Thursday 3rd October 2013

Alpina B4 Bi-Turbo spied

Alpina's B4 to offer the grown-ups' alternative to BMW's M4

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So, having looked at the B3 Bi-Turbo, considered the PH 435i and thought 'that twin-turbo upgrade would work great in the 4 Series' an Alpina B4 Bi-Turbo was probably where your train of thought was leading. It was ours, prompting a hunt around to see what's going on.

Hat tip to Bimmerpost for the lush B4 images

And spy shots of some fairly lightly disguised prototypes would appear to confirm Alpina's 410hp twin-turbo N55 conversion (or a version thereof) is indeed heading for the 4 Series. Which is certainly a more significant step up from the standard 306hp to the 340hp BMW will offer via its M Performance range.

It's a little shy of the 430hp the new M4 will dish out but the Alpina offers a very different flavour for your twin-turbo 4 Series, delivering a much more muscular 443lb ft of torque against the M's 369lb ft. For all you 'ring wannabes the M4 will no doubt deliver on the more visceral, high-revving racer-style experience, the Alpina doing the more grown-up junior GT thing with the eight-speed auto rather than the M's punchier DCT.

Which tickles your particular fancy is a personal thing but even if the two look the same on the menu it's clear the finished dishes will taste very different indeed. First impressions of our 4 Series would suggest a more grown-up demeanour perhaps better suited to the Alpina conversion. But we'll have to wait and see.

Not long though, the M4 debuting at Detroit in January and, seemingly, the B4 Bi-Turbo a couple of months later at Geneva.

[Sources: Autocar, Bimmerpost, pictures from Bimmerpost]

[Dave G fsi]

I wonder if the wheel design will ever change?

[l-plate]

I think the "round" design is kinda proven.

[Petrolicious]

Those are crazy numbers...is Diesel the new petrol? Hmmm irrespective Id like one

[l-plate]

Petrolicious said:

Those are crazy numbers...is Diesel the new petrol? Hmmm irrespective Id like one

in that case you might need a new user name...!

looks very nice, though suspect it would be the M for me.

[Zammy]

Want!

[P4ROT]

Dave G fsi said:

I wonder if the wheel design will ever change?

I think they're awesome wheels (made by bbs, which is no surprise really!)

[will261058]

Petrolicious said:

Those are crazy numbers...is Diesel the new petrol? Hmmm irrespective Id like one

Not sure what you mean here, both the cars in the article are petrol, the BiTurbo and the M4!

[aponting389]

Petrolicious said:

Those are crazy numbers...is Diesel the new petrol? Hmmm irrespective Id like one

thats not a diesel

[Seb d]

Petrolicious said:

Those are crazy numbers...is Diesel the new petrol? Hmmm irrespective Id like one

This is a petrol...

[Dan Trent]

l-plate said:

I think the "round" design is kinda proven.

[blasos]

Pistonheads - Sept 25 said:

(M4 has) a peak torque figure that "soars far beyond 500Nm [369lb ft]," according to an official statement.

Pistonheads - Oct 3 said:

delivering a much more muscular 443lb ft of torque against the M's 369lb ft

You have already quoted that the M4 will have torque "far beyond" 369lb ft, yet you use the 369lb ft figure as if BMW had never mentioned it soars "far beyond" that measurement.

[fourscore]

l-plate said:

I think the "round" design is kinda proven.

Brilliant!

[Krikkit]

Amazing what the engineers can do on an engine given slightly different briefs - the M boys were probably targetting 450hp and a revvy nature, the Alpina guys 650Nm, then pegged it back a touch for reliability.

[Devil2575]

Like it. Want one.

[Charlie Michael]

There ladies and gentlemen is my ideal car. I'd love to walk into an Alpina showroom and spec one up - alas, my budget is only interested come 2017/18 when the majority of the depreciation has happened.

[BeirutTaxi]

Alpina wheels totally ruin the asthetics of BMW's.

[BeirutTaxi]

Petrolicious said:

Those are crazy numbers...is Diesel the new petrol? Hmmm irrespective Id like one

Are you refering to the torque figure? It's utterly pointless to compare torque figures without stating the revs they are delivered at.

[4a4]

l-plate said:

I think the "round" design is kinda proven.

You sir, win teh Internetz.

Looking forward to your next installment.

[Dan Trent]

BeirutTaxi said:

Are you refering to the torque figure? It's utterly pointless to compare torque figures without stating the revs they are delivered at.

Stats from the B3 spec sheet; obviously TBC if the B4 will have identical outputs but it gives you an idea.

Dan

[lufbramatt]

BeirutTaxi said:

Alpina wheels totally ruin the asthetics of BMW's.

I think they look great on BMW's up to E39's and E46's, on later cars they don't really seem to work.