First Alpina BMW: The Birth of a Performance Legend

Before Alpina became synonymous with precision tuning, the first Alpina BMW emerged as a bold statement in automotive excellence—blending BMW’s engineering with Alpina’s relentless pursuit of performance.

In 1985, Alpina GmbH introduced its first modified BMW—specifically a 3.0 CSL—transforming it into the first Alpina BMW. This collaboration wasn’t just about horsepower; it was about refining handling, aerodynamics, and drivetrain precision, setting a new benchmark for BMW’s high-performance lineage.

The first Alpina BMW featured a 3.5-liter M30B20 engine tuned to deliver over 286 horsepower, a significant leap from the stock CSL. This upgrade, paired with advanced suspension tuning and improved cooling, enhanced both track capability and road comfort—proving Alpina’s mastery in balancing power with precision.

This pioneering model laid the foundation for Alpina’s future projects, establishing a blueprint for future masterpieces. From the E30 to today’s F90, each Alpina BMW builds on that original vision: engineering excellence fused with uncompromising performance.

The first Alpina BMW wasn’t just a car—it was the beginning of a legacy. Its innovative spirit continues to inspire enthusiasts and engineers alike. Discover how this milestone shaped automotive performance and discover Alpina’s ongoing journey of perfection.

Alpina is a high-end luxury automobile brand by BMW. Alpina originally started as an automobile manufacturing company named Alpina Burkard Bovensiepen, based in Buchloe, in the Ostallgäu district of Bavaria, Germany that develops and sells high-performance versions of BMW cars. The company was officially renamed BMW Alpina in 2025.

[citation needed] Alpina works closely with BMW and their. The Alpina B6 2.8 is widely regarded as the first true Alpina automobile, not simply a modified BMW, but a car with its own engineering identity. That shift became official in 1983 when the German Federal Motor Transport Authority recognized Alpina as an independent automobile manufacturer.

It's been 60 years since the founding of BMW tuner Alpina. Here are six of the best Alpinas from the last six decades. The First Alpina Under BMW is Coming Soon BMW Blog reports that Alpina's first car under BMW's wing will be based on the 7 Series.

If so, it could mark the return of the B7. Fast forward to 2026, BMW's first in-house Alpina model will be a BMW 7 Series -based B7-type flagship, expected to arrive with the 2026 update featuring a V8 under the hood and equipment that. As ALPINA becomes BMW ALPINA on January 1, 2026, we celebrate the greatest cars from 61 years of independence: B10 Bi-Turbo, B7 Turbo, and more legends.

As of 2026, Alpina is now BMW Alpina. But what exactly does that mean for the brand? We take a closer look. The Alpina B6 GT3 race car called debuted in 2009 and upgraded in 2011.

The first vehicles that Alpina built as a manufacturer were the Alpina B6, the Alpina C1 (both based on the first 3 Series, the BMW E21) and the Alpina B7 Turbo (based on the 5 Series BMW E12 and later the 6 Series E24 and the new 5 Series E28). Alpina cars had several distinctive features: 20 spoke alloy wheels, 'Alpina Blue' metallic paint and luxurious interiors. An early example was the Alpina C1, based on the BMW E21 3.

The model was called the B6 2.8/2, and it was the first in a series of Alpina offerings based on the most potent non.