BMW Alpina B6

 

What‘s it?
Rumour has it the next big thing from Alpina is a six-cylinder, twin-turbo D3 which will live having a BMW M3 in an aligned line yet return greater than 50mpg simultaneously. However that car won’t be available until a great deal later inside the year, and inside the meantime Alpina has an entire choice of other new cars with which to tickle the fancies of enthusiasts wanting more exclusivity from their fast BMWs, starting using the car you observe here, the frankly monstrous new B6 Biturbo coupé. Everything in regards to the B6 is, shall we say, large. Beneath its bonnet sits a twin-turbo 4. 4-litre V8 that produces 532bhp between 5200 and 6250rpm and also a positively herculean 538lb ft at just 2800rpm. The gearbox is really a tweaked version from the eight-speed ZF automatic utilized in the regular 6-series, during this case enhanced by Alpina’s engineers to avoid upshifts in certain modes (and that is useful on the circuit, for instance ) and also to momentarily cut the flow of fuel and deliver a lovely burble between gearshifts consequently. The chassis has also been preened by Alpina to supply a wider choice of set-ups compared to the conventional BMW 6-series. So in Comfort mode the ride quality is softer than you fall into a normal BMW, during Sport and Sport Plus it’s another way around, using the electronic dampers sharpening in the driving experience to some level that no regular BMW driver would quite recognise.

A similar philosophy relates to the interior, during which you’ll discover a far higher quality of leather compared to a factory BMW, plus some dials and seats which are bespoke towards the B6. And when that’s not sufficient to distinguish the car, Alpina also offers a huge choice of options that enable B6 owners to personalise their cars to whatever specification they require – while spending a good deal of money simultaneously, in fact. What‘s it like? Outwardly, you are able to pick a B6 from lesser 6-series for a few reasons. Not just will it include Alpina’s big, beautiful 20in turbine alloys, but there’s also a brand new front splitter that reduces lift by around 10 per cent, says Alpina, while behind there’s a little new lip spoiler or, if you’re feeling flamboyant, an optional new tea-tray wing that will make more appropriately use from the redesigned rear diffuser. On an open road the B6 feels massively rapid, thanks mainly towards the torque it produces from seemingly any engine speed and in a gear. The way in which the transmission manages the flow of energy is truly epic, and it also gives the B6 a blend of smooth but monumental acceleration that no factory BMW, not even the M6, could aspire to replicate upon the move.

The exhaust note is rather delicious too, Alpina’s modifications gifting the B6 having a depth and choice of noises which are endlessly entertaining to hear. Regardless of the chassis modifications, the B6 always feels as a fairly big car upon the move. Its kerb weight of 1870kg means It‘s always visiting fight a losing battle against the forces of inertia that swell during rapid direction changes or, indeed, under braking. The steering is really a touch distant in its feedback, too, although front end always feels planted – as will the tail – if so when you aim the B6 with a high-speed corner with some enthusiasm. Should I buy one? Overall, the B6 is much more of the high-speed cruiser than it‘s a pure sports car, except for the type of customer who desires that little little more depth from their 6-series, it’s a lovely alternative towards the factory offerings. At £92, 850, it’s expensive, yes, but when ever a car felt worth that sort of cash, the Alpina B6 can it be. Alpina B6 BiturboPrice £92, 850 ; 0-62mph 4. 3sec ; Top speed 199mph (limited ) ; Economy 30. 0mpg (combined ) ; CO2 219g / km ; Kerb weight 1870kg (dry ) ; Engine V8, 4395cc, twin-turbo, petrol ; Power 532bhp at 5200-6250rpm ; Torque 538lb ft at 2800-5000rpm ; Gearbox 8-spd automatic Alpina B6 Biturbo first drive review