ALPINA brand becomes part of the BMW Group

[ttrill]

This includes the new production and distribution of classic parts and classic accessories, as well as sourcing and selling sought-after BMW ALPINA models.

Where does synter stand in all this? Will we see Alpina create their own dealers/ service centres? Would be nice to see this happen in the UK.

[PhillV8S]

There has always been different shades of “Alpinaness” I guess. They all provide a small side discussion on how far they differentiate from the BMW models. Some have unique engines, hand made interiors etc, others just a remap and light cosmetic differences. It is a broad church here in Alpina land. All the better for it imo.

[Grumpyjohn1957]

Like Mad Max, I always felt I was driving one of the last V8 interceptors.

As has been said, such a shame. Given the EV transition with its sky-high development costs and the already close integration of Alpina & BMW it’s an understandable move from the business perspective.
It reminds me of British Leyland subsuming all those great names, Austin, Morris, Triumph, Rover, etc. What did we get from that? Rebadged Hondas marketed as Rovers.

In fairness BMW have done a great job with the MINI brand.

If one thinks about it, apart from the name what do BMW actually get? An inadequate factory remote from the production lines, a handful of talented and passionate engineers, a couple of dozen skilled craftsmen. Intellectual property rights? Not a lot I suspect. Alpina to me are about passion and the desire to create exemplary, highly refined, customised automobiles from an already good base product.

The real money is in that name, I suspect BMW won’t down value it. Alpina will become more of a premium mainstream thing. Every branch of Sytner is already sporting an Alpina section (the people staffing them don’t have a clue but…..) which suggests this is a long planned happening.

Bob takes a positive from this regards supporting the legacy. I totally agree that must be a good thing. You watch, that will figure big time in the new brand ethos BMW will be creating.

Brand differentiation with the USPs of heritage, quality, and individualism, filling the void between RR & BMW perhaps?

[simon13]

sorry I think you are a bit far off the mark imo. Alpina have world class test facilities which BMW use themselves, hence the Alpina factory tours shutting up shop. The trimming shop for the Lavalina trims is more on par with Rolls Royce than normal BMWs. The amount of technology that Alpina pioneered that went on to become present in main stream bmws is quite vast. Alpina have had their engines plucked by bmw for production models 4.6iS X5 the most obvious

[BetterCallJimmy]

It is a very sad day indeed.

However, I hope that BMW will do the smart thing and will do what VAG did with the Bentley. It will keep the identity of the brand in tact and will ensure that the brand continues in a manner befitting to its heritage and the expectations of its customers.

No doubt there will be a time for an EV alpina but I hope that with BMW's muscle an Alpina brand will be able to continue to manufacture cars with 6 and 8 cylinder perhaps with some hybrid technology. I am no fan of an EVs but if they are the future in 15 years time I'd rather sit in an Alpina EV than in an Audi...

[nealpina]

60 years is pretty impressive, I wonder whether they will celebrate the anniversary

Hope they do as it will be the last one ever

[nealpina]

It is far too early (well for me) to tell if this will be a good or a bad thing. But it is shocking news

Not sure if this is a correct comparison:
Amg = M
Maybach = ALPINA
Maybach was acquired by Mercedes and kept its luxury brand. BMW sees this to be ALPINA hence and hopefully will not become diluted

In the noughties BMW restricted ALPINA but In recent years have allowed them to match M performance. Is this a positive that the brand will be consistent?

For me, BMW needs to remember. There are better cars than BMW, but only a few cars are better than ALPINA.

It does explain the direction of the plaque

EV or a hybrid with a proper gearbox, meaning with a paddle-shift is incredible to drive. To produce an EV to ALPINA specification in the next few years may be cheaper for BMW than ALPINA because of no engine development; and will be computer configuration changes with parts like the suspension. The R&D will be a lot less, I would have thought. An example the iX M60 has great reviews with its instant power and handling capabilities

[Collectingbrass]

It's a sad day for sure. I don't think it will go the way of "M Sport" and we won't see Alpina badges stuck to electric shopping trollies, the brand recognition just isn't there. Hopefully BMW retain it in some form of continent crossing EV or Hybrid but with the economics of modern car production I do wonder.

