Company overview
Alpina is a high-end luxury automobile brand developed by BMW. Founded in 1965 by Burkard Bovensiepen, the company initially focused on tuning BMW vehicles. Alpina began as a manufacturer of carburetors and revised cylinder heads, eventually transitioning to complete automobile production. In 2025, BMW acquired Alpina, integrating its processes into BMW's production lines. Alpina vehicles are produced at BMW Plant Dingolfing, where the twin-turbo 4.4-liter V8 engine for the B7 is assembled by hand before being shipped to BMW for final installation. Alpina distinguishes itself through a manual, hand-built production process and unique features like Switch-Tronic gear shifters. Historically, Alpina produced a range of models including the C1 (1965-1987), B3, and B6 series. These models utilized various BMW engines, often modified to increase performance. The B3 3.0 and B3 3.2 models were based on the E36 chassis, utilizing the M50 and M54 engines respectively. Later models included the B3 3.3 (E46) and the B3 Biturbo (E9x), all with distinctive Alpina styling elements.
