After making its debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed last month, Alpina’s answer to the BMW 5-Series, the B5 Bi-Turbo, is now available in the UK.
Like all Alpina cars, the B5 Bi-turbo is based on a BMW; the M5 to be precise. With a new M5 yet to be announced, Alpina says the B5 ‘fills a significant market gap’ and offers an ‘unbeatable combination of luxury, exclusivity and performance’.
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Similar to the current BMW M5, the B5 Bi-turbo’s engine delivers 507bhp. It is however a smaller engine – supercharged 4.4-litre V8 compared to naturally-aspirated 5.0-litre V10 – meaning that the massive 516lb-ft of torque it outputs is available at a lower RPM. This makes for a smooth, almost effortless driving experience says the manufacturer, as well as a much improved top speed.
While top speed in the M5 stands at an ample 155mph, the B5 Bi-turbo can top 191mph. 0-62mph time remains the same however; 4.7 seconds.
Alpina says that while it is committed to improving performance in all of its cars, it is also concentrating on making equal advancements in efficiency. This is especially noticeable in the new model, which boasts CO2 emissions of 252g/km and a combined fuel economy of 26.2mpg. The M5 emits 357g/km and returns 19.1mpg.
Alpina claims to have a ‘trademark’; the blending of ‘sporting character and limousine-like comfort.’ This has been developed further in the B5 with the addition of a switchable eight-speed automatic gearbox as well as the combination of 20-inch wheels and non-runflat tyres.
The company believes the UK is one of its strongest markets, which is one of the reasons the B5 Bi-turbo made its debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed last month: “The fact that Goodwood was chosen for the world debut of the car demonstrates the importance Alpina attach to the UK market," said John Quigley, Managing Director of Alpina GB.
Deliveries begin here in the UK later in the year, though prices are yet to be revealed.