Thursday 20th May 2010

400hp Alpina B3S Arrives In The UK

Bi-turbo six-cylinder gets even more 'Efficient Dynamics'

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400hp and 400lb ft of torque are the headline numbers for Alpina's new B3S model (OK, it's really 540NM or 398.23lb ft at 4500rpm for the pedants out there, but that doesn't sound as good. Ed), which has now gone on sale in the UK costing from £49,250 for the saloon.

Deliveries will begin in July, and you'll be able to spot the new 335i-based machines thanks to their redesigned front spoilers and new rear diffusers which enclose the exhaust tailpipes, modifications apparently designed to help optimise engine cooling and reduce lift.

The cars roll on the latest design of Alpina Classic alloy wheel, as already seen on the firm's B7 conversion.

As if any customers are really going to care, Alpina is promoting the efficiency of the new B3S as much as it's performance. While the latter numbers are strong - with 0-62mph claimed in 4.7secs and a top speed of 187mph - the (potential) economy is good too, with a 29.1mpg 'combined' figure quoted, and CO2 emissions lowered to 224g/km.

The B3S is available as a coupe, saloon, wagon and convertible, via the Syntner Group which has been Alpina's sole UK importer since 1983.

[Pommygranite]

At 187mph, does this make it the fatest production car you can buy brand new for the least cost?

[adycav]

Having tried the earlier iteration of this car I reckon that I'd have this over the M3 personally.

The ride quality is far superior and I like the exclusivity. Alpinas generally seem to avoid the slight vulgarity that afflicts 'M' cars.

Definitely on my 'cars to own soon' shortlist.

[Oddball RS]

Front and rear splitters and diffuser bit look too fussy, and as with all hot German cars 4 tailpipes are really chav, two pipes are fine, honest.

[edo]

Oddball RS said:

Front and rear splitters and diffuser bit look too fussy.

+1, as are the wheels. Really not a fan of the styling changes Alpina always do. Change to look different and for changes sake.

[GingerWizard]

Pommygranite said:

At 187mph, does this make it the fatest production car you can buy brand new for the least cost?

depends how much your miles per hour cost. Nissan GTR is circa 55k and 193mph....

I'm not and doubt i ever will be a BMW man but if something could tempt me it would be something like this. 29mpg is better then my Type R truth be told...

[pagani1]

4 tail pipes chav! O please stop this british thing of trying to put a human personality on the car.
No cars are chav-it's when they get personalized by the owner or outrageous bodykits fitted that they become ugly-but not chav. Personally, hooray for Alpina! A great company with quality as it's ethos, can't wait for the next Z4 Alpina.

[Libertine]

edo said:

Oddball RS said:

Front and rear splitters and diffuser bit look too fussy.

+1, as are the wheels. Really not a fan of the styling changes Alpina always do. Change to look different and for changes sake.

+ another 1.

They haven't improved the looks. I much prefer the look of the original Alpina wheels, these ones detract from the look of the car instead of enhancing it.

[toys]

Is this based on the old twin turbo motor, or on the newer variable geometry single turbo lump?

I bet it pulls like a train with all that torque (the std 335i is already rapid), but I would personally struggle to justify spending M3 money on this. Glad that there is the choice for a slightly more relaxed drive with similar performance though - and I guess auto is an option...

[adycav]

Looks much nicer in blue (imo).

[MrTappets]

I've always liked the wheels Alpina do, but there are a few too many creases and shutlines going on here for my liking.

+1 on the blue. It's certainly better in darker colours.

[sam303]

I bloody love Alpinas. I had a 2003 B3S which was by far the best car I've ever owned. I'm not 100% convinced by the looks of this new one I have to say - looks a bit contrived, rather than the understated menace of past years. Possibly partly due to the fact that the E90 is less of a looker to start with than the E46 was. Nevertheless Alpinas usually sound even better than the BMW models they're based on, and manage to handle superbly but still ride better than the M-Sport models.

ETA: IMHO

Edited by sam303 on Thursday 20th May 10:20

[Mubble]

Never been a fan of the Aplina look, but respect is due for their tuning and creating something different to the M-packages.

[BeMo]

I think this is a really good looking car, especially in that blue that was posted. I never really liked the Alpina bumpers on the pre-face lift car, but this one is much improved. I want.

[al1991]

Wagon

[BUG4LIFE]

I like the front but not sure about the exhaust surround - maybe in CF?

[Escort Si-130]

Wat is chav about 4 tailpipes. I guess you are a grey head pipe and slippers type person.

Oddball RS said:

Front and rear splitters and diffuser bit look too fussy, and as with all hot German cars 4 tailpipes are really chav, two pipes are fine, honest.

[teen_cerbera]

Not a fan of the rear bumper. I also hate the badging "ALPINA, B3 Bi-Turbo" bit much to stick on the back aint it? I think it would look better with simply "ALPINA B3".

Surely if you know (or care) about the B3, you will know its a Bi-turbo, I mean its not even a big deal, the 335i is technically a bi turbo aint it?

[dafunkymunky]

I just hope they put a diff in this car, unlike the 335i, or that car could be an even smokier "one wheeled bonfire".

[Slippydiff]

Escort Si-130 said:

Wat is chav about 4 tailpipes. I guess you are a grey head pipe and slippers type person.

Oddball RS said:

Front and rear splitters and diffuser bit look too fussy, and as with all hot German cars 4 tailpipes are really chav, two pipes are fine, honest.

Possibly the use of the word Chav is not the best. Personally I think vulgar is more accurate.
Alpinas used to be discrete (especially if the gaudy stripes weren't specified) bespoke and chosen by the cognoscenti. In short they were chosen by the knowlegeable for Alpinas clever re-engineering of the original product, on the face of it they're now they're bought for their name and questionable (IMO) looks.

However I think Alpinas brief has become more difficult now that BMW has such a spread of models within the 3 and 5 series range. Why pay a premium for a questionable looking product tha seems to depreciate more heavily than the car it's based on ?

[LewisR]

Pommygranite said:

At 187mph, does this make it the fatest production car you can buy brand new for the least cost?

You've defined two objectives here, so you can't really measure that. What you need is an objective and (at least) one restraint. e.g. Cheapest car that will do more than 160mph.

If you were simply to measure mph/pound then you'd probably find that one of those Perodua Kellissa things comes out on top. You could, arguably, look at [mph above 130mph]/pound which would give some sort of meaure to supercar value but the 130mph is rather arbitary and you'd get rogue results for those cars that do exactly 130mph.