RE: Alpina XD3 and XD4 go on sale with 516lb ft

RE: Alpina XD3 and XD4 go on sale with 516lb ft

Monday 20th August 2018

Alpina XD3 and XD4 go on sale with 516lb ft

Alpina has fettled BMW's X3 and X4 to produce 333hp versions that drink only from the black pump



It’s been five months since Alpina revealed its new XD3 at the Geneva motor show with a tarmac stretching torque output, but the German marque has only just opened order books in Britain. For £57,900 you can now enjoy Alpina’s reworked X3 with a twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre six-cylinder diesel engine, providing your right foot with the reigns to 333hp and a substantial 516lb ft of torque from just 1750rpm.

Alongside the XD3 is the new XD4 – Alpina’s version of the X4 – that uses the same engine, which gives the pairing 14lb ft more than the BMW M40d variants. For those wondering, Alpina’s new cars can also beat BMW’s hottest diesel models to 62mph by two tenths at 4.7sec and exceed their 155mph limited top speeds by 3mph. The new XD3 also offers modest bragging rights over its predecessor with two tenths shaved off the 0-62mph time and 2mph added to its top speed.


PHers based on the continent will be offered even more performance as their XD3 and XD4 models will use quad-turbocharged version of the same black pump-fed six-pot. That motor provides 388hp and 568lb ft, cutting the 0-62mph times of cars sold on the other side of the channel to 4.6sec and upping their top speeds to 165mph. Unfortunately, as per the wider decision regarding the phatter oil-burner, no right-hand drive cars will be made available this side of the channel.

Obviously, fuel economy and CO2 are high on criteria list for buyers of hot DERV models, but anyone expecting to see gains in efficiency over the X3's predecessor will be disappointed; thanks to the new Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP to you and I ) the new cars – on paper at least – fare worse. Official figures state that the two all-wheel drive Alpina diesels emit 238g/km and offer 31.4mpg combined. This compares to 174g/km and 42.8mpg in the old XD3, although Alpina claims that in real-world driving scenarios the new car is about the same.


Along with their new powertrain, the XD3 and XD4 come with the usual Alpina enhancements, which include adjustable dampers with firmer springs and those gorgeous multi-spoke alloy wheels in 20-inch or optional forged 22-inch forms. There are also four-piston brake calipers with 395mm discs at the front and 370mm discs at the rear as standard, although buyers can specify uprated composite brakes to enhance stopping power further.

On sale now, the XD3 and XD4 are presently the quickest X3 ad X4 variants you can buy. That will change when the BMW X3 M and X4 M models arrive from the Bavarian car maker’s performance arm using the same twin-turbocharged six-cylinder as the M3/M4 to offer around 430hp. Although not even M Division's ouput will match the Alpinas for exclusivity – just 12 per cent of XD3 and XD4 sales are predicted to reach Blighty’s shores. 14 of the last generation XD3 ended up here - and before Dieselgate erupted, they sold like proverbial hot cakes.


Author
Discussion

Ares

Original Poster:

11,000 posts

119 months

Monday 20th August 2018
quotequote all
Saw my first new X4 in the BMW dealer yesterday. Impressed, a lot less of the ugly ducking the old one was, especially the new corporate BMW back end.

Shame these Alpina versions don't up the ante as much power/performance-wise as the usual Alpina treatment, but with marginal cost increase, they are an attractive proposition in the market.


ZX10R NIN

27,490 posts

124 months

Monday 20th August 2018
quotequote all
These should sell well my OH loves here D3 the ride is sublime as is the performance in XD3/4 form they should sell well.

Notanotherturbo

494 posts

206 months

Monday 20th August 2018
quotequote all
Diesel, super complicated 4 turbo set up, could turn out to be the worst depreciating car BMW have made and the scariest ever 2nd hand super bargain smile

Ares

Original Poster:

11,000 posts

119 months

Monday 20th August 2018
quotequote all
Notanotherturbo said:
Diesel, super complicated 4 turbo set up, could turn out to be the worst depreciating car BMW have made and the scariest ever 2nd hand super bargain smile
Twin turbo. And they've been doing fine on depreciation since launch 8yrs ago?

