Monday 24th October 2016

New Alpina B5 spy shots

Both models are now testing at the 'ring so what'll it be - saloon or Touring?

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Having now been treated - if that's the right word - to every last detail on the new BMW 5 Series, these latest spy shots of the Alpina B5 can be approached with a little more knowledge and insight. Which is handy.

With the new construction methods of this G30 5 Series, the next Alpina models should be lighter than those they replace - very good news as the old cars were approaching two tonnes. Having seen the standard car we can have a better idea of what the B5 will look like as well; expect that mini 7 Series aesthetic to receive a mild bodykit, a few Alpina details and - fingers crossed - the traditional multispoke wheels also. Moreover, we now know that next year's M550i xDrive will have 462hp, 479lb ft and a 0-62mph time of four seconds flat, something you would expect the Alpina to improve upon. Like the M Performance car, the B5 will use BMW's 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 engine. Inevitably comparisons will be made to the similarly configured 4.0-litre in the upcoming Mercedes-AMG E63, so it will be interesting to see what improvements have been made from that engine's use in the outgoing M5.

What can we tell from these new images? Predictably the Alpina seems to ride a little lower than the standard 5 Series, with larger wheels and bigger brakes hinting at the sporting potential. With 200mph on the cars being able to stop has to be a priority! Note as well the slightly more prominent front splitter.

Interestingly Autocar has suggested the Touring may not make it to the UK, which would seem an odd move given BMW is unlikely to make an M5 Touring and competitors like the Audi RS6 and Mercedes E63 are popular as wagons. Let's see.

As for availability, the Alpina derivatives tend to arrive before the M flagship. Expect to see both next year, with a Geneva debut for the B5 likely. Fingers crossed for a green with gold show car!

Images: S.B. Medien
[Source: Autocar]

[Aaron_W]

I don't get the M550I, with those numbers it can't be far off the new M5, so why would anyone spend extra for the M5?

[hornetrider]

Aaron_W said:

I don't get the M550I, with those numbers it can't be far off the new M5, so why would anyone spend extra for the M5?

Because the engine will be of completely different character, as will the chassis set up. And the M car will be rear wheel drive.

[School boy]

Always like Alpinas. Maybe just because they are a bit different but they put serious engineering in, not like your average 'tuner' who does a body kit and interior and wants double the asking price.
As for which one? Got to be the Touring.

[jet_noise]

Teeth itching wheel choice!

[Dave Hedgehog]

how many aplina's are actually purchased in the UK?

i think i have seen one in the last 10 years

[Aaron_W]

hornetrider said:

Because the engine will be of completely different character, as will the chassis set up. And the M car will be rear wheel drive.

It must be one hell of an engine/gearbox mix if they can beat an RS6 to 60 without 4wd.

[tankplanker]

Dave Hedgehog said:

how many aplina's are actually purchased in the UK?

i think i have seen one in the last 10 years

Not very many petrols, when I last looked they'd sold 3 B3s in 2 years? I did see a newish D3 in red yesterday and a B3 in dark green about a month ago, but those are the first in a long time.

Can you get the current B5 as an estate in the UK? When I checked you could only get it as a D5?

[kambites]

I get the feeling Alpina's USP doesn't really work in the UK market where buyers tend to judge cars primarily on their spec sheets. Obviously they aren't slow, but their main appeal seems to be in that final degree of setup quality that mainstream cars can't match.

[skidskid]

kambites said:

I get the feeling Alpina's USP doesn't really work in the UK market where buyers tend to judge cars primarily on their spec sheets. Obviously they aren't slow, but their main appeal seems to be in that final degree of setup quality that mainstream cars can't match.

Thats bang on. Its not something you can define unless you drive one, it doesnt come across on paper.

[JohnGoodridge]

Reports all point to a 4wd G30 M5. Too much torque for road tyres.

[Huff]

kambites said:

I get the feeling Alpina's USP doesn't really work in the UK market where buyers tend to judge cars primarily on their spec sheets. Obviously they aren't slow, but their main appeal seems to be in that final degree of setup quality that mainstream cars can't match.

