Monday 9th September 2013

Alpina XD3: Review

Can the Alpina magic extend to a blinged up diesel SUV? Er...

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Would the rekindling of Chris Harris's love for Alpina have been quite as effusive if he'd been given this XD3 to test rather than the B3 Biturbo? Obviously it's got all the Alpina essentials like the trademark coachlining and delicately spoked 21-inch wheels, handily delivered pre-kerbed on our test car to save us a job. Like the B3 it has two turbos and some very, very impressive numbers, including 350hp, 516lb ft of torque and 0-62mph in just 4.9 seconds.

Classy, discreet, understated? None of the above

The brochure is full of exciting sounding stuff too about how Alpina's engineers have improved the breathing on the engine with larger intake ducts, revised turbo pressure and tweaked fuel injection to realise the extra power. They've also added a 38 per cent larger intercooler for good measure and tweaked the exhaust it for "a surprisingly throaty sound." There's even a boast about the revvy character too.

All good so far. And then you look up from the spec sheet and ... blimey. Yes, it's a 60-grand diesel X3 with a bodykit, big alloys and quad exhausts. In white.

Is this the least PH-worthy car to ever grace these pages? While there's a certain comedy value to driving something that'd make a TOWIE wannabe wince for being a bit on the flashy side it's got to be in with a shout.

Well, they'll see you coming alright

Takes quite a lot to make a Porsche Cayenne the conservative, more aesthetically balanced option. But in this instance the £59,053 S Dieselwith that extraordinary 382hp/626lb ft V8 looks like something like a Q-car in comparison. Even the Porsche can't match the Alpina's performance though, the XD3 nearly a second quicker to 62mph and even beating the Cayenne on the boring stuff like mpg and emissions. Response from the twin-turbo six is never less than astonishing, picking up without hesitation, tumescent as the boost really comes on and then exploding with real ferocity as the eight-speed auto punches trough the ratios.

On the inside the Cayenne feels that bit more special though, the Alpina suitably tarted up but still, ultimately, an aging car from a class down with a few Alcantara bits stuck on. And quad exhausts or not, there's still a derv like death rattle on start-up that'll make those Akrapovic branded tips sound as ridiculous as they look.

350hp, 516lb ft and sub-five to 62mph - yikes

Is there a saving grace to all this?

Erm, well... Being Alpina there is scope to bespoke the car to suit your particular tastes and whims. Which, in our case, would probably mean going for the same engine in a 5 Series Touring, AKA the Alpina D5 which we tested in saloon form a little while back. Here the combination of astonishing but finely metered punch and Alpina's traditional luxury find a much happier home.

The nicest thing we can say about the XD3 is that it's probably not us. But then what do we know? Apparently Sytner can't get them in quick enough to satisfy demand.

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ALPINA XD3
Engine: 2,993cc 6-cyl, twin-turbo diesel
Transmission: 8-speed auto, four-wheel drive
Power (hp): 350@4,000rpm (313@4,400rpm)
Torque (lb ft): 516@1,500rpm (466@1,500)
0-62mph: 4.9 sec (5.8sec)
Top speed: 158mph (149mph)
Weight: 1,910kg (1,925kg) (DIN)
MPG: 41.5mpg (46.3mpg) (NEDC combined)
CO2: 180g/km (162g/km)
Price: c. £60,000 (£42,895)

(Figures in brackets for standard X3 35d M Sport for comparison)

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[GTEYE]

Looks like a Hot Wheels refugee.

Is this April 1st?

Edited by GTEYE on Monday 9th September 17:15

Edited by GTEYE on Monday 9th September 17:16

[MikeG88]

lol!

Baller

What a monstrosity. Not like Aplina that.

[British Beef]

So very ugly...

... but I bet it is absolutely terrific off road!!

[E60M5]

Going to go out on a limb here and say I like it. Goes like stink, gets good fuel economy and the interior too looks good in typical Alpina fashion. Sure it isn't very PH worthy and isn't something to take to the Nordschliefe and rat with GT3s with but if you have the cash it'd make a good car for the wife. You could still have fun in it too when you needed to use it for erands and it works as a good year-round vehicle. Although there's nothing stopping you from buying an X3 diesel with a new ECU or better yet a D5 Touring...

[Roma101]

If it was ten grand less and in a darker colour, then I think it is a reasonable prospect if you want a fast but relatively "green" SUV.

