Thursday 1st July 2010

All-New Alpina B5 Unveiled

Goodwood FoS debut for new 190mph twin-turbo B5

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The latest 5-series has received the Alpina treatment and the new car, the Alpina B5 Biturbo saloon, gets its world premiere this weekend at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.

Although it's on public display at Goodwood, the new B5 doesn't get its official press launch until next week (we can't work that out either), so we sidled up to the the Alpina stand to find out a bit about the new car.

Beneath the bonnet is Alpina's take on the BMW 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 (the same as you'll find in the 7-series-based B7). It produces 500bhp at 5500rpm and a far from insignificant 516lb ft of torque at 3000rpm. The engine drives the rear wheels via an eight-speed automatic, and can push the big saloon to an unrestricted top speed of 191mph, via a 0-62mph sprint of 4.7secs.

The B5 Biturbo costs a fiver under 70 grand, so may well undercut the new M5. In any case, you'll have to wait until 2011 to get your hands on the F10-based M5, so for now this is the fastest 5er money can buy.

As well as being on the Alpina stand at Goodwood, the B5 Biturbo chassis number 001 (a right-hook UK car - quite a fillip, the ALpina UK chaps tell us) will be running up the hill on Friday, Saturday and Sunday - the first time the car willhave been seen on the move.

[pits]

Looks like it has been punched in the face, not good at all, especially from Alpina

[hornetrider]

In Jewish Racing Gold with a wooden interior? Welcome to the nineties!!

[Henchman]

pits said:

Looks like it has been punched in the face, not good at all, especially from Alpina

I thought it looks like it was smiling. Lights for eyes, kidney grilles for the nose and the big wide mouthed bumper lol.

I think it looks alright.

Edited by Henchman on Thursday 1st July 11:49

[Torquey]

That looks heavy.

N I dont meanz in a gud way, Innit.

[Jakdaw]

Is it still a joke trying to get sensible insurance quotes for these?

[FWDRacer]

Have you seen the inside of it...

Wood (!) looks like it is off some 70's G-Plan furniture. Not a good look - It's the automotive equivalent of jeans and colured sportsjacket so beloved of our Teutonic cousins.

Oh F*ck it.

Have another one...

Edited by FWDRacer on Thursday 1st July 12:30

[P4ROT]

Torquey said:

That looks heavy.

N I dont meanz in a gud way, Innit.

Ye Blud

[LHD]

New B5?

>spaff<

[mat205125]

hornetrider said:

In Jewish Racing Gold with a wooden interior? Welcome to the nineties!!

That, and the grill do the car zero favours.

[Mafioso]

Looks a bit marmite, but then most of the BMW range is. First picture not working by the way.

ETA: Must be me because it is working now.

Edited by Mafioso on Thursday 1st July 12:38

[spurs-442]

I quite like it

[ManOpener]

spurs-442 said:

I quite like it

I think it looks fab. I've somewhat gone off the Alpina wheels but with a nice set of BBS Challenges, in a nice brighter colour, it would look amazing.

[Plotloss]

If its better than the outgoing model, that will be a truly phenomenal motor car.

[Matt_]

I like it but only if you can have it anything other than the Grandad exterior and interior colours that this ones been done in!

[funkyrobot]

FWDRacer said:

Have you seen the inside of it...

Wood (!) looks like it is off some 70's G-Plan furniture. Not a good look - It's the automotive equivalent of jeans and colured sportsjacket so beloved of our Teutonic cousins.

Oh F*ck it.

Have another one...

Edited by FWDRacer on Thursday 1st July 12:30

That interior looks absolutely awful. Wood, cream leather and black trim? Horrible!

[CampDavid]

PH said:

As well as being on the Alpina stand at Goodwood, the B5 Biturbo chassis number 001 (a right-hook UK car - quite a fillip, the ALpina UK chaps tell us) will be running up the hill on Friday, Saturday and Sunday - the first time the car willhave been seen on the move.

Looks like a left hooker to me :S

Edited by CampDavid on Thursday 1st July 13:19

[David87]

Agreed on the horrible colour scheme (I'll have mine in Imola Red with gloss black wheels, please!), but it's a lovely car. The perfect blend of speed and comfort!

[urmm]

isnt it less powerful/slower than the outgoing B5?

[nickpan]

They couldn't have got the interior more wrong.

[phil_cardiff]

Bring back the 'proper' Alpina wheels!