Alpina B3

The new B3 Touring made its debut last month at the IAA in Frankfurt, and now the Alpina B3 sedan finally follows at the Tokyo Motor Show. This order of presentations is rather unusual, but can be explained with the peculiarities of the respective markets. While powerful station wagons are still very popular in Europe, Japanese customers prefer the corresponding sedan versions. Both variants are powered by a turbocharged three-liter inline six-cylinder engine with 340 kW/462 hp and a maximum torque of 700 newtonmeters. This power is transferred to the permanent xDrive all-wheel drive system via an eight-speed automatic transmission by ZF with Alpina’s own transmission software. The sprint to 100 kph (62 mph) takes 3.8 seconds and to 200 kph (124 mph) 13.4 seconds. Alpina specifies a topspeed of 303 kph (188 mph).

The Alpina B3 is equipped with adaptive dampers and sports springs from Eibach as well as bigger stabilizers in order to apply the engine power properly to the asphalt. An electronically controlled differential lock on the rear axle provides better traction. The brake system has also been upgraded with larger discs and calipers compared to a normal BMW 3 Series (G20), on whose bodyshell the B3 is based. The wheel arches are filled with 20-inch alloy wheels with sports tires, which are available in two legendary Alpina designs.

Alpina only changes a few details on the body of the BMW 3 Series for the B3. Independently designed bumpers at the front and rear as well as new sill panels give the vehicle a sportier appearance. In addition, the double tailpipes of the exhaust system are visible on both sides of the diffuser in the rear bumper. To reduce lift at high speeds, a spoiler lip is mounted on the boot lid. The famous Alpina decor set with stripes along the sides of the vehicle is available on request, as are the special paint colors Alpina Blue or Alpina Green.

The comfort sports seats and the rear bench in the Alpina B3 have high-quality leather upholstery, which can be ordered in various colors. For the presentation vehicle in the press photos, white was chosen to highlight the special quilting on the center line. The Alpina logo is integrated in the digital speedometer display. Various wood decors are available for the area around the gear selector lever, skilfully rounding off the visual appearance. The plaque with the consecutive numbering already familiar from other Alpina models can also be found here. As of yet Alpina hasn’t provided any information on the prices of the new B3. Orders will be accepted from the beginning of 2020.

Images: Alpina