That is it, exactly.

[hornetrider]

skidskid said:

kambites said:

I get the feeling Alpina's USP doesn't really work in the UK market where buyers tend to judge cars primarily on their spec sheets. Obviously they aren't slow, but their main appeal seems to be in that final degree of setup quality that mainstream cars can't match.

Thats bang on. Its not something you can define unless you drive one, it doesnt come across on paper.

I think you'd see many more if they were discounted to BMW levels (20%+ from RRP).

I think they are a genuine alternative to BMW, however not at a 20-25% price premium. Hence the low production numbers.

[tankplanker]

kambites said:

I get the feeling Alpina's USP doesn't really work in the UK market where buyers tend to judge cars primarily on their spec sheets. Obviously they aren't slow, but their main appeal seems to be in that final degree of setup quality that mainstream cars can't match.

Agreed, but try getting a demo in a brand new petrol Alpina in the UK, not the most easy of things.

[Burnham]

tankplanker said:

Dave Hedgehog said:

how many aplina's are actually purchased in the UK?

i think i have seen one in the last 10 years

Not very many petrols, when I last looked they'd sold 3 B3s in 2 years? I did see a newish D3 in red yesterday and a B3 in dark green about a month ago, but those are the first in a long time.

Can you get the current B5 as an estate in the UK? When I checked you could only get it as a D5?

Total UK Annual BMW ALPINA production:

2011: 135
2012: 54
2013: 50
2014: 140
2015: 78

[gigglebug]

Burnham said:

Total UK Annual BMW ALPINA production:

2011: 135
2012: 54
2013: 50
2014: 140
2015: 78

I don't suppose you have figures for Alpina's overall production for the same periods do you? How larger market are we for them?

The alternative choice always appeals to me as oppose to the obvious ones and so does quality engineering so I've a lot of time for Alpina.

[Fun Bus]

tankplanker said:

Can you get the current B5 as an estate in the UK? When I checked you could only get it as a D5?

Yes, 6 came in to the UK compared with 14 D5s.

[Fun Bus]

gigglebug said:

Burnham said:

Total UK Annual BMW ALPINA production:

2011: 135
2012: 54
2013: 50
2014: 140
2015: 78

I don't suppose you have figures for Alpina's overall production for the same periods do you? How larger market are we for them?.

Since 1993, 2,816 Alpinas came to the UK out of total of 10,829 globally. So 26%.

[belleair302]

Touring with a 4 wheel drive option for winter adventures over at the ski chalet in Verbier, please.

[E24man]

Production of the petrol engined Alpina 5 Series in rhd Touring has never been big except perhaps for the Tourings of the 1997 to 2003 E39 era.

Rhd Alpina Touring cars in the UK*;

E34 B10 3.0 AllRad, 0 cars.
E34 B10 4.0, 0 cars.
E34 B10 4.6, 1 car.
E39 B10 3.2, 5 cars
E39 B10 3.3, 19 cars
E39 B10 V8, 12 cars
E39 B10 V8S, 4 cars
E61 B5, 4 cars
E61 B5S, 1 car
F11 B5 BiTurbo, 6 cars

Edit to add; There aren't many petrol engined 3 Series Alpina Tourings in rhd either....

E36 B3 3.0, 0 cars
E36 B3 3.2, 5 cars
E46 B3 3.3, 9 cars
E46 B3S, 8 cars
E91 B3 BiTurbo, 2 cars
F31 B3 BiTurbo, 3 cars


(*There may still be an odd one or two rhd cars lurking in the Japanese market.)

Edited by E24man on Tuesday 25th October 07:27

[Guvernator]

I think the Alpina isn't as relevant as it used to be unfortunately. Alpina to me always represented the dare I say it, slightly softer choice for BMW fans who liked their cars with a bit more oomph. Auto gearbox, slightly more compliant ride, it was more tuned for carrying you intercontinental distances in speed and comfort as opposed to M divisions more hardcore version.

However BMW now offer both a 550i and indeed full fat M cars that have arguably become softer over the last generation or so, encroaching into Alpina's space so where does that leave them?