Alpina Considering Special Editions for 50th Anniversary
BMW specialist Alpina is considering special edition models to celebrate its 50th anniversary.
The company currently has high-performance variants of BMW’s lineup including the 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 Series as well as the X3. Despite not having a stamping or welding shop, or an assembly line, Alpina is listed by Germany’s vehicle certification agency as an automaker. Every Alpina model is currently built on BMW production lines with parts developed by the company’s 50 engineers.
It sells roughly 1,500 cars each year. Once the vehicles are built by BMW, they are sent to Alpina’s headquarters in Bavaria where they receive bespoke modification. The exception is the Alpina XD3 biturbo which is based on the X3 and built in the U.S. before it is shipped to Bavaria.
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Over the years, the high-performance Alpina models have separated themselves from BMW’s M offerings through a blend of performance and luxury. Every Alpina model sports an automatic transmission and softer suspension and brakes. BMW M models on the other hand, tend to be more focused on performance with stiffer suspensions for better handling and more lightweight components.
There haven’t been any official announcements yet, but
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Jason Siu began his career in automotive journalism in 2003 with Modified Magazine, a property previously held by VerticalScope. As the West Coast Editor, he played a pivotal role while also extending his expertise to Modified Luxury & Exotics and Modified Mustangs. Beyond his editorial work, Jason authored two notable Cartech books. His tenure at AutoGuide.com saw him immersed in the daily news cycle, yet his passion for hands-on evaluation led him to focus on testing and product reviews, offering well-rounded recommendations to AutoGuide readers. Currently, as the Content Director for VerticalScope, Jason spearheads the content strategy for an array of online publications, a role that has him at the helm of ensuring quality and consistency across the board.
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