RE: Alpina B4 S Bi-Turbo UK spec confirmed

RE: Alpina B4 S Bi-Turbo UK spec confirmed

Wednesday 26th April 2017

Alpina B4 S Bi-Turbo UK spec confirmed

More power than a standard M4, more torque than a CS and priced from £63K - tempted?



Alpina 'S' models don't come along all that often, so they are more than worthy of attention when they do. The latest is the B4 S, an evolution of - and a replacement for - the car first seen in 2014.

Keep the decals, keep the decals, keep the decals...
Keep the decals, keep the decals, keep the decals...
As befits a car with an 'S' badge, this Alpina boasts more power - now 440hp, from 410 - and torque - a total of 487lb ft, instead of 443 - than standard, achieved through a new twin-turbo set up that "provides even higher capacity" and a reworked induction system that should also improve throttle response. The Akrapovic exhaust has a manually selectable sport mode now too, instead of simply activating when the car decides you're driving in a sporty fashion. In addition there's a new piston crown cooling system and a thermal management system that aims to keep temperatures consistent over "prolonged, fast driving." Which is what you want to be doing in an Alpina, right? For what it's worth this is now a 190mph car, the coupe also capable of 0-62mph in 4.2 seconds and 13.6 to 125mph. For the Convertible you can take away a single mile per hour, add another tenth and then another 1.6 seconds as well.

Turbo tweaks yield 440hp, top speed now 190!
Turbo tweaks yield 440hp, top speed now 190!
Now Alpinas are known for their excellent ride, even on very large wheels, and so you would hope that this remains for the S. Alpina says spring and damper rates are "higher" - hopefully not too much so - with new front and rear spoilers also changed from the B4. Driveshafts are uprated to deal with the extra torque, and a limited-slip diff is standard for the S in the UK where it was an option on the B4. It's said to provide "a very progressive lock up to 40 per cent", with Michelin Pilot Sport S tyres also used.

Both the B4 S Coupe and Convertible will make their UK debuts at the London motor show next week; we're told to expect a B3 S saloon and Touring in time as well. For now the Coupe will cost £63,000 and the Convertible £67,000 - if you have some big distances to cover in the summer it's hard to think of much better!

 

 

Author
Discussion

mylesmcd

Original Poster:

2,521 posts

218 months

Wednesday 26th April 2017
quotequote all


xDrive or no?

vz-r_dave

3,469 posts

217 months

Wednesday 26th April 2017
quotequote all
Makes the pricing on the CS look even more ridiculous........

Burnham

3,668 posts

258 months

Wednesday 26th April 2017
quotequote all
'The Akrapovic exhaust has a manually selectable sport mode now too, instead of simply activating when the car decides you're driving in a sporty fashion.'

Huh..I had no idea the standard one changed tune on its own accord.

Touring for me please!

jayemdoubleu

54 posts

89 months

Wednesday 26th April 2017
quotequote all
mylesmcd said:
xDrive or no?
Configurator on the Alpina website does not specify whether RWD or 4WD, unfortunately. With either drivetrain, the M4 CS makes this look even better VFM.
Plus, Alpina models are approximately 39084590 times cooler than the equivalent M car.

mylesmcd

Original Poster:

2,521 posts

218 months

Wednesday 26th April 2017
quotequote all
jayemdoubleu said:
mylesmcd said:
xDrive or no?
Configurator on the Alpina website does not specify whether RWD or 4WD, unfortunately. With either drivetrain, the M4 CS makes this look even better VFM.
Plus, Alpina models are approximately 39084590 times cooler than the equivalent M car.
Agreed!

The B6 comes awd and is available on the BMW USA website too, again making the M6 look very slow off the line too!

T1berious

2,243 posts

154 months

Wednesday 26th April 2017
quotequote all
Alpina do know how to fill a wheel arch don't they? lick

jayemdoubleu

54 posts

89 months

Wednesday 26th April 2017
quotequote all
T1berious said:
Alpina do know how to fill a wheel arch don't they? lick
Definitely. And seemingly (although I admit I have limited exposure to anything Alpina), without obliterating ride quality. It must be some kind of witchcraft.
The B4 S would go straight to the top of my every day driver, should my numbers ever come in. Classy in a way the M4 could never be.

philmots

4,630 posts

259 months

Wednesday 26th April 2017
quotequote all
Just awesome, nice power upgrade too.

I'd have a B3S as a daily above most other things.

rare6499

648 posts

138 months

Wednesday 26th April 2017
quotequote all
Very nice indeed. I would take this over an M4 every time!

HighwayStar

4,216 posts

143 months

Wednesday 26th April 2017
quotequote all
vz-r_dave said:
Makes the pricing on the CS look even more ridiculous........
Apples and oranges

Bencolem

1,013 posts

238 months

Wednesday 26th April 2017
quotequote all
Looks like 4WD is available in Germany but only RWD in the U.K. Shame.

Strider

165 posts

230 months

Wednesday 26th April 2017
quotequote all
mylesmcd said:
xDrive or no?
xDrive only in LHD but we get the LSD as standard

Jesus

14,673 posts

188 months

Wednesday 26th April 2017
quotequote all
Looks like I could be going back to Alpina ownership with this one.
Said I never would after the last one, but can't stomach another M.

ZX10R NIN

27,494 posts

124 months

Wednesday 26th April 2017
quotequote all
RWD

virtualsalmon

30 posts

131 months

Wednesday 26th April 2017
quotequote all
COUPÉ
COUPÉ AWD
CONVERTIBLE

Says it in the B4s brochure on the site.

cheddar

4,637 posts

173 months

Wednesday 26th April 2017
quotequote all
440bhp = 190mph, really?

scratchchin

baronbennyt

900 posts

95 months

Wednesday 26th April 2017
quotequote all
Touring, in bottle green with gold decals and champagne interior please.

thebraketester

14,192 posts

137 months

Wednesday 26th April 2017
quotequote all
cheddar said:
440bhp = 190mph, really?

scratchchin
Seems very probable.

aka_kerrly

12,416 posts

209 months

Thursday 27th April 2017
quotequote all


Another Alpina fan here.

The gold decals were a bit more prominent on the older models

vz-r_dave

3,469 posts

217 months

Thursday 27th April 2017
quotequote all
HighwayStar said:
vz-r_dave said:
Makes the pricing on the CS look even more ridiculous........
Apples and oranges
Apples and Oranges....... hardly. A set of track tires on the B4 would probably see off the CS on track and that alone should tell you that the CS price is ridiculous!