[Devil2575]

That's st.

[Bencolem]

Blimey what a poor review - based almost entirely on aesthetics; would it have been a positive review if it had been in Alpina blue? Autocar raved about this car - but then reading their review compared to this it sounds like they actually drove it... I wouldn't want a Alpina'd 4x4 in white either, but it doesn't stop it undoubtedly actually being very good in the role intended.

[Beyond Rational]

The bonnet shut line doesn't look great.

[Ranger 6]

Bencolem said:

Blimey what a poor review - based almost entirely on aesthetics;

I'd use the word lousy or something stronger perhaps .....

Bencolem said:

...Autocar raved about this car - but then reading their review compared to this it sounds like they actually drove it...

Bencolem said:

...I wouldn't want a Alpina'd 4x4 in white either, but it doesn't stop it undoubtedly actually being very good in the role intended.

I'd have one in a heartbeat, but actually agree, not in white

When you have this and the SQ5 both able to hit 60 in under 5 seconds I think it's time to recognise that the 4x4 trend is not going away and scornful you might be of the white ones there will be the occasional surprise out there on the roads.

[TheBigUnit]

You've told us how it's quick, which we could guess, and what it looks like, which we can see.

Now, can you please tell us how it drives?

[5lab]

can 37bhp really knock 0.9 seconds off the 0.60? I'd take the performance figures with a pinch of salt. £17k for a chip and some bling? I don't see any difference these days between Alpina and all the other tuners available (Masonry etc)

[MarJay]

Is the bonnet open or has it got terrible shut lines?

[Old Nick]

Bencolem said:

Blimey what a poor review - based almost entirely on aesthetics; would it have been a positive review if it had been in Alpina blue? Autocar raved about this car - but then reading their review compared to this it sounds like they actually drove it... I wouldn't want a Alpina'd 4x4 in white either, but it doesn't stop it undoubtedly actually being very good in the role intended.

This review of the review is better than the review

[Matt UK]

I thought the thread title was going to show a 4WD version of the hot Alpina estate...

But a blinged up X3? Didn't even read the article. No thank you.

[300bhp/ton]

Like the performance and the ethos of the model. Don't like the wheels and the X3 has always looked a bit dull.

But when will someone put an engine like this in a sports car???

A Z4C with a 350hp diesel motor and 50-60mpg would be an appealing package to many I'm sure.

[martin mrt]

I am going to admit that I have always liked the current X3, this is no exception, granted I wouldn't choose one in white.

I'd be quietly confident that its better than the Audi SQ5 in almost every category too.

Given the choice of this or a Cayenne diesel, I'd not be hurrying off to the Porsche dealer

[300bhp/ton]

Matt UK said:

I thought the thread title was going to show a 4WD version of the hot Alpina estate...

But a blinged up X3? Didn't even read the article. No thank you.

So how would a 4wd estate truly be significantly different?? ok and estate would probably be longer and maybe bigger over all and almost as tall. But I'm still not seeing your point.

[Matt UK]

300bhp/ton said:

Matt UK said:

I thought the thread title was going to show a 4WD version of the hot Alpina estate...

But a blinged up X3? Didn't even read the article. No thank you.

So how would a 4wd estate truly be significantly different?? ok and estate would probably be longer and maybe bigger over all and almost as tall. But I'm still not seeing your point.

I was thinking of the article below and probably getting confused with BMW naming - isn't 4WD now called X-Drive or something now? Can't remember.

http://www.pistonheads.com/news/default.asp?storyI...

Personally, 'fast' and 'tall' are two attributes that I do not want together in a car. There is little point though in having a debate about the actual / perceived difference between a 3 series touring and an X3 though. They are variations on a theme but with enough differentiation to make buyers pick a or b depending on wants and needs. I don't want an X3 and I do want a 3 series touring in the same way that I would like an M3 coupe but not an M3 Cab.

[Prawnboy]

300bhp/ton said:

when will someone put an engine like this in a sports car???

A Z4C with a 350hp diesel motor and 50-60mpg would be an appealing package to many I'm sure.

jesus i hope not, the best reason to get a Z4 is the joy of knowing you won't be mistaken for a diesel.
With every other beemer all i see are diesels.

[Porsche997C4S]

How ugly, and the wheels look like they belong in the 1980's