Wednesday 6th June 2018

Alpina D5 S now available in the UK

170mph, all-wheel-drive super diesel now on sale, priced from £62k

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Enticing though the Alpina B5 is, there's no escaping the fact that in 2018 a supersaloon (or estate) is realistically a six-figure purchase. The list price of said model is £90,000, as are those of its German rivals, and once a few choice options are added it's easy to see the £100,000 threshold being breached.

But now there's an Alpina option at two thirds the price - the £62,000 D5 S. And yes, 'D' does mean diesel, although - this being Alpina and all - it's hardly sluggish. Replacing the single turbo set up of the 3.0-litre BMW base unit with a twin-turbo arrangement preferred by Alpina for response, the D5 S makes 326hp and 516lb ft. That's enough for 4.8-second dash to 62mph - aided by all-wheel drive traction - and a 171mph top speed. MPG and CO2 are rated at 46.3 and 161g/km respectively. Power reaches the ground via an overhauled ZF eight-speed auto (Alpina claims 20 per cent of the parts are bespoke to them) plus reinforced driveshafts and differential. The sound from the sports exhaust is said to be "bass-focused."

Despite prodigious power outputs, the joy in so many Alpina products has been the quality of the chassis overhaul. For this D5, admittedly based on a much improved 5 Series, Alpina has fitted unique front wishbones to give one degree of negative camber (for improved steering feel), shorter and stiffer springs (for better body control, plus a lower CoG), 20-inch forged wheels (for a 15kg weight saving) and bespoke adaptive dampers (for "limousine levels of ride comfort" in the new Comfort Plus mode). Combine all that with Alpina-specific Pirelli P-Zeros (as used on the B5 as well) and it amounts to a significant going over. A very appealing one too, no doubt.

As with all Alpina products, there is a wide range of colour and trim options, including the iconic decal set, and all D5s - fewer than 100 saloons are expected to make it here - will feature a production plaque. Also available on the extras list is Active Rear Steering.

While right now might not look like the best point in history to drop £60k on a diesel 5 Series, we'd vouch that any time spent in the D5 S would address a lot of concerns - as they do tend to be very lovely. If you'd like one then the Alpina can be ordered right now, though don't forget Alpina has dabbled in uber diesels before, and you can buy a previous generation D5 for considerably less than half its new price at the moment...

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Its a shame in a way that diesels are so hated and on the way out, because the previous D5 was a fabulous machine, offering very strong economy with amazing real world performance. This new one would tick a lot of boxes for anyone wanting an effortless cruiser with as much performance as you could ever realistically want, but not ruinous running costs. Loads cheaper than an M5 too.

It would be in my fantasy garage as my cross continental cruiser, although I appreciate I might be in a minority with this one.