BMW Alpina D3

(from Alpina Press Release) The BMW ALPINA D3 – the small, sporty diesel from ALPINA

”It has phenomenal pull,” was the first impression that Andreas Bovensiepen had of the BMW 320d race-diesel that he raced along with Hans Stuck, Marc Duez and Christian Menzel. Together they took the overall win in none other than the 1998 24 Hours of Nurburgring, the track whose North Loop was and is referred to as the ”Green Hell”. This remains the biggest racing victory for a diesel-fired vehicle to date, with thanks going to an intelligent package made up of high torque, high fuel economy and finely-honed aerodynamics

An automobile from ALPINA – and cognoscenti know it – is always something special. Packaging is the magic word – to present a car that the informed, sporty and quite emotional ALPINA clientele will appreciate

At the heart of the matter is the 2.0 litre diesel, endowed with so much potential by the BMW engineers in Steyr that it achieves just over 100 horsepower per litre in the BMW ALPINA D3. This would be a great result for a high-performance petrol engine, and it’s a sensation coming from a diesel. Garrett, of turbo-charger fame, are able to deliver a new charger that simultaneously achieves high levels of air mass through-put with outstanding responsiveness. ALPINA engineers performed intensive development work on the injection system, burn pattern, inter-cooling and exhaust gas emissions (particle filter). The result: 200hp (147kW) at 4,000rpm

What makes this automobile special? First off – it works brilliantly in times of out-of-hand fuel prices. Torque: at 410Nm/302lbs-ft much like a V8 engine. Performance: 0-100kph in 7.4 seconds, with a top speed of 238kph, much like a six-cylinder. Fuel economy: at 6-7 litres per 100km, more like a small commuter car. A truly dynamic automobile that doesn’t first create false hopes by shooting away from rest at low revs, only to peter out at higher revs. Instead, the 2.0litre loves to rev, in the hopes that its owner will co-operate fully and happily with both it and the buttery-smooth-shifting 6-speed ZF manual gearbox

When served in this manner – thanks to the enervating drivetrain – an unsuspected level of driving pleasure reveals itself from the first kilometre on. Precise, direct steering allow driver and automobile to bond, rhythmically swinging from one corner to the next. Upon reaching 100kph on the autobahn, all that needs be done is to select sixth gear, and the driver surfs on a 410Nm wave of torque, constant from 2,000rpm to 3,300rpm. It feels relaxed, even easy, and one has the sense that it’s really a muscle car. Far from it, as the distance-to-empty gauge smirkingly tells the story of 800 – 1,000km to go. Heavy mileage drivers know they’ll have the upper hand against every sports car

ALPINA doesn’t just stand for fun, but also for a clear conscience – which brings us to the topic of particulates. We assure you that you’ll still be able to go shopping into the city with each and every new D3, as the D3 has a diesel particulate filter standard. That said, not even Germany’s Energy Minister, Juergen Trittin, can say anything bad about this sporty car

Light-footed, exceptionally agile handling is immediately noticeable, with an agility not previously found in diesel vehicles. The secret is the ideal, 50%/50% front/rear weight bias, along with a suspension committed to soaking up bumps and providing Swiss levels of neutrality at the limit. The light, MICHELIN-shod 18” ALPINA CLASSIC wheels demand this agility, with of 225/40 ZR18 dimension front and 255/35 ZR18 rear. In configuring state-of-the-art MICHELIN tyres, we purposely chose conventional tyres over the much heavier Run-Flats. Optional 19” wheel/tyre packages, in CLASSIC or DYNAMIC design, provide the highest levels of lateral acceleration

Quite dynamic and yet elegant in appearance is ALPINA’s little one, the D3, with a nod to the wind-tunnel-optimised aerodynamic work done at the front and the rear.

The best for last: the BMW ALPINA D3 has a highly attractive base price, a down-right steal, and thereby effectively removing price as a hurdle for clients new to ALPINA

BMW Alpina B6

(from Alpina Press Release) THE BMW ALPINA B6 CABRIO

Luxurious performance cabriolets are no longer simply the domain of bespoke British and Italian handiwork. ALPINA present the B6 Cabrio – a viable alternative –combining performance and luxury with a high degree of everyday usability

500 horsepower, 700 Nm – absurd in an open-topped sports car? Far from it. The V8’s beguiling sound and opulent torque entice the driver to glide along in a relaxed fashion, any and all red-line orgies far afield, much like cruising on a Harley Davidson. This provides the time to drink in the top-down melànge of breezes, scents and sounds. Leather, wood and matchless ergonomics caress the inhabitants, immediately creating a sense of comfort and well-being

