Alpina will reveal a pair of high-performance machines to whet the appetites of both road and track enthusiasts when the curtain rises at the Geneva motorshow tomorrow.
First up is the 2009 BMW Alpina B7 Bi-Turbo, a new uber-sedan for drivers needing something a little more spacious than BMW’s own M5.
With its twin-turbocharged 4.4-litre V8 making 507bhp and 516lb ft of torque, Alpina promises gut-wrenching performance, with a 0-60mph time of 4.7 secs and an electronically limited 173mph maximum. As the picture shows, B7 Bi-Turbo buyers will also get a number of body styling mods that tastefully reflect the car’s aggressive intentions. There are no details available yet of chassis upgrades, but we don’t need a crystal ball to tell you bigger brakes and a sports-orientated suspension set-up will be part of the package. We would need a crystal ball to tell you the price – one of the key details Alpina is saving for its show launch.
The B7 will be battling for attention with the B6 GT3 racing car, a machine Alpina hopes will reconnect its brand with circuit success. Big in tin-tops in the 1970s when it won three European Touring Car Championships, as well as the 24 endurance races at Nürburgring and Spa, Alpina has been resting on its competition laurels ever since.
Not any more – the B6 GT3 that will be unveiled tomorrow is expected to pack a mighty 530bhp version of BMW’s 4.4 V8, which Alpina says will be plenty for its new factory team to go picking fights with ‘pure-bred’ sportscars such as Ferrari, Aston and Lamborghini.
Anyone with deep enough pockets will be able to join the fun: ‘Much like in the 1970s, Alpina will sell the B6 GT3 to private parties, collectors and race teams,’ the company says.