Monday 9th September 2013

Alpina D3 Bi-Turbo official

Another contender for 'the only car you'll ever need' from Alpina

---

In a very rare case of speculating correctly, it seems our recent story on the Alpina D3 Bi-Turbo was largely accurate. A release ahead of the car's Frankfurt debut has confirmed the details and added a couple of bits of new information.

PH Estate of the Year 2013?

So with the 350hp and 516lb ft that we knew about, there are some frankly astonishing economy and emissions figures; to put 53.2mpg and 139g/km into context, that's 1mpg better and 4g/km less than the Alpina D3 of 2009. That car had a twin-turbo four cylinder diesel and 214hp. Amazing.

Better still, as Alpina doesn't use speed limiters, the latest D3 is capable of 173mph. And it will be available as a Touring also, which must be the bodystyle of choice.

The rest of the D3 package is familiar Alpina; the multispoke 'Alpina Classic' wheels, a subtle bodykit and some added luxury inside. The LSD might be a worthwhile tick on the options list with 516lb ft also. With an LSD, the D3 will be capable of the sort of silliness Chris Harris indulged in with a B3 recently.

As yet, we don't have a price from Alpina for the D3 Bi-Turbo. Given the petrol car starts at £54,950, we'd have to assume a figure in that ballpark or maybe slightly less. This opens space, presumably, for a cheaper four cylinder variant at some point. Given the E90 D3 was Alpina's most popular model with over 2,000 cars sold, the business case is clearly there for a £30K diesel Alpina.

 

[mrclav]

That estate is lovely.

[Friggatron]

Ditto that, that estate is a honey.

[0a]

That looks so much nicer than that BMW version. Those statistics are outrageous as well!

[Krikkit]

Why do Alpina never show their cars with pinstripes any more? Vital accessory on them imo!

[Axionknight]

Take the badges off, aswell as those alloys for something a bit less sublte (don't like them personally_ and upset away!

That estate, mmmm.

[Tomatogti]

Yeah love that estate - presume you can get slightly smaller wheels (maybe 18" - those look like 19" or maybe even 20").

[4a4]

I do like the Alpina Classic wheels, but slightly smaller / more monobloc OE approach would really compound the Q-Car status that this car could achieve.
How many torquez?!?
SO MUCH WANTS

[David87]

Perfect, except I'd want to be able to choose between 4WD and RWD in the UK.

[R66STU]

no offence meant here at all so please dont jump on the defensive straight away.. but please can someone tell me why there is such a following and liking for estates/spotbacks/tourers/shoooting breaks etc.. ? i am intrigued to know if it is because of the practicality or style.. or possibly something else..

i think as i am getting older the practicality side is starting to make more sense..

[VeeDub Geezer]

I love the general look of the Alpina saloons and tourings but I have to say I dont like their modern interpretation on the classic wheel.

Much prefer the E90 ones...

[sleep envy]

Debadged, destriped touring in dull met grey please.

[zebedee]

what mpg does the old one get, compared with what it is said to do?

Official figures are almost completely meaningless (not to say the cause of a whole raft of pointless technologies (and cars) and the death of the manual gearbox just to get it to pass the stupid meaningless official test). I am intrigued as to what these cars will actually do though.

[DibblyDobbler]

350Bhp and 50+ mpg

That is a truly incredible combination! My Mrs has got a VW Up which will do 50 odd mpg but it's only got 50 odd bhp!

[HorneyMX5]

I've got my heart set on an E90 MTD3 as a daily next year. I just love the Alpina styling over the standard cars and the fact that most people will have no idea what it is but other car nuts will know it's something a cut above a rep spec 320D.

[Burnham]

R66STU said:

no offence meant here at all so please dont jump on the defensive straight away.. but please can someone tell me why there is such a following and liking for estates/spotbacks/tourers/shoooting breaks etc.. ? i am intrigued to know if it is because of the practicality or style.. or possibly something else..

i think as i am getting older the practicality side is starting to make more sense..

Yeah, its deffo an age thing I think! I always vowed never to by a 4x4 or a diesel....

As for this one, yes please...I was only recently looking at the last shape, which seem like great value for money at circa 17k for a 2009/2010.

I'd take the Touring obviously

[Burnham]

DibblyDobbler said:

350Bhp and 50+ mpg

That is a truly incredible combination! My Mrs has got a VW Up which will do 50 odd mpg but it's only got 50 odd bhp!

Its bonkers isn't it! Of course, you wont get 50+ MPG when using all of that 350BHP, but the missus doesn't need to know that when you're making your case.

[Krikkit]

R66STU said:

no offence meant here at all so please dont jump on the defensive straight away.. but please can someone tell me why there is such a following and liking for estates/spotbacks/tourers/shoooting breaks etc.. ? i am intrigued to know if it is because of the practicality or style.. or possibly something else..

i think as i am getting older the practicality side is starting to make more sense..

I think a lot of cars look better as a tourer/estate. Plus the added practicality means that some might be able to justify it as an every-day car that can take things to the tip, then light their pants on fire on the way home (think RS6 Avant).

[samoht]

R66STU said:

no offence meant here at all so please dont jump on the defensive straight away.. but please can someone tell me why there is such a following and liking for estates/spotbacks/tourers/shoooting breaks etc.. ? i am intrigued to know if it is because of the practicality or style.. or possibly something else..

i think as i am getting older the practicality side is starting to make more sense..

Some people like the look - a good wagon is a visually simpler shape than a three-box saloon, long and low roofline.

They're more practical, so you can do more before needing to give up PH-ness and buy an SUV or MPV.

They don't attract attention, since they don't appear so overtly sporting as a saloon, and people don't expect them to be fast.

They tend to be rarer, especially in performance versions, so they can become something of a cult piece, that most people don't know about.

[Mermaid]

Alpina have evolved so well.

[LordPetroleum]

samoht said:

R66STU said:

no offence meant here at all so please dont jump on the defensive straight away.. but please can someone tell me why there is such a following and liking for estates/spotbacks/tourers/shoooting breaks etc.. ? i am intrigued to know if it is because of the practicality or style.. or possibly something else..

i think as i am getting older the practicality side is starting to make more sense..

Some people like the look - a good wagon is a visually simpler shape than a three-box saloon, long and low roofline.

They're more practical, so you can do more before needing to give up PH-ness and buy an SUV or MPV.

They don't attract attention, since they don't appear so overtly sporting as a saloon, and people don't expect them to be fast.

They tend to be rarer, especially in performance versions, so they can become something of a cult piece, that most people don't know about.

This, plus my 7st Dobermann doesnt much like the back seat of a coupe, tends to moan a bit and (literally) chew my ear when 'making progress'. With a touring/shooting/break/estate or whatever, I can pin him to the window with the twitch of my right foot or allow him to lie full stretch on his bed at speed. All is then well in our world and everyone is happy, I still get to 'play' and he can lick ballsack at speed