Skip advert
Advertisement

Watch – History of Alpina detailed in official video

BMW tuning firm marks its 50th anniversary with a video of its history

Alpina celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2015, and has released a video to shed a little more light on the company’s transition from small tuning firm to one of the world’s most respected BMW tuners.

It’s earned that respect by creating some impressive cars – occasionally offering performance and handling (and ride quality) capable of worrying BMW’s official M-branded vehicles.

Advertisement - Article continues below

At the same time, Alpina has kept pace with modern trends – creating its first diesel model in the late 1990s with the D10 Biturbo (and popularised in 2006 with the 320d-based D3), and more recently launching the X3-based XD3 to plug a gap in the luxury crossover market.

On a purely aesthetic basis, there’s also something hugely satisfying about Alpina’s traditional combination of arch-filling multi-spoke alloy wheels, demur colour schemes and the brand’s distinctive ‘Deko Set’ stripes.

The company’s latest video covers Alpina’s history, starting with its creation by Burkard Bovensiepen. Bovensiepen first began tuning the BMW 1500, dropping in an extra carburettor to increase the car’s power.

From there, the company went racing – even signing Niki Lauda as a driver, and later Hans Stuck – and achieved plenty of success in touring car events.

On the road, Alpina was an early adopter of turbocharging, and is widely known for its early take on race-style gearchanging too, with the Switchtronic steering wheel button system.

Alpina’s high-performance, luxurious take on BMWs continues to this day, as does its involvement in racing. You can see this – and more – in Alpina’s video above.

Skip advert
Advertisement

Recommended

Alpina’s B3 and B4 GT are more potent and more luxurious than the new BMW M3
Alpina B3 and B4 GT
News

Alpina’s B3 and B4 GT are more potent and more luxurious than the new BMW M3

Alpina has launched special GT variants of its popular B3 and B4 models, giving them more power, fettled dynamics and design tweaks for 2024
5 Jun 2024
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Ford Focus ST (Mk3) – the car world's greatest misses
Ford Focus ST Mk3
Features

Ford Focus ST (Mk3) – the car world's greatest misses

We’d hoped the 2015 Focus ST would share a good dose of its little brother’s magic. Sadly, it didn’t
28 Apr 2025
The Ferrari 296 Speciale has arrived, and it could be the most thrilling Ferrari ever
Ferrari 296 Speciale – front
News

The Ferrari 296 Speciale has arrived, and it could be the most thrilling Ferrari ever

The 296 Speciale is the latest in Ferrari's line of mid-engined road racers, packing 868bhp and LaFerrari-beating pace on track
29 Apr 2025
Gordon Murray Automotive T.50 2025 review – the ultimate analogue hypercar
GMA T.50 front
Reviews

Gordon Murray Automotive T.50 2025 review – the ultimate analogue hypercar

The GMA T.50 is the car we thought would never come: Gordon Murray's sequel to the ultimate hypercar, the McLaren F1
26 Apr 2025