alpina

2011 Geneva Motor Show: The Luxury Sedans & SUVs

Every year the Geneva Motor Show features a staggering array of new luxury sedans, estate wagons, crossovers and sport-utility vehicles on display. And this year's show, still ongoing at the Geneva Palexpo, has proven no exception.

Among the production and concept debuts in these diverse categories were new vehicles from Audi, BMW Alpina, Jaguar, Land Rover, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Rolls-Royce, Saab and Volvo, as well as the return of De Tomaso. Follow the jump to see what these European automakers had in store for us this year.

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Alpina Startimer Pilot Watches

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

The retro looking Startimer Pilot collection from Alpina will have three pieces including the pictured chronograph, a three-hand automatic, and a time with subsidiary date dial model. A little warning right off the bat, the pictured model with that style dial is really nice, but there is another model that seems to be floating around with hour and minute hands so stubby it seems to be a joke. Do yourself and the world a favor - friends don't let friend by watches with too-small hands.

At 44mm wide, the Startimer Pilots come in steel cases that are 100 meters water resistant and have sapphire crystals. I like the thin bezel that maximizes dial space. The little touch of red on the counterweight of the chronograph seconds hand is welcome. Using a bi-compax layout, the dials are classic looking but functional - while the chronograph doesn't significantly obscure reading of the dial. The sizable Arabic hour numerals feels functional and sound. Inside the watch are Swiss automatic movements, while the version with just the time and date has an in-house made Alpina/Frederique Constant movement. According to Alpina these Startimer Pilot watches are being made in partnership with plane makers Cessna and PrivatAir. Look for them at reasonable prices sometime this year. Each is said to be limited to 8,888 pieces.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch reviews site aBlogtoRead.com.

Tags: Alpina, Chronograph, Pilot, Startimer, Watch

BMW Alpina B5 Bi-Turbo

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

BMW has just produced the last example of its epically fast M5 super-sedan. A replacement is on its way, based on the new 5 Series but replacing the outgoing V10 with a new twin-turbo V8. Fans of high-performance BMWs needn't wait until the new M5 makes its debut, however, as the new Alpina B5 has just been released.

Alpina is one of those rare tuning houses that enjoys close cooperation with the factory, thereby bridging the gap from manufacturer to aftermarket, and their products are well known to Bimmerphiles. For the new B5, Alpina has fitted its 507-horsepower twin-turbo V8, mated to a specially-developed eight-speed transmission and complemented by an electronically-adjustable suspension riding on 20-inch wheels.

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Tags: alpina, alpina b5, alpina b5 bi-turbo, bmw, bmw 5 series, bmw alpina, bmw m5, m5

Alpina Avalanche Extreme Automatic Rose Gold Watch Hands-On

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

Popular in Europe but plausible for mass popularity here, Alpina is a fancy watch for X-Game goers and participators. The styles are actually what I consider subdued aggressive sport watch. What do I mean? Well, they are actually rather restrained in their designs compared to some of the competition. Catering greatly to European tastes, the watches are modern and "active" feeling, but lack the busy, trendy look that other pieces such as this can embody. Alpina retains traditional watch making values, but with a different face on. While some of their higher-end pieces can be an acquired taste this entry-level priced luxury watch is a good starter piece for the brand.

The Alpina Avalanche Extreme Automatic comes in steel and an 18k rose gold plated steel version (with a few different dial styles). While the watch isn't exactly the definition of "extreme" it does have its share of attractive qualities, and has a character that can grown on you. The large 48mm wide case (200 meters water resistant) has an attractive screwed in PVD black steel bezel and multi-texture dial. There is also a large crown with a sporty rubber ring around it. The black rubber strap with its textured surface is a good look as well. Inside the Avalanche Extreme watch is Swiss Sellita SW200 automatic movement - visible through the sapphire caseback window.

One thing which is purely cosmetic about the watch is the inner flange ring. While it does have some minute indicators on it, it looks like an inner rotating diver's bezel, but is not. It looks nice enough, but leaves me searching for a second crown to rotate it, but one isn't there. The steel versions of the watch are in the $1,500 range, while the pictured model is closer to $2,200.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

Tags: Alpina, Avalanche, Extreme, gold, Watch

Luxury Cars Converge from Near and Far on the 2010 New York Auto Show

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

What would an auto show be without an array of luxury and performance automobiles on display? While the Geneva salon last month held the greatest variety of vehicles targeted by European automakers especially at upscale buyers, the recently concluded New York Auto Show wasn't without its share as well.

This year's expo at the Javitz Center in Manhattan, our crew on the ground got a first had look at the latest from Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Cadillac, Lincoln, Acura and Infiniti, and even Hyundai. Each brought out its latest luxury sedans, wagons, crossovers and sport-utility vehicle. Follow the jump to see what they saw.