That said, if this is the owners retiring and getting some decent cash for the IP, Brand and tangible assets then fair play to them. They've delivered cars like no other and I am fortunate to literally have been along for the ride.

[big blue]

I think this was inevitable at some stage. Alpina do look and operate as a world class operation, but maybe in this world of globalisation being a small independent is impossible without some form of strategic alliance. One positive on this is that BMW saw what Alpina were doing and liked it so much they decided to purchase the brand. This speaks volumes for what they actually achieved over many years. We have a benchmark for before this date so will see what happens in the coming years.

Alpina have kept BMWs M division looking over their shoulder for many years......

[shaziman]

Like Mad Max, I always felt I was driving one of the last V8 interceptors.

As has been said, such a shame. Given the EV transition with its sky-high development costs and the already close integration of Alpina & BMW it’s an understandable move from the business perspective.
It reminds me of British Leyland subsuming all those great names, Austin, Morris, Triumph, Rover, etc. What did we get from that? Rebadged Hondas marketed as Rovers.

In fairness BMW have done a great job with the MINI brand.

If one thinks about it, apart from the name what do BMW actually get? An inadequate factory remote from the production lines, a handful of talented and passionate engineers, a couple of dozen skilled craftsmen. Intellectual property rights? Not a lot I suspect. Alpina to me are about passion and the desire to create exemplary, highly refined, customised automobiles from an already good base product.

The real money is in that name, I suspect BMW won’t down value it. Alpina will become more of a premium mainstream thing. Every branch of Sytner is already sporting an Alpina section (the people staffing them don’t have a clue but…..) which suggests this is a long planned happening.

Bob takes a positive from this regards supporting the legacy. I totally agree that must be a good thing. You watch, that will figure big time in the new brand ethos BMW will be creating.

Brand differentiation with the USPs of heritage, quality, and individualism, filling the void between RR & BMW perhaps?

As Simon13 said above, this is so far off the mark...

Alpina is a remote engineering house for BMW. Many Petrol/Diesel engines, suspension engineering and alot of NVH know how for all modern BMW's has come out of Alpina. Its far to say in alot of cases, affected more products of the company more the BMW M GmbH.

It is truely a sad day. Another money making scam that will turn in to BMW selling wheels and bodykits and losing everything Alpina stands for. I just hope the Bovenspien family keep tight reins on what happens to the name and still have a say in proceedings, or else it will degrade everything Alpina stands for...

[JohnW]

It’s shocked me, I understood Alpina remained stubbornly independent and retained a certain uniqueness. I hope they keep the exclusivity of the brand, like others hope it doesn’t go the way of M badges on standard models

[FlyinRyan]

A very sad day.

My dream of owning a brand new Alpina evaporated with this news, I'd hoped that they would keep going to the end of the decade, but alas, we are where we are with electrification and the future of enthusiast motoring.

There is a lot of debate on which direction BMW AG will take with the Alpina brand. I for one pray that it doesn't become simply a trim level, it certainly wouldn't be fitting to what the brand stands for.

Perhaps another option for BMW is to shift Alpina into a customisation sub brand, similar to Ferrari's Tailor Made or JLR's SVO. This would keep the exclusivity and master craftsmanship of the brand intact, whilst offering something different to the M halo cars.

On a more positive note, I think we as a collective of brand ambassadors and enthusiasts need to start planning a suitable send off. A group drive to Buchloe for one last hurrah and then onwards to BMW HQ in Munich perhaps?

[Norrie]

my understanding is that no immediate change for the next few years.

[ALPB1033]

Lots of you know the news already. So what you guys think?

[Elan]

It’s sad news, for me it will lose the Exclusiveness of a small manufacturer. Will they bow out with some really special models? Also what will happen to the car values and parts availability?