Fun Bus

17,911 posts

217 months

Monday 20th August 2018
quotequote all
Notanotherturbo said:
Diesel, super complicated 4 turbo set up, could turn out to be the worst depreciating car BMW have made and the scariest ever 2nd hand super bargain smile
BMW don’t make Alpina. Alpina is a manufacturer in it’s own right.

ZX10R NIN

27,490 posts

124 months

Monday 20th August 2018
quotequote all
Notanotherturbo said:
Diesel, super complicated 4 turbo set up, could turn out to be the worst depreciating car BMW have made and the scariest ever 2nd hand super bargain smile
Alpina use a twin turbo set up & their residuals seem to be doing just fine.

Glasgowrob

3,232 posts

120 months

Monday 20th August 2018
quotequote all
Have to say from a somewhat limited first hand experience Alpina always seem to be able to make a much better all round car than bow do.

always seem much more real world friendly than the M equivalent. I'd wager that the XD3/4 will not only be quicker than the bmw 40d equivalent but a better all round car too

kambites

67,460 posts

220 months

Monday 20th August 2018
quotequote all
Fun Bus said:
BMW don’t make Alpina. Alpina is a manufacturer in it’s own right.
Alpina don't have their own production lines do they? I thought they were made by BMW, albeit using some Alpina specific components.

Edited by kambites on Monday 20th August 20:03

Big GT

1,798 posts

91 months

Monday 20th August 2018
quotequote all
kambites said:
Fun Bus said:
BMW don’t make Alpina. Alpina is a manufacturer in it’s own right.
Alpina don't have their own production lines do they? I thought they were made by BMW, albeit using some Alpina specific components.

Edited by kambites on Monday 20th August 20:03
They do sort of. Alpina take a base model then run in through their production line.
There is even two VIN numbers on the car which confuses the hell out of an MOT tester.

Alpina really know how to turn a bmw into a great car.

Burnham

3,668 posts

258 months

Monday 20th August 2018
quotequote all
kambites said:
Fun Bus said:
BMW don’t make Alpina. Alpina is a manufacturer in it’s own right.
Alpina don't have their own production lines do they? I thought they were made by BMW, albeit using some Alpina specific components.

Edited by kambites on Monday 20th August 20:03
They are completed by Alpina in Buchloe. Some components for some models are fitted at the BMW line, prior to them shipping them to Alpina for finishing.

deltashad

6,731 posts

196 months

Monday 20th August 2018
quotequote all
How to make an unappealing car appealing.

flat6gallivant

233 posts

162 months

Tuesday 21st August 2018
quotequote all
Lets hope it doesn't rock and roll side to side like the last XD3. It was a fast SUV but horrible to travel in vomit

RSchneider

215 posts

163 months

Tuesday 21st August 2018
quotequote all
Should be mentioned in such an article that the Continental European and UK versions of this car have different engines and different hp and Nm numbers.

anonymous-user

53 months

Tuesday 21st August 2018
quotequote all
RSchneider said:
Should be mentioned in such an article that the Continental European and UK versions of this car have different engines and different hp and Nm numbers.
It is.

PWeston

157 posts

74 months

Tuesday 21st August 2018
quotequote all
"providing your right foot with the reigns to 333hp and a substantial 516lb ft of torque from just 1750rpm..."

Really?!

996GT3_Matt

199 posts

203 months

Tuesday 21st August 2018
quotequote all
This is a genuine question rather than a contentious remark, but do big diesel outputs actually relate to useful (or even enjoyable) acceleration on the road?

The reason I ask is that my wife owns a current shape C Class, 250d AMG-line which is a lovely car to drive.
I believe the clatter banger puts out somewhere in the region of 370ft/lb, which is very useful for gracefully pulling away at busy round abouts or the like, without fuss or appearing to try hard. It’s a relaxing and very pleasant car to drive.

