 1982–1985 C1 2.3 / 1 E30 323i C1/1 at 6,000 at 5,000 1983–1985 B9 3.5 / 1 E28 528i B9/1 at 5,700 at 4,000 1983–1985 B6 2.8 / 1 E30 323i/325i B6/2 at 6,100 at 5,000 1984–1986 B7 Turbo Coupé / 1 E24 635CSi B7/2 at 5,700 at 2,400 1984–1987 B7 Turbo / 1 E28 528i/535i B7/1 at 5,800 at 3,000 1984–1987 B10 3.5 E28 535i B10 at 5,800 at 4,000 1985–1987 C2 2.5 E30 325i C2 at 5,800 at 4,800 1985-1986 B6 3.5 E30 323i/325i B10/2 at 6,000 at 4,000 1985–1987 B7 Turbo / 1 E28 535i B7/3 at 5,700 at 2,400 1986–1987 B7 Turbo Coupé / 1 E24 635CSi B7/3 at 5,700 at 2,400 1986–1988 B6 3.5 E30 325i B10/3 at 5,900 at 4,000 1986–1987 C1 2.5 E30 325i C2/3 at 5,800 at 5,000 1986–1987 C2 2.7 E30 325i C2/1 at 5,800 at 4,500 1986–1987 C2 2.7 E30 325i C2/2 at 6,000 at 4,800 1987-1987 B11 3.5 E32 735i B11 at 5,700 at 4,000 1987-1987 B11 3.5 E32 735i B11/1 at 5,700 at 4,500 1987-1987 B11 3.5 E32 735i B11/3 at 6,000 at 4,000 1987–1993 B3 2.7 E30 325i C2/2 at 6,000 at 4,800 1987–1992 B6 3.5 E30 325i B10/5 at 5,900 at 4,000 1987–1990 B6 3.5 S E30 M3 B10/5 at 5,900 at 4,000 1987–1990 B10 3.5 / 1 E34 535i B11/3 at 6,000 at 4,000 1988–1992 B12 5.0 E32 750i D1 at 5,300 at 4,000 1988–1994 B10 Bi-Turbo E34 535i B7/5 at 6,000 at 4,000 1989–1994 Roadster Limited Edition Z1 C2/6 at 6,000 at 4,900 1990–1991 B12 5.0 Coupé E31 850i/850Ci D1/1 at 5,300 at 4,000 1990–1994 B6 2.8 E36 325i E1 at 5,900 at 4,700 1992–1993 B12 5.7 Coupé E31 850CSi D2 at 5,400 at 4,000 1992–1996 B3 3.0 E36 325i E3 at 5,700 at 4,400 1993–1996 B11 4.0 E32 740i F1 at 5,800 at 4,600 1993–1994 B10 3.0 ALLRAD E34 525ix E3/1 at 5,800 at 4,200 1993–1996 B10 4.0 E34 540i F1 at 5,800 at 4,600 1993–1996 B10 4.6 E34 540i F2 at 5,700 at 3,900 1994–1996 B8 4.6 E36 328i F2/1 at 5,700 at 3,900 1995–1998 B12 5.7 E-KAT E38 750i D3 at 5,200 at 4,100 1995–1998 B3 3.2 E36 328i E4 at 5,800 at 4,400 1996–1999 B10 3.2 E39 528i E4/3 at 5,900 at 4,300 1997–1998 B10 V8 E39 540i F3 at 5,700 at 3,900 1997–1998 B10 V8 E39 540i F4 at 5,700 at 3,700 1998–2002 B3 3.3 E46 328i E4/4 at 6,200 at 4,500 1999–2002 B10 3.3 E39 528i E4/5 at 6,200 at 4,500 1999–2003 B12 6.0 E-KAT E38 750i D3/2 at 5,400 at 4,200 1999–2001 B3 3.3 ALLRAD E46 330ix E4/8 at 6,200 at 4,500 2001–2005 Roadster V8 E52 Z8 F5 at 5,800 at 3,800 2002–2003 B3 S E46 330i E5/1 at 6,300 at 4,800 2002–2006 B10 V8 S E39 540i F5 at 5,800 at 3,800 2002–2004 Roadster S E85 Z4 E5/2 at 6,300 at 4,800 2003–2005 B7 E65/E66 745i H1 at 5,500 at 4,250 2003–2008 B5 E60/E61 545i H1 at 5,500 at 4,250 2005–2007 B6 E63/E64 650i H1 at 5,500 at 4,250 2006–2008 B5S E60/E61 550i H2 at 5,500 at 4,750 2007–2010 B3 Bi-Turbo E90/E91/E92/E93 335i K2 at 5,500 at 3,800 2007–2010 B3 Bi-Turbo Allrad E90/E91/E92 335xi K2 at 5,500 at 3,800 2008–2010B6F06/F12/F13 6 SeriesM2/1 (convertible) (2015-2019) (2015-2019)2011-2019B5F10/F11 5 Series at 5,500 at 5,200-6,250 (2012 facelift) at 2,800 (2012 facelift)2011-2016B4F32/F33 4 Series at 5,500-6,250 at 3,000-4,0002014-2022B4 SF32/F33 4 Series at 5,500-6,250 at 3,0002017-2022B5G30/G31 5 SeriesM52017-2024B4 S Edition 99F32 4 Series at 5,500-6,250 at 3,000-4,5002018-2018XB7G07 X72020-2026B8 Gran CoupéG16 8 Series2021-2025B4 Gran CoupéG26 4 Series at 5,500-7,000 at 2,500-4,5002022-2025B4 GT Gran CoupéG26 4 Series at 6,250-6,500 at 2,500-4,5002022-2025