The acceleration suggests a super-sports car: 100 kph from a standing start is reached in 4.9 seconds, with speeds in excess of 300kph less than a minute away – the only short interruptions undertaken by the 6-speed ZF automatic’s smooth upshifts. This noble Gran Tourismo is just as good at communicating the sound of its sonorous V8 directly into the cockpit, whether top down, or with just the rear windscreen lowered

Driving a BMW ALPINA is an adventure in intense comfort, yet we don’t define comfort as the absence of any feedback through the chassis, as many would have it. Comfort defines itself to us in a completely different manner. The steering needs to be exact, but light on its feet at the same time. The seats need to be firm, with good lateral support. Dampers and springs must nip languid suspension swells in the bud. The tyres will accept great cornering, braking and acceleration forces, without sidewalls that are too stiff and without being too heavy in general. For these reasons, we at ALPINA simply don’t like Run-Flat tyres

The staggered tyres, as always from MICHELIN, are generously dimensioned: 255/35 ZR20 front and 285/30 ZR20 rear, and mounted on large 20” ALPINA DYNAMIC wheels. In spite of the low aspect ratios, a special tyre configuration makes them capable of high levels of comfort, this coupled with handling that turns every long drive into a joy ride. For those who are lovers of the 20-spoke design on ALPINA’s CLASSIC wheel, there is the optional 19” wheel and tyre package

Light retouching of the Cabrio’s front and rear lend a sense of sophistication. Harmoniously integrated into the rear diffuser, the four exhaust pipes are at once elegant and powerful.

We’re sure that we’ve assembled everything in an orderly fashion on the BMW ALPINA B6, with “everything” really defined as driving pleasure – and those who enjoy themselves live happily, no?

A bit of patience is in order, those who order now can chase the sun early next Summer

BMW Alpina B5

(from Alpina Press Release) THE BMW ALPINA B5

ALPINA presented the BMW ALPINA B5 at the Geneva Salon in march 2005, an automobile with 500 horsepower, maximum torque of 700 Newton metres and a top speed of 314km/h – the fastest production saloon in the world. Yet power isn’t the sole defining characteristic of even this BMW ALPINA, an automobile which enriches Buchloe’s gourmet offering in both Touring and Saloon form

In the end, the key isn’t absolute horsepower, but the manner in which this performance unfolds. In this point, the youngest member of the ALPINA family takes a position at the head of the class – just as its predecessors in ALPINA history. The legendary B10 Bi-Turbo, for example, is a car that enjoys cult status today

In principle, the B5 uses the same powerplant found in the familiar BMW ALPINA B7, with its eight cylinders and 4.4 litre displacement. The engine’s forced induction differs from conventional solutions: it is neither turbo, nor of the type of super-chargers that drain a great deal of power from an engine, especially at higher rpm

A radial or ”Nautilus-type” compressor delivers the ALPINA V8’s boost pressure: one might see it as a combination of super-charger and turbo-charger. It isn’t propelled by exhaust gases, as a turbo would be, but rather belt-driven from the crankshaft. The inner workings of the radial compressor compare to the intake side of a turbo: a small turbine generates up to 0.8 atmospheres of boost to the cylinders. Before reaching the engine, the air passes through a generously-dimensioned inter-cooler, capable of sinking intake air temperature up to 70°C

The advantages of this innovative technical solution? The radial compressor never stops spinning, with no time lag when power is demanded. Under the types of low to partial loads found in everyday driving, the engine operates as if it were normally aspirated, using the full functionality of Valvetronic (variable valve lift). This is the deciding factor in creating advantageous fuel economy. The compressor is controlled through the use of an ”upstream” throttle plate in the intake system – a development unique to ALPINA, and one that makes the charging of the Valvetronic V8, without the use of a common throttle body, even possible

When looking at the horsepower curve, it’s clear what one may expect from this engine-bay-filling, complex technology. At a modest 2,500rpm one has 200 horsepower with which to play. At 5,500 rpm the maximum 500 horsepower are reached, but the fun doesn’t stop there: the engine maintains 500 horsepower up to maximum revs of 6,000rpm. A very wide power band, therefore, across which the B5 provides immediate, optimum power

