Thursday 10th October 2013

Alpina D3 Bi-Turbo spec confirmed

Available now, and under £50K too. Form an orderly queue...

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We shouldn't be this excited about what is ostensibly a diesel 3 Series. But then that's really doing the Alpina D3 Bi-Turbo a disservice, isn't it? What it may actually be is the most desirable car in the motoring writer's favourite place, The Real World.

Saloon is nice, but you want the Touring, right?

We've speculated on the D3 previously, but today comes the official spec detail from Alpina. The 350hp, 516lb ft, 139g/km and 53.2mpg we're familiar with, but there are some very exciting additional numbers from Alpina today. The official 0-62mph time is 4.6 seconds, and prices have been confirmed too: £46,950 for the saloon, £49,950 for the Touring.

As with the B3 Bi-Turbo, a few trademark Alpina accoutrements distinguish the D3. 'Subtle aerodynamic enhancements' include new bumpers and side skirts, there are four exhaust pipes and, of course, those 19-inch multispoke alloy wheels.

The interior receives the familiar Alpina upgrades; a build number plaque, blue instruments displays, a smattering of logos and hand-stitched Lavalina leather.

That fuel gauge will stay full with 53.2mpg!

The ZF eight-speed auto is standard, and Alpina will have worked its magic on the Adaptive M Sport suspension again also. 'Alpina Green' is one of the striking signature colours, although we'd probably stick with blue.

Both versions of the world's fastest diesel production car (Alpina's words, not ours) are available now. We were scratching our heads trying to find a comparable car to the D3, but there is something; take one Mercedes C350 CDI and treat it to a few hours at Brabus and its D6 S package. 265hp and 457lb ft are massaged to 313hp and 509lb ft, which should keep the Alpina in sight. That's £2,326.80 fitted, which would make a Brabused C350 saloon £38,371.80. It's another option, certainly.

Finally, another (sort of) valid stat amongst the power and performance; a 22 per cent Benefit-in-Kind rate means a D3 saloon driver in the 40 per cent tax bracket would pay just £344.66 a month. PistonHeads. MPG matters...

[WMP]

Brilliant cars, but a lotta monies....

If I win the lottery I'll get one in a heartbeat, until then I'll stick with my boringly competent 320D!

[theholygrail]

I'm not really a fan of BMWs or diesels but that green Touring does look good and would no doubt be an amazing real world proposition. The performance/economy that can be had from diesels these days is just staggering. I do love the Alpina detailing too although I realise it's not to everyone's taste. Just the right side of blingy! I also very much approve of their approach to ride comfort. Showing my age....

[Escort Si-130]

Looks very nice in that green

[HorneyMX5]

Got my eye on a early MonoTurbo E90 D3 saloon as my next daily in 2014. Love these things, best oil burner money can buy.

[thiscocks]

nice cars but wheels are too big. Bet they ride like a ballbag

[rtz62]

thiscocks said:

nice cars but wheels are too big. Bet they ride like a ballbag

The mind boggles at how you might know this, bahahahah!

[thiscocks]

rtz62 said:

thiscocks said:

nice cars but wheels are too big. Bet they ride like a ballbag

The mind boggles at how you might know this, bahahahah!

lol, pure guess, I promise

[vescaegg]

Those figures (if the MPG one is even remotely achievable) are witchcraft.

[burwoodman]

I think the username suggests an expert in this field ;o)

[HorneyMX5]

thiscocks said:

nice cars but wheels are too big. Bet they ride like a ballbag

Normally quite the opposite. Alpina's tend to be praised as much better suited to UK roads than BMW's own quick offerings.

[Prawnboy]

WMP said:

Brilliant cars, but a lotta monies....

If I win the lottery I'll get one in a heartbeat, until then I'll stick with my boringly competent 320D!

if you won the lottery MPG would still choose your car?

dude, dream bigger.

[Davey S2]

Prawnboy said:

WMP said:

Brilliant cars, but a lotta monies....

If I win the lottery I'll get one in a heartbeat, until then I'll stick with my boringly competent 320D!

if you won the lottery MPG would still choose your car?

dude, dream bigger.

I'd buy a Lambo LM2002

[yellowstreak]

Just staggering numbers.

[Spoof]

HorneyMX5 said:

thiscocks said:

nice cars but wheels are too big. Bet they ride like a ballbag

Normally quite the opposite. Alpina's tend to be praised as much better suited to UK roads than BMW's own quick offerings.

Indeed, my old D3 on its drug dealer wheels and rubber band tyres rode far better than my 535d MSport does, even now I've ditched the run flats. The Alpina suspension was one of the best bits of the car.

[Usget]

It won't *actually* do 53mpg though, will it. I mean, according to BMW my 120D does 63mpg.

Not unless it's being towed it doesn't.

Still, even if these do 40mpg in the real world, that's a great blend of performance and economy. I wonder if they've managed to make it sound half decent through the quad exhausts?

[Benjaminbopper]

Not sure the references to real world and the like are acceptable, I'd argue that most of the population don't have £50,000 to spend on a car.

Furthermore if spending £50k on a car, cash is clearly not a major issue so diesel mpg benefits are semi irrelevant - wouldn't you just buy the petrol version instead?

The previous generation based on the 320d was more aligned with the ethos of this article.

[WCZ]

NV was genuinely going to order one of these, not at 50k though.

[yellowstreak]

Benjaminbopper said:

Not sure the references to real world and the like are acceptable, I'd argue that most of the population don't have £50,000 to spend on a car.

Furthermore if spending £50k on a car, cash is clearly not a major issue so diesel mpg benefits are semi irrelevant - wouldn't you just buy the petrol version instead?

The previous generation based on the 320d was more aligned with the ethos of this article.

There are a lot of people with that sort of company car budget though and the MPG figures have a direct impact on the tax they will pay. Isn't that what the last sentences of the article are getting at?

[BeirutTaxi]

Torque figures stated without revs again... Therefore somewhat irrelvant and misleading!

[Roma101]

Usget said:

It won't *actually* do 53mpg though, will it. I mean, according to BMW my 120D does 63mpg.

Not unless it's being towed it doesn't.

Still, even if these do 40mpg in the real world, that's a great blend of performance and economy. I wonder if they've managed to make it sound half decent through the quad exhausts?

It will. But only if, for example, you do a steady 60mph.