Want the inside line on why BMW has bought Alpina? Then don't miss our European editor Georg Kacher's insightful feature from last year, profiling the Buchloe tuner's capabilities and strategy 🚀
► The tuning magic BMW had to buy, the fabled tuner and long-term partner of the Munich premium manufacturer. To understand why, we revisit our last trip to Buchloe in 2021 when our European editor Georg Kacher spent the day with the leadership team – finding out what makes them tick, investigating the secret sauce for Alpina's irresistibly fettled fast BMWs and discovering what challenges lie ahead with the spectre of electrification.
Alpina becomes an official car manufacturer – not just a tuner – in the eyes of German officialdom in 1983; it doesn't get more official than that. Two years later, Sytner becomes Alpina's sole UK importer. The founders are every bit as charismatic as the Bovensiepen clan – Frank Sytner a BTCC racer, brother Alan owner of Liverpool's The Beatles-nurturing Cavern Club.
Since Burkard Bovensiepen retired from day-to-day duties in early 2020, sons Andreas, 58, and Florian, 54, have been jointly in charge of the 300 employees. While Florian is a full-on numbers guy, Andreas divides his focus between business and product. He started his career in the BMW chassis department before being appointed project leader of the Z8 programme.
'The V8, which is part of our DNA, won't fit the picture forever. As a result, we are closely monitoring BMW's efforts with regard to EVs. One thing is clear: Alpina cannot afford to go its own independent way in terms of alternative propulsion systems. The next five to 10 years are thus an absolutely critical timeframe.'
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