The torque curve is even more impressive. The curve takes on the form of a massive table mountain. At a mere 1,000rpm, just above idle, the V8 puts out 300 Newton metres of torque. Between 4,250rpm and 5,250, there’s a constant 700 Newton metres of twist on tap

The engine characteristics, as evidenced by the above numbers, are those a of far larger, naturally-aspirated engine. The B5’s powerplant distinguishes itself by instantaneous reactions to throttle inputs, care-free revving up to maximum revs, and a nearly inexhaustible supply of acceleration across the rev range. At fullsong, the BMW ALPINA B5 needs but 4.7 seconds to reach 100km/h (Touring: 4.8 seconds), placing it in the fine company of the world’s most renowned sports cars

Taking advantage of the enormous power requires no high driving art. Stepping on the pedal is enough, as the BMW ALPINA B5 possesses a ZF six-speed automatic transmission with torque converter, known for its especially smooth shifts and quick response

The driver may operate the transmission in Drive mode, letting the automatic do the shifting, or may manually select the gear desired. ALPINA developed SWITCH-TRONIC many years ago for just this purpose. Two buttons on the back side of the steering wheel make removing one’s hands from the wheel when shifting redundant. The right button shifts up, the left button down – enriching the driving experience, and difficult to describe in words

While manual mode is ideal for driving assertively through a series of bends, or on winding roads, it can also help conserve fuel. One may simply command the transmission to remain in gears higher than what the electronic transmission control would select at a given speed. The result: extremely low revs, lower fuel consumption – and even when driving in a such a gentle manner, no one will ever need complain about a lack of torque

When reviewing deceleration times from 200km/h, the B5’s documents its braking capability in imposing manner: less than 5.5 seconds to a full stop. Drawing upon the B7’s braking system, special attention is again placed on comfort under braking. For this reason, the brake discs of 374/36mm front and 370/24mm rear dimension are not cross-drilled. Wet braking performance is enhanced in spite of this by the use of a so-called ”brake-drying” function. From time to time, without the driver ever feeling it, the brake pads are automatically and lightly dragged across the rotors, removing any layer of water – and this only when the wipers are active. Along with TEVES’ two-piston, floating brake callipers, extremely strong deceleration and the best possible reliability are guaranteed

In the wind tunnel, extensive aerodynamic development, testing and attention to detail are the prerequisites for an automobile’s safe driving characteristics - even at speeds exceeding 300km/h. The results are convincing: front and rear lift values are minimal, thanks to the ALPINA aerodynamics package. And despite the sizeable wheel/tyre combination, an exceptional 0.29 coefficient of drag has been achieved

By coupling the B5’s extremely powerful engine with the comfort of an automatic, ALPINA place the Saloon and Touring in a unique position in the high-performance segment. This superior performance brilliantly complements a suspension that is itself an amalgam of sporty handling precision and comfort that is anything but matter-of-fact in high-performance automobiles. The inter-play of struts and springs, together with the MICHELIN Pilot Sport 2 tyres (front, 245/40 ZR 19; rear 275/35 ZR 19), communicate a distinct sense of safety to the driver at every speed, all while simultaneously fulfilling the comfort demands placed on today’s luxury automobile. All very much in the tradition of the house of ALPINA – a concept honed to perfection through attention to detail

This is also true of the extensive standard equipment, with only a few additional-cost extras. Traditional ALPINA high-quality wood and hand-stitched leather interiors, in typical ALPINA Identity, communicate a warm ambience

The BMW ALPINA B5 is a synthesis of uppermost performance and cultured driving behaviour

2007 Alpina B3 BiTurbo based on BMW 335i

(from Alpina Press Release) In ALPINA’s more than 40-year history of manufacturing automobiles, turbo-charged engines have consistently set enduring accents. Launched in 1989, the BMW ALPINA B10 Bi-Turbo is just one example of the cult status some of these automobiles achieved. In fact, ALPINA’s turbo-charging history began in 1978, based on the 5 Series and 6 Series of the day (E12 & E28 and E24). The new BMW ALPINA B3 Bi-Turbo continues this tradition for the first time on the basis of the BMW 3 Series with its world premiere at the 2007 Geneva Salon d’Automobile

The heart of the B3 Bi-Turbo offers 265 kW (360 hp) at 5,500 - 6,000 revolutions per minute, as well as maximum torque of 500 Nm from 3,800 - 5,000 rpm. The B3 Bi-Turbo’s engine has a sporty engine’s willingness to rev to 7,000 rpm. Equally as present but usually reserved for diesel engines, there is vigorous torque from 1,500 rpm onwards. The result: a powerband broader than ever before experienced, guaranteeing both sporty and bullish driving dynamics