Tags: 2010 new york auto show, Acura, Acura TSX, Acura TSX Sport Wagon, Alpina, Aplina B7, BMW, BMW Alpina, BMW Alpina B7 xDrive, Cadillac, Cadillac CTS-V Sport Wagon, CTS, CTS-V, Equus, Hyundai, Infiniti, Infiniti QX56, javitz, javitz center, Lincoln, Lincoln MKZ, Lincoln MKZ Hybrid, Mercedes, Mercedes R-Class, Mercedes R350, Mercedes-Benz R-Class, Mercedes-Benz R350, new york, new york auto show, TSX

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Alpina Extreme Tourbillon Regulator Manufacture Watch

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

As a limited edition of just 36 pieces (18 of each version) Swiss Alpina will release this new Extreme Tourbillon Regulator Manufacture watch. What exactly is extreme about it? No idea. Perhaps use of the term "extreme" is extreme. Though I do know this watch stems from a long line of "extreme" Alpina watches. Unique in the world of tourbillon movements are regulator watches, which this timepiece is. This is all part of Alpina's own caliber AL-980 automatic tourbillon movement. It has got a silicium lever and escapement wheel in the movement - if that doesn't mean anything to you, don't worry. Though those are good talking points for a luxury watch. The watch will come in two versions. Each has a 48mm wide case. One comes with a brushed titanium case and a pink gold bezel, and the other with a black ceramic bezel and a pink gold case. On the dial you get the large minute style hour markers and skeletonized 'bubble baton' hands in brushed steel for an intended sporty look. The simple style is one of those looks that appears best while being worn. In such a limited edition, pieces like this exist in a large sense to promote Alpina's more reasonably priced timepieces.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

Gallery: Alpina Extreme Tourbillon Regulator Manufacture watch

Tags: Alpina, Extreme, limited edition, LimitedEdition, Manufacture, Regulator, Tourbillon, watch

BMW to Bring Alpina B7 Back to America in 2011

by Jeremy Korzeniewski (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

2011 Alpina B7 – Click above for high-res image gallery

If 400 horsepower isn't quite enough for your own personal BMW 7 Series sedan, consider your wish for even more power granted in the form of the Alpina B7. BMW has announced that the highest-performance version of its flagship sedan will be reintroduced here in the States in 2011 after being shown off next month at the Chicago Auto Show.

Under the car's shapely hood will be a 4.4-liter twin-turbocharged V8 engine putting out 500 horsepower and a massive 516 pound-feet of torque, which the automaker expects is enough to rocket the large car to 60 miles per hour in just 4.5 seconds.

A brand-new set of 21-inch, 20-spoke aluminum wheels wrapped in Michelin PS2 rubber along with a deeper front air dam and a rear decklid spoiler ought to help everything stay planted in the corners. Inside, you can expect the typical array of leather surfaces and wood accents. Stay tuned for pricing information closer to the car's official launch date.

Gallery: BMW Alpina B7

[Source: BMW]

Tags: alpina, Alpina B7, Alpina B7 Bi-Turbo, Alpina B7 Bi-Turbo LWB, alpina b7 biturbo, AlpinaB7, AlpinaB7Bi-turbo, AlpinaB7Bi-turboLwb, AlpinaB7Biturbo, bmw, bmw alpina, BMW Alpina B7, bmw alpina b7 bi-turbo, BmwAlpina, BmwAlpinaB7, BmwAlpinaB7Bi-turbo

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Alpina Avalanche Extreme Chrono Double Digit Watch

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

You know that when a watch model is comprised of this many words, the company behind it means business! New from Alpina is the Avalanche Extreme Chrono Double Digit watch, and name the obfuscates what is just a nice looking 30 minute chronograph watch. The Double Digit part of the moniker comes from the back that the hour indicators have been replaced with 5 minute indicators - a look popularized by certain aviator watches from the past. The idea is to make the watch dial appear more aligned with the fact that the minute hand is the one going over these markers. Usually this is combined with a smaller hour ring in the middle of the dial for the hour hand to follow - not here though.

The watches look pretty nice and sporty. You see the two versions that have a combination of steel and PVD coated steel on the 46mm wide cases. I like the large screws on the bezel as well. Sapphire crystals are placed on the the front and rear of the cases, which are 100 meters water resistant.

Movement is the Alpina caliber AL-850, which is a modified Swiss ETA automatic movement. In addition to the chronograph, there is an "open" date window. The version with the red subdials is the most stunning, but suffers from the thin skeletonized hour and minute hands which I imagine would be a pain to read. The all black PVD version has nice wide gray color hands that don't suffer from this problem. Probably a few thousand bucks, available soon.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

Tags: alpina, Avalanche Extreme Chrono Double Digit Watch, AvalancheExtremeChronoDoubleDigitWatch, chronograph, watch

Tokyo 2009: Alpina B7 Bi-Turbo Long Wheelbase

by Jonathon Ramsey (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

The Alpina B7 Bi-Turbo Long Wheelbase is for when merely long isn't long enough. There is already an Alpina B7 based on the normal wheelbase BMW 750i, and that car is 16.7 feet long -- but come now, what are you supposed to do with that? Curl up into the fetal position when you want to go somewhere? Take classes at Cirque du Soleil so you can contort yourself into a rear cabin that offers a meager 38.4 inches of rear legroom?

