These days, when discussing news of an upcoming diesel car, the first number out of most people's mouths invariably relates to the g/km of NOx. In the case of an Alpina, however - and particularly in the case of this Alpina - that isn't true; Buchloe's diesel powerhouses being much more noteworthy for a different sort of emission.
This new car doesn't let the side down, putting out as it does 567lb ft from its 3.0-litre inline-six. For comparison, a Ferrari F12 produces 520lb ft, the Jeep SRT makes 470lb ft, and Lamborghini's Huracan generates just 413lb ft with its 5.2-litre V10. It's a lot. Especially from a diesel SUV. Unfortunately, it's not quite what we get to look forward to, seeing as the quad-turbo, 388hp variant which produces such tarmac crimping torque is set left-hand drive markets only.
Instead, we'll have to make do with a twin-turbo version of the same engine, putting out a miserly 333hp and 516lb ft and hitting 62mph in a frankly glacial 4.9 seconds on its way to a 157mph top speed. That's 0.3 seconds and 8mph slower than the full fat version, but 0.1 seconds and 3mph faster than BMW's standard M40i.
Of course, power isn't all you get from the XD3. Alpina will also throw in a set of those fantastic rims - 20-inches as standard, with 22-inches optional - sportier bumpers front and rear, chrome-tipped exhausts and a smattering of badges for your circa £60,000 outlay.
Roughly 10 per cent of previous XD3s came to these shores, and around 12 per year are expected to wash up here this time around, so you'll have to be quick if you want to be one of those dirty dozen. A full reveal is set for Geneva, with first deliveries expected in January next year.
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