Technically, this is all made possible due to the exceptional BMW base engine with injectors centrally located over the pistons – the state-of-the-art in direct injection technology. For more than a year, ALPINA engineers researched, developed and tested, both on the engine test bench and on the road. Ever refining the ALPINA engine map to leverage all the advantages offered by modern direct injection, the potential inherent in the BMW foundation was maximised. The use of extremely durable MAHLE pistons allows for a maximum boost of 1.1 bar with a 9.4:1 compression ratio. The result, peak specific values of 89 kW (121 hp) per litre and a maximum average pressure of 21 bar

The allure of the new BMW ALPINA B3 Bi-Turbo is found in its V8 like performance, but with the advantages of a much lighter and noticeably thriftier 3.0-litre straight-six, a six with an aluminium block and twin-turbo charging. The smooth-running nature inherent in this engine concept is even more prominent when the engine is charged

The BMW ALPINA B3 Bi-Turbo embodies pure driving enjoyment – whether cruising along or enjoying all 7,000 revs in each gear. The reason for the spontaneous responsiveness of the B3 Bi-Turbo is the ZF 6-speed sport automatic transmission with its very short shift sequences, which smoothly processes the power through the drivetrain without any uncomfortable interruption of forward momentum. The driver may also choose to shift manually at the wheel using SWITCH-TRONIC, which contributes in no small part to both the awe-inspiring performance numbers and the ability to save fuel in top gear. Frugality and driving excitement are therefore not contradictory in the B3 Bi-Turbo. Driven by high torque means using sixth gear on the Autobahn is more than sufficient in almost all situations

The engine’s kick surprises even those in the know: 0-100 km/h in 4,9 seconds and thrust-like acceleration that keeps pulling all the way up to a top speed of 285 km/h. Indulgence without remorse: in spite of its stellar performance, the new BMW ALPINA B3 Bi-Turbo achieves excellent fuel economy in relation to its competitors. One of the B3 Bi-Turbo’s features that literally stands out are the four exhaust tips, with their catalytic converters contributing significantly to the achieving of low Euro4 emissions standards

The intense driving experience and an immediate bonding with the B3 Bi-Turbo are markedly influenced by fine materials and superior ergonomics. The standard leather interior features comfortably-padded sport seats with excellent lateral support, making long journeys a joy. The ALPINA SWITCH-TRONIC steering wheel falls perfectly to hand and affords a clear view of the typical ALPINA blue instruments with their red pointers. As demanded by any enthusiastic driver, the provision of essential information in the form of the analogue oil temperature gauge located below the rev counter means the B3 Bi-Turbo can be pushed to its limits, once the minimum oil temperature of 50° C has been reached. Next to the analogue speedometer, the B3 Bi-Turbo also provides a digital speed read-out as well as average fuel economy and instantaneous fuel economy figures – thrifty driving also creates driving pleasure

Immediately noticeable is the B3 Bi-Turbo’s light-footed, extremely agile handling. The secret lies in an ideal 50/50 weight balance between front and rear axles in combination with a ALPINA’s neutral and supple suspension. Augmenting this agility are light-weight 18” ALPINA CLASSIC wheels shod with conventional MICHELIN tyres, 225/40 ZR18 front and 255/35 ZR18 rear, with a conscious choice having been made not to use heavy Run-Flat tyres. 19” wheels offer an even higher level of potential lateral acceleration – in either DYNAMIC or CLASSIC design

ALPINA’s newest creation reduces aerodynamic lift, especially approaching top speed. The greatest contributors are the optimised front and rear aerodynamics, helping guarantee true driving safety, not just creating a feeling of safety

In quite exclusive fashion, we’ll complete but a few hundred B3 Bi-Turbos in Buchloe per annum for automotive connoisseurs. As tradition holds, each automobile will be fitted with an ALPINA plaque identifying its unique production number

The new BMW ALPINA B3 Bi-Turbo – revel in its unique driving experience infused with impressive grace, power and thrift

2006 BMW Alpina B7

(from BMW Press Release) Committed to developing the best performing vehicles in the luxury market, BMW with ALPINA has created a special high performance version of BMW’s 7 Series luxury sedan. The 2006 BMW ALPINA B7 brings together the luxury, pioneering design, and advanced technology of the 7 Series Sedan with the scintillating performance of a supercharged, 500hp V-8 engine.

