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BMW buys Alpina!

We have decided to bring to Club members the press release from Alpina received on the 10th March. Now is not the time to be making statements and predictions of what will happen in the coming years, although the next three years will see little change. We have decided to go down this route as the internet is awash with trash talk and untruths, so we would prefer that our members read the full press release and then make up their own minds…

In a press release dated 10th March 2022, Alpina released the following information -

Reorganisation of Alpina Burkard Bovensiepen GmbH + Co. KG. BMW assumes the ownership rights to the ALPINA brand. The family run company Bovensiepen opens a new chapter in new and existing business The Alpina HQ at Buchloe in Bavaria will stay in the hands of the Bovensiepens… opportunities. 1) The BMW Group buys the ALPINA brand from the ALPINA Burkard Bovensiepen GmbH + Co. KG. 2) BMW Alpina automobiles will continue to be developed and produced in BUCHLOE until the end of 2025. 3) The family run company will rebrand itself under the Bovensiepen name, invest in the business related to classic automobiles and will continue to offer different, exciting new mobility solutions. 4) The Alpina Burkard Bovensiepen GmbH + Co. KG and the BMW Group will continue to co-operate closely in the future, but in a new form and inter alia, with a focus on engineering and development services. 5) The spare parts supply and the service offering for BMW Alpina automobiles of all ages is guaranteed in the long-term.

The Bovensiepen family leads its 57 year old partnership with BMW into a new era. Alpina becomes a brand of the BMW Group. From 2026 onwards, BMW will introduce more automotive offerings in the luxury car range, in which Alpina has been established in for many years. Using its engineering know-how and expertise, the company of the Bovensiepen family will continue to develop, produce and distribute exclusive BMW Alpina automobiles under the existing cooperation agreement. In the coming years we will showcase new, exciting, dynamic and efficient automobiles. “Our order books are as full as ever and several new products and product updates are imminent“, ex-plains Andreas Bovensiepen, CEO of Alpina Burkard Bovensiepen GmbH + Co. KG. “The strength and attractiveness of the Alpina brand is very well established. We made the conscious decision to not sell Alpina to any other interested manufacturers in the automotive industry because BMW and Alpina have co-operated trustfully for many, many decades. It is for this reason the correct strategic decision that the Alpina brand will be operated by the BMW Group in the future.” The full completion of the transaction of the trademark rights is still subject to the approval of the anti-trust authorities. This strategic reorganisation is taking place on the basis of a strong position to react to the increasing dynamics of tightening regulatory demands. 2021 was the most successful year to date for ALPINA Burkard Bovensiepen GmbH + Co. KG with more than 2000 BMW Alpina automobiles delivered around the world. At the same time, the politically driven transformation to electric mobility as well as tightening worldwide regulatory demands – especially on vehicle emissions, software validation and requirements on safeguarding driver assistant and supervisory systems – means the demands on and risks for small series manufactures are increasing. It is on the back of this development that the existing cooperation agreement, which was last renewed for a further five years at the end of 2020, will end on the 31st of December 2025.

With the passing on of the Alpina brand, the Bovensiepen family company sets the course for the future. “We will continue our father’s life’s work and legacy by investing in the equally well-known Bovensiepen name. With our in-depth expertise and know-how, we will continue to bring different but impressive mobility offerings to market”, says CEO Florian Bovensiepen. “Our family and our employees will continue to stand for engineering quality of the highest standard. Our manufacturing activities will transform into engineering services over time. Through this strategic reorganisation the operations of the company in Buchloe is safeguarded well into the future. The engineering and development know-how of our company, gained over many decades of operation, will be made available to further automotive manufactures besides

the BMW Group, both in the areas of internal combustion engines and electric mobility.

The close connection of the Alpina Burkard Bovensiepen GmbH + Co. KG company with the Alpina brand and the BMW Group will continue to prosper in the future. The cooperation in the area of after sales will be continued without change. The availability of original Alpina replacement parts, Alpina accessories and high quality service offerings from the Buchloe company are guaranteed. Furthermore, the Buchloe Company’s rich tradition and unique heritage means a new business area will be developed with regards to the restoration of classic BMW Alpina automobiles. This includes the new production and distribution of classic parts and classic accessories, as well as sourcing and selling sought-after BMW Alpina models.”

The family owned and operated wine business under the Alpina naming is not affected by the transfer of the Alpina trademark and will continue to operate as Alpina Wein GmbH + Co. KG.

