Matt Russell, the ALPINA North American Representative, honors his role as a steward of their reputation for meticulously elevating BMW engineering. Matt being just the third person entrusted with this significant position, remains a key figure. Since June 2019, he'd been central to their presence, his history with the German marque stretching back to a BMW North America internship in 2000. He navigated various roles within BMW for the subsequent 11 years, followed by a stint at Global Division of Cadillac, ultimately drew him back to ALPINA, driven by a deep respect for Andreas Bovensiepen's vision.
Russell offered a glimpse into the meticulous process that ALPINA applies, focusing on the 2023 BMW ALPINA B8 Gran Coupe 850i (G16). The B8 Gran Coupe, he explained, underwent a unique finishing process. After completing about 75 percent of the build in the BMW factory, it then journeyed to the ALPINA factory for two weeks in the hands of skilled artisans’ to be hand-finished. The dedication that ALPINA showed is evident to the very core of the vehicle; the cooling system in the B8 Gran Coupe boasted a remarkable 45 percent higher capacity than its standard Gran Coupe counterpart. This painstaking attention to detail ensured the uncompromising quality of every ALPINA vehicle. As a final touch, the technicians performed extra white glove testing of all components before the meticulously crafted machine was returned to its eager client.
This particular B8 served as a demonstrator, showcasing ALPINA ingenuity, artistry, and design, to BMW dealerships. Its Frozen Tanzanite Blue Metallic paint and Fiona Red leather interior made it a one-of-a-kind B8 Gran Coupe with that specific color combination. Russell used it for product training and short test drives he called "the ALPINA first mile". Within that brief experience, he often witnessed a driver's first genuine understanding of the unique character of each ALPINA. Despite a limited annual production of around 2000 vehicles, including their SAVs, ALPINA has maintained an exclusive appeal, attracting a clientele who typically conducted extensive research before purchase.