ALPINA has at all times occupied a uncommon house within the BMW universe. The marque blends hand-finished craftsmanship, bespoke efficiency, and understated luxurious in a manner that even BMW doesn’t. Now, below BMW’s full stewardship, the model faces questions on its future path. In an interview with YouTube channel MotoManTV Podcast, the corporate’s CEO, Andreas Bovensiepen, clues us into the place the model would possibly go.
ALPINA Will Nonetheless Give attention to Luxurious
Andreas begins by saying that ALPINA isn’t part of all the pieces BMW does. However, “to my data,” he says, “we are going to consider the massive vehicles, general, on the GKL-class phase now.” GKL refers to “Grand Klasse Luxurious,” or the platform underpinning BMW’s most luxurious fashions. The 7 Collection, 8 Collection, and X7 are all examples of GKL automobiles, and — maybe not coincidentally — you might up till just lately discover ALPINA tuned examples of all three within the US.
GKL is distinct from UKL (German for “decrease class”), KKL (3 Collection, 4 Collection, X3, X4, Z4) and MKL (5 Collection, X5, X6, iX), segments by which ALPINA has a presence in internationally. Regardless of the declare that BMW’s specializing in a “Luxurious Layer”, he additionally says that these lower-badged ALPINA variants aren’t going anyplace.
“In Europe, we have now 3 Collection, we have now 4 Collection and these type of vehicles, so far as I do know, they don’t have any plans to stop these variety from coming.” That’s to not say they’re coming to America, in fact. But it surely’s excellent news for ALPINA followers in Europe. He goes on to provide us a bit of extra perception as to precisely the place BMW would possibly place ALPINA.
“They wish to say, ‘they’ve BMW, they’ve Rolls-Royce, and naturally there may be some house in between,’” Bovensiepen continues. ALPINA has at all times sat above extra pedestrian BMW fashions, however there’s traditionally been plenty of headroom between ALPINA and Rolls. For instance, whereas the ALPINA XB7 instructions $156,000, a Rolls-Royce prices greater than double that, ranging from round $405,000. The identical goes for what you would possibly contemplate an “entry degree” Rolls. The Ghost, technically positioned on the backside of the RR pile, begins round $350,000. The ALPINA B8, the tuner’s twist on the 8 Collection Gran Coupe, started at $151,500.
We’ve heard rumors prior to now – but not confirmed by BMW or Bovensiepen – {that a} BMW-made ALPINA B7 may arrive with the facelifted 7 Collection, and even an all-electric ALPINA X7. But it surely stays to be seen whether or not any of those plans will come to fruition.
ALPINA Has Different Targets, Too
Whereas ALPINA can have contemporary new fashions coming down the pipeline, there are different methods for the corporate to remain busy. Bovensiepen says that round 40,000 ALPINA-badged cars are nonetheless on the street of the 60,000 produced. They’ll all break ultimately, and Bovensiepen says ALPINA will be sure elements stay out there for vehicles made within the final “12 to fifteen years, absolutely and fully.” The model will even do its greatest to accommodate classic drivers. Though, “After all, we’re not able to ship carburetor elements for vehicles from the top of the Nineteen Sixties or starting of the Seventies,” he says. Nonetheless, for something from the “late 70s” on, ALPINA might be there to assist supply elements.
It is going to be fascinating to look at ALPINA enter its new period below official BMW stewardship. Up to now, it appears like no dramatic shakeups. Traditionally, ALPINA has at all times represented a unique type of exclusivity than conventional BMW and even M choices. We’re glad BMW’s maintaining it that manner.
First revealed by https://www.bmwblog.com
