Alpina B5 UK sales start

Following its debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed last month, Alpina’s UK concessionaires have confirmed that the first deliveries of the B5 Bi-Turbo will take place later this year.

The 5 Series-based B5 uses the same 4.4 litre V8 as the mainstream BMW 550i, but retuned turbochargers and a revised inlet set-up mean power is increased by 98 bhp (73 kW / 100 PS) to 500 bhp (372 kW / 507 PS), while maximum torque jumps by 100 Nm to a substantial 700 Nm.



Also like the 550i, and typically Alpina, the B5 has an eight-speed automatic transmission. 0-62 mph (100 km/h) acceleration takes 4.7 seconds, which is 0.3 seconds quicker than the BMW. Unlike the 550i though, the Alpina dispenses with an electronic speed limiter, allowing it to go up to 191 mph (307 km/h).



Combined fuel consumption for the B5 is 26.2 mpg (10.7 l/100km), while CO2 emissions are 252 g/km. By comparison, that’s not too different to the BMW 550i, which manages 27.2 mpg (10.4 l/100km) and 243 g/km.



Another Alpina trait is that ride comfort isn’t totally sacrificed in pursuit of better handling. To help achieve this, the B5’s 20” alloy wheels do without the standard car’s run-flat tyres, and the adjustable electronic dampers have also been specially reconfigured.



Whereas the previous generation BMW M5 had a bespoke V10 engine, it’s said that the next M5 will also use an adapted version of the 4.4 litre V8. That’s going to lead to some very direct comparisons between the BMW and Alpina. It can be assumed that the M5 will be more hardcore in terms of chassis set-up and choice of transmission but, until that car arrives, the B5 is the quickest 5 Series available which retains a full BMW warranty.



No word on price yet, but expect the Alpina B5 Bi-Turbo to cost around £70,000 in the UK. To put that into perspective BMW’s current 5 Series range-topper, the 550i M Sport, is £53,615.

Alpina B3 S Bi-Turbo

Considering getting a BMW M3? Well, there’s now an alternative: the B3 S Bi-Turbo from Alpina.

Unlike the M3, with its normally aspirated 4.0 litre V8 producing 414 bhp (309 kW / 420 PS), the Alpina uses a modified six cylinder turbo engine. Although the B3 S Bi-Turbo has slightly less power (394 bhp / 294 kW / 400 PS), its maximum 540 Nm of torque eclipses the 400 Nm of the M3.



Consequently the Alpina, which is only available with a six-speed automatic gearbox, is able to accelerate from 0-62 mph (100km/h) in 4.7 seconds. That’s pretty much the same as the 4.8 seconds a manual M3 takes, though the M3’s time falls by 0.2 seconds if the M Double Clutch Transmission - a £2,590 option - is specified.

Unless they’re frequent users of limit-free (and traffic-free) autobahns, top speed will be largely irrelevant to most prospective buyers. Nevertheless, it appears Alpina has dumped the electronic speed limiter, because the B3 S Bi-Turbo will go on to 186 mph (300 km/h), whereas the M3 is restricted to 155 mph (250 km/h).



It’s unlikely that performance cars like these are ever going to have massive appeal for environmentalists, but the Alpina’s green credentials are certainly better than the M3’s. The B3 S Bi-Turbo will do 29.4 mpg (9.6 l/100 km) on the combined cycle, compared to the 22.8 mpg (12.4 l/100 km) an M3 will achieve.

But it’s on emissions levels that the B3 S Bi-Turbo really wins, releasing ‘only’ 224 g/km of carbon dioxide. That’s almost a quarter less than the 290 g/km the M3 produces and, although arguably still high, it’ll have a direct financial benefit for UK customers.



That’s because the Alpina will just slot into ‘Band K’ for road tax purposes, meaning an annual bill of £245. An M3 driver however will have to pay £435 each year for the privilege of keeping their ‘Band M’ car on the road. That’s a saving roughly equivalent to a couple of tanks of fuel.

The Alpina’s on the road prices also manage to be around £2,500 cheaper than an M3, depending on body style, and it’s also available as a Touring version:

• B3 S Bi-Turbo: Coupe £50,250; Convertible £55,250; Saloon £49,250; Touring £50,250


• M3: Coupe £53,275; Convertible £57,285; Saloon £51,805

Specification-wise, both models are broadly similar. One difference is that Bluetooth telephone preparation comes as standard with the B3 S Bi-Turbo, but is a £535 option on the M3.

Buyers of the Alpina can choose from the standard range of BMW metallic paints and Dakota leather trims (albeit with Alpina roundels in the seat backs), or they can opt for BMW Individual colours and trims.



Alternatively, Alpina’s Exclusive Blue or Exclusive Green II metallic paintwork (as shown in the pictures)  is available for £1,535 extra. On the inside, Alpina ‘Lavalina’ leather re-trim packages cost from £3,065 to £7,665.

Customers might be tempted by those special paints and trims, because one area where the B3 S Bi-Turbo maybe lags behind is visual appeal. It looks like a normal 3 Series fitted with a front spoiler, revised rear valance and some body stripes, because that’s essentially what it is. There’s none of the bespoke body panels and, for the Coupe versions at least, carbon-fibre roof of the M3.



So, depending on your taste, the Alpina either lacks impact or is elegantly understated. And there’s also the potential issue of constantly having to explain to the ignorant what an Alpina is. One thing’s for sure though, whatever you think of those 20-spoke, 19” alloy wheels, they’ll be a pain to keep clean.

UK deliveries of the B3 S Bi-Turbo start in July 2010.