To power the BMW ALPINA B7, ALPINA specially developed a higher-performance version of BMW’s 4.4-liter, 90-degree V-8 engine and mated it to a 6-speed automatic transmission featuring steering wheel mounted shift controls. The motor produces 500 horsepower at 5,500 rpm along with maximum torque of 516 lbs.-ft. at 4,250 rpm, and propels the B7 from 0-60 mph in a mere 4.8 seconds. ALPINA 21-inch wheels carry Z-rated performance tires, while the sport-tuned suspension includes Active Roll Stabilization. The B7 aerokit includes a rear spoiler to improve stability, handling, and performance at high speeds.

ALPINA was established in 1964 as an official and approved “ennobler” of BMW automobiles. Their tradition is to take production BMWs and make them even more appealing to connoisseurs of automotive finery.

With this new model, BMW will raise the benchmark for the segment in terms of performance, refinement, technology, and luxury. Approximately 200 US-version cars are planned for the 2006 model year, with a release date in July 2006.

2005 BMW Alpina Roadster S

(from Alpina Press Release) In building the Z4, BMW have provided a vehicle with incomparable driving enjoyment. Outstanding suspension, agile steering and a silky-smooth straight six – why then the BMW ALPINA ROADSTER S based on the Z4?

Quite simply: BMW provided an M-Version of the Z3 that isn’t planned for the Z4 – based simply on the number of projects, even a large manufacturer, such as BMW have become, can’t serve every single market niche present.

Through the 40-year co-operation with ALPINA, BMW are provided a fine opportunity to lay the development of a model range’s top version in trusted and friendly hands. This does create a certain obligation, of course – but we have the appropriate experience.

Based on the BMW Z8, the BMW ALPINA ROADSTER V8 was built as a Limited Edition of 555 automobiles, and sold out quickly due to its special qualities. It is sure to become a collector’s car – but in terms of the BMW ALPINA ROADSTER S, we’d like to produce just a few more.

The way forward?

The ROADSTER S will be a maturation of the Z4, decidedly more powerful, and with most agile handling and increased levels of riding comfort. As its qualities become ever more clear, whether due to its exterior presentation, whether driven by its dapper interior – the BMW ALPINA ROADSTER S will offer, in short, a more capable form of luxury in every sense of the word.

Let’s talk power: the ROADSTER S contains the ALPINA straight-six cylinder engine with 3,4 litres and 300 bhp, a well-known friend from the 3 Series. It’s quite happy to rev to 7200 rpm, but is renowned for its high levels of torque – 362 Nm at 4800 rpm. With this level of power, and a kerb weight of 1320 kg (DIN), the weight-to-power ratio is a scant 4,4 kg/bhp, one of the lowest in the entire BMW and ALPINA programme.

The almost pre-programmed results are exceptional driving pleasure and a purist’s dynamic – 0-100 kph in 5,3 s – yet the ROADSTER S is more than capable of relaxed cruising at 60 kph in sixth gear, exhibiting stellar fuel economy across the performance range.

We understand automotive competence to reach beyond the drivetrain. Vehicle dynamics must also be defined in terms of negative acceleration, in other words, the braking system must be, and is, more than up to the task of meeting the ROADSTER S’ high-performance challenge.

The ROADSTER S rolls, as did the BMW ALPINA ROADSTER V8, on stunning ALPINA wheels in DYNAMIC design. The 19“ wheels are 8,5“ wide in the front, and 9,5“ wide in the rear. We made a conscious choice not to use Run-Flat but conventional tyre technology, offering better rolling comfort and reducing unsprung weight, this being good for one’s driving enjoyment whilst allowing tyre and pavement to better mingle. Instead we’ve Michelin Pilot Sport tyres – other tyre brands aren’t to be found at ALPINA – 235/35 in the front, 265/30 at the rear.

The aerodynamic package of the BMW ALPINA ROADSTER S was especially important to us. At 265 kph – with optional hardtop 270 kph – the ROADSTER S operates at speeds where reduced lift at the front and rear axle become quite noticeable, impacting objective safety and one’s subjective sense of comfort. To counteract this phenomenon, we made changes at the front and rear of the automobile, communicating typical ALPINA identity without stepping away from the design language of the Z4
In the interior, you’ll find BMW’s well-contoured bucket sport seats. Finished in leather and with ample adjustment, these seats offer support and comfort, and not only to those whose image of ideal weight would make Twiggy look portly. This is the secret of long-distance motoring in the ROADSTER S. The tailored suit that is the ROADSTER S envelopes the driver – and the two develop a symbiotic, almost euphoric relationship based in precision and ease. Thus is the true promise of the vehicle communicated.