After this initial surge however the engine dies away very quickly, and being so linear in its delivery that there is zero benefit or reward in revving it out. The acceleration is useful but certainly not joyful, and whilst the car suits my wife’s needs perfectly (18k miles+ per annum) I would personally never consider a diesel for myself.

Whilst it’s a completely different car (and much lighter) I am convinced that my Fiesta ST would blow away our Mercedes in gear despite its apparently huge torque output.

Are all ‘performance’ diesels like this?


HJMS123

988 posts

132 months

Tuesday 21st August 2018
quotequote all
996GT3_Matt said:
This is a genuine question rather than a contentious remark, but do big diesel outputs actually relate to useful (or even enjoyable) acceleration on the road?

The reason I ask is that my wife owns a current shape C Class, 250d AMG-line which is a lovely car to drive.
I believe the clatter banger puts out somewhere in the region of 370ft/lb, which is very useful for gracefully pulling away at busy round abouts or the like, without fuss or appearing to try hard. It’s a relaxing and very pleasant car to drive.

After this initial surge however the engine dies away very quickly, and being so linear in its delivery that there is zero benefit or reward in revving it out. The acceleration is useful but certainly not joyful, and whilst the car suits my wife’s needs perfectly (18k miles+ per annum) I would personally never consider a diesel for myself.

Whilst it’s a completely different car (and much lighter) I am convinced that my Fiesta ST would blow away our Mercedes in gear despite its apparently huge torque output.

Are all ‘performance’ diesels like this?
I very much doubt it would, I believe the opposite is more likely to happen.

When I had my ST a couple of years ago an A200d did a very good job of trying to block my overtake on a B road. I had to drop gears and use the whole of 3rd with WOT and certainly into 4th to get around it.

The in-gear accelaration of diesels <70MPH is hard to ignore, especially when the torque numbers start getting above the 300ft/lb.

aeropilot

34,290 posts

226 months

Tuesday 21st August 2018
quotequote all
996GT3_Matt said:
Are all ‘performance’ diesels like this?
No.

Burnham

3,668 posts

258 months

Tuesday 21st August 2018
quotequote all
The way the diesel Alpina's torque delivery builds speed really suits the marque...little fanfare, plenty of pace. Its deceiving how quick they are precisely due to the fact they don't rev out to 8k rpm and shout about it from the exhaust, M style.

I really do believe they at marketed at different buyers to the high end, more track focussed, BMW models.

C.A.R.

3,967 posts

187 months

Tuesday 21st August 2018
quotequote all
996GT3_Matt said:
This is a genuine question rather than a contentious remark, but do big diesel outputs actually relate to useful (or even enjoyable) acceleration on the road?

The reason I ask is that my wife owns a current shape C Class, 250d AMG-line which is a lovely car to drive.
I believe the clatter banger puts out somewhere in the region of 370ft/lb, which is very useful for gracefully pulling away at busy round abouts or the like, without fuss or appearing to try hard. It’s a relaxing and very pleasant car to drive.

After this initial surge however the engine dies away very quickly, and being so linear in its delivery that there is zero benefit or reward in revving it out. The acceleration is useful but certainly not joyful, and whilst the car suits my wife’s needs perfectly (18k miles+ per annum) I would personally never consider a diesel for myself.

Whilst it’s a completely different car (and much lighter) I am convinced that my Fiesta ST would blow away our Mercedes in gear despite its apparently huge torque output.

Are all ‘performance’ diesels like this?
Are you having a laugh? laugh

The AMG-Line is a trim level for a start, but yes, that is a 'performance diesel' I suppose compared with the run-of-the-mill C220.

But never mind whether you'd get a pasting "in-gear" (you would get destroyed btw) it would also get shafted doing a standing start, despite being 'much lighter'.

0-60 C250D = 6.1s
0-60 ST-3 = 6.7s