Diesel-engine

+ Alpina Previous Models (Diesel engines) Alpina model BMW donor model Alpina Engine Power at rpm Torque at rpm Production D10 BITURBO E39 530d G1 at 4,200 at 3,500 2000–2003 D3 E90/E91 320d M47 at 4,000 at 2,000 2005–2008 D3 Bi-Turbo E90/E91/E92 3 Series (engine from BMW 123d) N1 at 2,000-2,500 2008-2013XD3 Bi-TurboF25 X32013-2018D3F30/F31 3 Series at 4,0002013-2019D4F32/F33 4 Series at 4,000 at 1,500-3,0002014-2025D5 S (tri-turbo)G30 5 Series2017-2024D5 S (bi-turbo)G30 5 Series2017-2024XD3 (quad-turbo)G01 X32018-2025XD3 (bi-turbo)G01 X32018-2025XD4G02 X42018-2025 3 Series based Alpinas

C1

The Alpina C1 was based on the E21 323i and was among their most popular early models, providing superior performance over the unmodified car. The C1 2.3 made and of torque. is achieved in 7.8 seconds. Top speed was . The extra power is due to special Mahle pistons, and a special exhaust and ignition system. It also received dry-sump lubrication and a short-ratio five-speed gearbox. Only 35 C1 cars were built, making it one of the rarest Alpina models. As BMW released the 325i, Alpina responded with the C2 2.5, and later the 2.7 models, providing between . The brakes and suspension were also upgraded.

The C1 2.5 and early C2 / 2.6* models used the M20B23 (2.3L) engine, but bore and stroke were increased to achieve a displacement of 2552 cm3. Alpina reworked the head which was ported and polished, installed harder valve springs and a hotter cam. The intake manifold was also reworked, and Alpina used a larger throttle body. It produced , with of torque. Alpina claimed 0– acceleration in 7.1 seconds. Top speed was . Production is unclear, with estimates ranging from 35 cars built to around 400 depending on the source.

C2

An interesting variant of the M20 engine was Alpina's C2. The first C2 combined the wider bore of the M20B25 with the slightly larger crankshaft of an M20B23, to create a torquier engine of 2552 cc. This version put out and , 74 units were built between 1985 and November 1986. After the C2 2.7 appeared in the spring of 1986, the 2.5 was slightly upgraded and gained 5 horsepower. However, to indicate its "little brother" position in the lineup, the name was changed to C1 2.5. When the September 1987 facelift model of the E30 was introduced, the 2.5 litre C1 was discontinued, although a few cars were finished into 1988.