Alpina formulates worst-case strategy for WLTP

German prestige brand Alpina has implemented a work-around to reduce delays in vehicle delivery due to the newly introduced WLTP real-world economy and emissions testing protocol.

Homologation for the new testing regime has created a logjam for many European car companies and has resulted in protracted delivery times for prestige vehicles shipped to Australia. The problem is known to have affected Volkswagen's global sales and shipping of Volvo, Jaguar Land Rover and Audi models.

In essence, every variant of a model line that weighs more than other variants must be tested separately and certified in accordance with the WLTP standard. So customers who order a car normally fitted with 20-inch alloys but specify optional 22-inch wheels and an optional sunroof will have to wait while that particular variant type is subject to testing and type approval.

The regulatory authorities responsible for processing the paperwork in Europe have been snowed under and shipment of the specific variants have been held up by the bureaucratic paperchase.

According to Alpina boss Andreas Bovensiepen, the German authorities have been told to dot every ‘i’ and cross every ‘t’ for the implementation of WLTP in the wake of Volkswagen’s “Dieselgate” scandal.

But Bovensiepen – out here for the launch of the Alpina B5 Touring – says that his company has bitten the bullet and is only certifying one variant for each model line. This has to be the heaviest variant available, with every possible option fitted, which means that WLTP – a real-world test standard – is not only a closer measure to reality than the former NEDC protocol, but in the case of Alpina models it may actually be too conservative.

Alpina, a low-volume manufacturer with few natural predators in the automotive jungle, can afford for its cars to be perceived as slightly heavy on the juice. The important point from the manufacturer's perspective is that shipment of its cars need not be delayed by red tape. Asked whether there was a problem with applying the one set of figures for all variants in a model line, Bovensiepen explained that the authorities were happy to accept 'heavy-variant' figures for lighter cars.

“They don’t care if it’s lighter,” Bovensiepen replied. As long as the individual variant weighs no more than the approved weight, its fuel consumption and CO2 emissions should at least improve on the official, WLTP-derived figures – in theory at least.