The purchase of the Alpina brand by the BMW Group and the associated end in 2025 of the current and future automobile product portfolio will have effects on the existing workplaces at the Buchloe facility. In the coming years, the development, production and distribution of BMW Alpina automobiles will continue unchanged, demand is at an all-time high and exciting new products are in the pipeline. BMW will support Alpina in the coming years with the transformation of workplaces at the Buchloe facilities. This means that by the end of 2025 BMW will offer employment opportunities to a number of employees for whom a continued employment at the Buchloe facility will not be possible, and also co-ordinate with engineering partners and suppliers for possible employment opportunities. Both parties have agreed not to disclose any information regarding financial details. Company shares were not sold.

The new 2 Series Coupé

I’ve never seen a paint colour create as much fuss at a launch like Thundernight Purple Metallic. BMW has certainly cashedin on its popularity, with every M240i model seeming to be sporting this purple hue. Mind you, it is a bit nice. Anyway, I digress. BMW’s striking coupé promises to bring exceptional sporting talent to the premium compact segment, fusing classic, three-box coupé style with BMW’s latest design language. The new 2er is equipped with a sporting chassis with near 50:50 weight distribution. And it’s the only vehicle in its segment to offer a six-cylinder in-line engine.

The line-up includes the 374hp, all-wheel-drive BMW M240i xDrive Coupé that not only blows away its predecessor, but also comfortably wins the 0-60mph squabble with its M2 brother, thanks to 4WD traction – take a look at Joe Achilles test on YouTube. On-board technology includes the BMW Operating System 7 and BMW Live Cockpit Professional, with extras like a Head Up Display available on a 2 Series for the first time. BMW’s 2 Series Coupé is priced from £34,980 OTR, with the range topping M240i costing a reasonable £45,795. Pop into your local dealer for more info, or visit www.bmw.co.uk

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003 E30 M3 by Redux to get carbon roof

Redux has started the build on No 003 E30 M3 and the company has confirmed that 003 will receive a full carbon roof. The mould tools for both the carbon fibre roof and door skins are finished so carbon will be laid down soon to produce the roof and door panels. The donor car’s shell has been fixed onto a Celette jig to ensure no flexing takes place. A triangular metal support frame was also fixed to the A, B and C pillars, and another one in the boot area to ensure 100% rigidity. It is imperative nothing moves when cutting the roof off as it removes so much rigidity once it’s off. The steel rear quarters and door skins are also removed in preparation for the carbon fibre parts to be bonded into place. After blasting (using crushed glass) to remove the paint, a gas burner is used to dislodge any remaining coatings or debris. Once the steel body panels are removed, the latest anti-corrosion and paintwork-protection products can be applied, including an under-body coating of hot zinc.

The new 2 Series Active Tourer

The new 2 Series Active Tourer features new architecture designed for both electrified and conventional powertrains, while we’ll also see the debut of BMW Operating System 8 in a compact-class BMW. There’s an expanded range of driver assistance systems which set the benchmark sector and an updated engine line-up includes second-generation 48V mild hybrid technology, while electrified options are strengthened with forthcoming plug-in hybrid models.

The 2 Series Active Tourer is available to order now priced from £30,265 OTR. To find out more about the new Tourer either visit www.bmw.co.uk or pop into your local BMW dealer.

News in brief from BMW UK

The newly launched BMW iX has been crowned the Large Crossover of the Year at the UK Car of the Year Awards. Judges praised the “relaxed, refined and calming nature” of the model, while also commenting “it’s one of the quietest, smoothest and most comfortable EVs I’ve ever driven”.

The BMW iX has a WLPT range of 380 miles, is the premiere for the new generation BMW iDrive powered by Operating System 8, which offers the most extensive set of standard driver assistance systems ever seen in a BMW.

GQ Magazine awarded the BMW i4 the Saloon of the Year award at the 2022 GQ Car of the Year award ceremony recently. As the first fully-electric Gran Coupé, the BMW i4 has a range of up to 365 miles (WLTP), and is offered in both i4 eDrive 40 and M50 variants with the latter being the first purely electric performance car from BMW M GmbH.

The BMW i3 has been named a Future Classic by Autocar and the National Motor Museum at Beaulieu, as part of the museum’s 50th anniversary. The BMW i3 was praised by judges from both Autocar and Beaulieu, writing “the BMW i3 symbolises the kind of unshackled, inspired design that ought to have been applied to every car”.

The BMW iX has won Best Large SUV at the Women’s World Car of the Year. In choosing winners, judges took into consideration safety, quality, price, design and environmental footprint. In 2022, BMWs iX excelled in all of these areas and was selected as the top performer in the Large SUV segment.