RSS_Auto_Poster
Well-known member
Alpina are masters of taking already fast BMWs and making them M-Division baiters. This new one promises to keep up the family tradition. It's the new Alpina B4 Bi-Turbo, and it's quick. Powerful, too.
We're talking 410bhp powerful, from the turbocharged 3.0-litre straight-six used in the old 335i. This is an excellent engine to start from. As such, it's been extensively re-engineered, including a switch from the single-turbo to a twin-turbo system for better throttle response. There's a helpful 443lb ft of torque too, which eclipses the BMW M4 Coupe's 405lb ft.
There's also a better cooling system and a new forged steel crankshaft, along with many other bespoke componentry. Together with a standard-fit eight-speed automatic gearbox, Alpina reckons it'll go from 0-62mph in 4.2 seconds (0.1s slower than the M4 Coupe), or 4.5s for the convertible B4 Bi-Turbo.
And if you live in countries where the steering wheel is on the wrong side (the left side), then you'll be able to buy a four-wheel-drive B4 Bi-Turbo, which will do the benchmark sprint in just four seconds flat. That's really quite quick for a small-ish coupe.
As we found out while driving the B3 Bi-Turbo last year, Alpina's upgrades aren't just a quick-fix tuning boost, but a suite of packages to make the car devastatingly quick - and devastatingly good - in the real world.
So this new B4 Bi-Turbo has been the subject of a two year development programme with 50 engineers working on the gearbox, cooling, body structure, wheels, tyres, aero, steering, suspension and interior.
It comes with Adaptive M Sport suspension as standard, along with leather, electric sports seats, Bi-Xenon headlights, luxury carpet overmats, hand-stitched leather for the instruments and steering wheel, some aero aids and a quad-pipe exhaust with ‘intelligent' acoustic valves. For that last one, read 'bloody loud when you want it to be'.
Naturally, you can still customize it to your wallet's content, though be warned because this pace and power comes with a price: £58,950 for the Coupe, or £62,950 for the convertible. The new BMW M4 Coupe with the auto ‘box, for reference, weighs in at £59,145.
Still, if it's as good as the B3 we drove, then it'll be an excellent thing...
The B4 Bi-Turbo will debut at next week's Goodwood Festival of Speed. Get yourself down there to check it out.
Written By:- Vijay Pattni
More of this article on the Top gear website
