Alpina, BMW - History of the brand
Alpina, BMW - History of the brand
Alpina Burkard Bovensiepen GmbH & Co. KG is a German automotive company based in Buchloe, Bavaria, specializing in creating exclusive, high-performance versions of BMW vehicles. Unlike many other tuning companies, Alpina is officially recognized by the German Ministry of Transport as an automobile manufacturer, allowing it to assign its own vehicle identification numbers (VIN) and offer unique models based on BMW cars.
Beginnings and Founding of Alpina
Alpina's history dates back to 1962 when Burkard Bovensiepen developed a dual Weber carburetor for the BMW 1500 model. This innovation was well-received by both the automotive press and BMW's head of sales, Paul G. Hahnemann. In 1964, BMW officially approved the quality of this product, granting a full factory warranty for vehicles equipped with Alpina's system. As a result, on January 1, 1965, Burkard Bovensiepen founded Alpina Burkard Bovensiepen KG in Kaufbeuren, initially employing eight people.
Development and Motorsport Success
Between 1968 and 1977, Alpina achieved numerous successes in motorsports. In 1970, the team's cars won the European Touring Car Championship, the German Hillclimb Championship, and the prestigious 24-hour race in Spa. Among the drivers collaborating with Alpina were champions like Niki Lauda, Jacky Ickx, and Hans Stuck. However, in 1988, the company decided to withdraw from racing to focus on producing refined road models, including the Alpina D5, Alpina D3, Alpina B3, Alpina B4, and BMW Alpina B7.
Model Naming Conventions:
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The letter "B" denotes petrol models (from the English "benzine").
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The letter "D" denotes diesel models (e.g., D3, D4).
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The digit corresponds to the BMW series on which the Alpina model is based.
Innovations and Unique Models
Alpina has always been known for its innovation. In 1978, the company introduced the B7 Turbo, which at the time was the world's fastest sedan, with a power output of 300 HP. In 1989, the B10 BiTurbo was launched, also earning the title of the fastest limousine in the world. In the 1990s, Alpina introduced Shift-Tronic and Switch-Tronic systems, allowing drivers to manually change gears without using a clutch, which was revolutionary at the time.
Modern Times and Integration with BMW
On March 10, 2022, BMW announced its intention to acquire the Alpina brand, aiming to further integrate and strengthen the collaboration between the two companies. On the same day, BMW officially acquired Alpina, marking a significant milestone in the history of both enterprises.
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