Other dimensions defining this work of art are the hand-stitched, supple leather that enwraps the steering wheel, the interior surfaces in the door panels, and the dash and console inserts. One may optionally bathe the same surfaces in a luminescent high gloss lacquer finish. The instruments radiate their familiar discreet ALPINA elegance, deep-blue dials faces behind illuminated red pointers
On the one hand, the BMW ALPINA ROADSTER S is an extremely sporty automobile, and on the other hand quite cultivated in its habits. Its intent is to spoil its owner on each and every drive, inducing a feeling of an ”infinite lightness of being”, – we just couldn’t do it any other way!

2004 BMW Alpina B7

(from Alpina Press Release) The BMW 760i – with its 12 cylinders – is unquestionably one of the finest and most comfortable saloons in the luxury segment

There is a small circle of enthusiasts, people who enjoy getting behind the wheel themselves, who yearn for the sportiness provided in a smaller car, but don’t want to miss out on an automobile in this class. To achieve optimum agility and handling, ALPINA made a point of basing the B7 on the BMW 7 Series with V8 engine. The V8 offers the best jumping-off point in terms of dynamism, with an ideal 50/50 weight balance, also weighing around 150 kg less than the comparable V12 model

The B7 designation carries with long tradition, and has stood for charged engines at ALPINA since the late 1970s. The heart of the B7 is a 4.4 litre V8 engine that is charged through the use of a radial (Nautilus-type) compressor. The combination of Valvetronic and charging represents a premiere. Through the use of Valvetronic’s complete functionality, the charge is controlled by varying the valve opening depth and the boost pressure. This frees up the engine to a degree and provides better fuel economy at partial engine loads. The radial compressor is driven by a dedicated poly-V-belt, separate from the serpentine belts running other aggregates. At low rpm, a clutch de-couples the compressor from its drive-belt. The compressed air charge reaches the engine via an air-to-air intercooler. The EMITEC metallic catalytic converters are mounted quite close to the engine. In combination with secondary air induction, the EU4 standard is achieved

This charging helps the ALPINA engine generate impressive performance figures: 368 kW (500 bhp) at 5,500 rpm, and maximum torque of 700 Nm at 4,250 rpm. The result is excellent performance coupled with a saloon‘s unique comfort. The feeling of jet-engine acceleration reaches heights of around 300 kph, with 100 kph flashing by in under 5.5 seconds

The silhouette of the B7 is markedly more dynamic and graceful through the 21” ALPINA wheels and the rising wedge shape at the rear of the automobile, finishing harmoniously in a rear deck spoiler. With the help of the newly re-shaped ALPINA front valance and spoiler, the B7 achieves a coefficient of drag of only 0,31 in the BMW wind tunnel, helping to ensure stability at the highest speeds.

This sporty elegance carries through to the interior. Directly in the driver’s field of vision are large circular instruments finished in traditional ALPINA blue with red pointers. A warm ambience is communicated by the top-quality ALPINA luxury wood ‘curled maple’ in combination with the finest leather. The B7 is precisely guided using the new ALPINA three-spoke sport steering wheel (385 mm diameter) finished in attractive-to-the-touch LAVALINA leather. SWITCH-TRONIC shift buttons are ergonomically integrated on the reverse side of the steering wheel.

An agile-shifting ZF 6-speed automatic augments the B7‘s already sporty nature. In Drive, it provides the ability to glide along comfortably and effortlessly. In SWITCH-TRONIC, sporty driving is right at one’s fingertips, especially when shifting manually using the buttons at the wheel, much like in Formula 1.

The precise steering of the lowered B7, and its neutral handling, allow one to forget the size of this automobile. A, large, dynamic saloon, it offers great driving pleasure on twisty secondary roads due to its light-footed nature, as well as superior power for the autobahn. The wheel and tyre combination delivers excellent road-holding, with MICHELIN Pilot tyres (255/35 ZR21 front and 295/30 ZR21 rear). And in combination with generously-dimensioned brakes (374 mm front and 370 mm rear), phenomenal braking capability.

As with every BMW ALPINA, there’s an exclusive, sequentially-numbered production plaque. We will deliver the first of these new automobiles to our customers in April 2004.