No. What you do is buy the long wheelbase version built on the 750Li. It adds six more inches in back so you can stretch out -- you know, live like a real person, not some frightened armadillo. Your discernment will be rewarded with Alpina's fettled version of BMW's 4.4-liter V8, adding a couple of turbos for 507 horsepower and 516 lb-ft. of torque. That gets you and your white whale sixty in 4.8 seconds, just 0.1 second longer than the guy in a regular wheelbase B7.

But it's not like either of you will notice: you'll be too busy trying to finalize your hostile takeover of Samoa, he'll be too busy trying to figure out how to extricate himself from his Lilliputian conveyance. Alpina hasn't announced pricing, but if you want one, here's our advice: bring a lot of money.

Gallery: Alpina B7 Bi-Turbo Long Wheelbase

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Tags: 7 series, 7Series, alpina, alpina b7, alpina b7 long wheelbase, AlpinaB7, AlpinaB7LongWheelbase, b7, b7 long wheelbase, B7LongWheelbase, bmw, bmw 7 series, Bmw7Series, tokyo motor show, TokyoMotorShow, wheels

BMW Alpina B7 Bi-Turbo debuts at Geneva Motor Show

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

BMW's M line of performance vehicles have earned a well-deserved reputation among enthusiasts as some of the best driving machines around, but the division's products currently extend only to the German automaker's nimbler offerings. Enter Alpina to fill in the gap with the new B7 Bi-Turbo. Based on the new flagship 7 Series sedan, the Alpina version upgrades with a revised twin-turbo V8 engine to drive 507 horsepower through a revised suspension with bigger wheels and a custom leather and wood interior. Prices have yet to be released, but are expected to reach comfortably into six figures. We stopped by the Geneva Motor Show to see it for ourselves and bring you the photographs in the gallery below.

Gallery: Geneva 2009: BMW Alpina B7 Bi-Turbo

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Tags: alpina, alpina b7, AlpinaB7, bmw, bmw 7, bmw alpina, bmw b7, bmw m7, Bmw7, BmwAlpina, BmwB7, BmwM7, geneva, geneva 2009, geneva motor show, Geneva2009, GenevaMotorShow

Alpina Extreme Tourbillon Regulator Watch With Manufacture Movement

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

Suddenly the skier's performance watch turns into an intense ultra luxury timepiece. Capturing the regulator design modern Alpina watches are fondly know for, the Extreme Tourbillon Regulator watch adds a manufacture developed tourbillon movement in this limited edition of 18 piece collection.

Titanium is the luxury material of choice this year. Last year it was ceramic. This watch combines them both in a well designed 48mm wide case with a tasteful industrial inspired face and popular black tones. The exclusive automatic AL-980 tourbillon movement makes use of silicon palettes as well as a silicon escapement wheel. A power reserve of 48 hours completes a movement fit for the sporty demeanor of this watch. Going along with trendy design choices, Alpina places bubbly skeletonized hands on the layered face. I find that the unique style of a tourbillon carriage window fits in well with the layout of a regulator style watch - where the tourbillon acts as the seconds indicator. With a price of well over $50,000 Alpina might be stretching the limits of its appeal to high-end buyers. Though with only 18 pieces it makes for good PR, and strengthens the credibility of the brand.

Ariel Adams publishes the watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

Tags: alpina, extreme, manufacture, regulator, timepiece, tourbillon, watch

The Classicist: Alpina Watches, from Alps to Ocean

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches, Sports, Men's Style, The Classicist

Alpina, the Geneva-based high precision sports watchmaker whose history dates back to 1883, has just introduced their very first underwater timepiece. The Alpina Extreme Diver 1000 Meters (above) employs similar technology and aesthetics as their line of mountain climbing watches such as the Avalanche Extreme Regulator, made for conquering the heights of the Swiss Alps. It's heritage however goes back much father.

From pocket watches, early wristwatches and timepieces commissioned for military use, Alpina, whose enthusiasts were known as "Alpinists," evolved its first sports watch, the steel Blockuhr, in 1933. This early model became the Alpina 4 in 1938. The "4" stood for the four major qualities of an Alpina sports watch: 1. Anti-magnetic, 2. Waterproof, 3. Anti-shock, and 4. Stainless steel. The sports watches were a tremendous success, and at its height in 1958 the company exhibited 1000 different models.

Gallery: Alpina Watches

Tags: Alpina, Alpina watches, AlpinaWatches, Swiss watch, SwissWatch

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Alpina Extreme R�gulateur 1883 Watch

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

Another watch in the big and rugged category is the Alpina Extreme Régulateur 1883. The watch has a black PVD coating which increases the scratch resistance of the stainless steel case. The mechanical movement is visible through a large sapphire crystal case back. The case is 48mm in diameter and secured with distinctive triangular screws. The watch has the trademark Alpina triangle pattern in the dial center. The dial features a recessed hour subdial at 10 o'clock, small seconds at 6 o'clock and red accents on the minute register and seconds subdial. The watch has a list price of $1,990. There is also a ladies Alpina in white with diamonds.

[via Time Zone]

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Tags: alpina, timepiece, watch, wristwatch

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