History of the ALPINA wheel design
4 x 5 = 20
It has been around for over 50 years but has not aged at all: the ALPINA 20-spoke wheel design has become a true iconic hallmark. This is a brief historical overview of the rich tradition of ALPINA wheels.
1968: the Green Light from Munich
By the time Porsche presented the Fuchs wheel design together with the 911 S in 1966, the international trend towards sporty light alloy wheels had also reached Germany’s automobile manufacturers. In 1968, the first light alloy wheels found their way to Munich in the form of the FPS aluminium wheels of the large BMW 2800 CS coupé. This was the starting signal for ALPINA! Founder Burkard Bovensiepen sensed an intriguing business opportunity and decided special wheels were needed for the powerful BMW ALPINA automobiles. At this time, the ALPINA accessories programme already included Borrani spoked wheels and British Minilite ELECTRON wheels. This represented a genuine alternative for customers, since BMW only offered a single wheel and tyre combination for each model back then. However, it did not develop into a major commercial success, mainly because aftermarket wheels could be found in every accessories and tuning shop up and down the country. It became clear that by contrast and to stand out from the crowd, an ALPINA light alloy wheel needed to be exclusive, beautiful and technologically advanced. It also needed to be innovative and unique.
4 x 5 = 20
Burkard Bovensiepen was very adamant: a light alloy wheel has to live up to its name and only makes sense if it is truly lightweight. Consequently, only one design was worthy of consideration: the multi-spoked wheel. The technological challenge was that the forces needed to be distributed evenly onto the rim well. To this end, at least five spokes were required. However, most wheels at the time were unfortunately fastened with four wheel nuts and that simply did not suit the 5-spoke design. BMW then made things even more complicated – with four or five holes for the various BMW Series. This sparked an ingenious idea in Bovensiepen’s mind: his wheel would have 4 x 5 spokes, i.e. 20, so that both designs would optimally distribute the forces within the construction. This resulted in an exceptionally sleek, and therefore light, starburst-shaped rim design. A wheel design, that had never been seen anywhere in the world before.
1970: the Beginning of an Odyssey
It is often the case that great ideas take root in the midst of an odyssey. In July 1970, Alois Wiesinger left Opel, at the time Germany’s second largest automobile manufacturer, to join ALPINA’s motorsport department in Buchloe. However, his first task there did not initially seem particularly earth-shattering. “Our racing wheels break”, Bovensiepen informed him. Given the state of technology at the time, the ALPINA design was a real challenge for any foundry. Every second wheel had to be scrapped, as shrinkage cavities kept occurring. After numerous trial production runs failed, Wiesinger adopted a makeshift solution: once the magnesium-alloy starburst-shaped rims had been cast into sand (which was still performed by hand in those days), he removed a small amount of sand from the mould between every second spoke, thus creating a material build-up or connection between two spokes. This was the breakthrough!
However, development never stands still and Alois Wiesinger continued his research into the details of the construction, rounding off joints and opting for a conical spoke profile to achieve an improved flow of metal into the mould and a better distribution of forces. Nevertheless, the underlying design concept remained unaltered: 20 sleek spokes with a matt black recessed centre that deliberately allowed the chrome wheel nuts and the chrome hub cover with the ALPINA logo to take centre stage. In 1971, ALPINA light alloy wheels measuring 13" and 14” and available in various width starting from 5.5” became part of the ALPINA accessories programme.
1971: Official Recognition from Munich
A classic was born when, in 1971, BMW approved the ALPINA wheel design to be used as the standard factory fitted wheels on the famous BMW and ALPINA collaboration, the BMW 3.0 CSL. By mid-1975, Burkard Bovensiepen KG had delivered around 12,000 units in the standard dimensions of 7 x 14” to BMW, and, by virtue of the friendly relationship with ALPINA, BMW was able to begin its own production of 6 x 14” wheels on a massive scale. With such a boost from BMW, the 20-spoke wheel achieved iconic status. BMW retained the ALPINA design for the then new 3 Series (E21), although it watered down the design in the process of updating the model range. ALPINA, on the other hand, remains true to its CLASSIC wheel to this day. Whether forged or cast, the design is timeless and has become an iconic hallmark and identifying feature of ALPINA.
The Measure of all Things
In 1990, the BMW ALPINA B12 Coupé caused a stir with spectacular 18” wheels. Five years later, the ALPINA wheel in the B12 5.7 Saloon became the first wheel in the world to have the incredible diameter of 20”. Wiesinger continued to further develop the ALPINA wheel and perfect its shape. The lockable wheel hub, which covered the wheel nuts and made the wheel look even larger, was introduced in 1983 to provide anti-theft protection. In 1995, the air valve was then also integrated into a spoke and concealed in the covered hub area. A very complex solution in terms of design, construction and production! Detail by detail, the ALPINA 20-spoke wheel was technologically refined.
5 x 4 = 20
At the turn of the millennium, BMW’s “car guy” Dr. Reitzle wanted to have an ALPINA version of the BMW X5. The existing 20-spoke design did not quite seem to fit with the new SUV model. Various design proposals were drawn up but were all rejected by Burkard Bovensiepen: “Nothing beats our 20 spokes!” He would need a good reason to grant his approval for the DYNAMIC design which was favoured for the SUV model. “The 20 spokes are still there, only here they are arranged in a star shape in five rays of four spokes”, countered Wiesinger. And thus the second ALPINA wheel design was conceived.
Interested in learning more about the development process of the ALPINA wheel? Wheel expert Daan Klabbers provides exclusive insights into the ALPINA development centre.