Specialist German manufacturer Alpina has gone above and beyond to create its version of the BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe with the power and punch to rival its now closely related partner, the M4 Competition, in outright pace.
The car is now officially named the BMW Alpina B4, just weeks after the company was acquired by BMW.
Powering the BMW Alpina B4 is a tuned version of the S58 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged straight-six engine found in the BMW M3 and M4 and produces 363kW/730Nm.
The mighty S58 3.0-litre straight-six that powers the B4 Gran Coupe
These outputs are fed through a eight-speed torque converter automatic transmission to both front and rear axles. The B4 is only slightly less powerful than the top spec M4 Competition but has 80Nm more torque.
The four door B4 Gran Coupe weighs 240kg more than the two door M4 Competition but manages to be 0.1 seconds faster to 100km/h than the M4, managing the sprint in just 3.7 seconds.
How has Alpina modified the B4 for performance?
The BMW Alpina B4 features several modifications in the engine department, including bespoke turbine housings, a larger intercooler, an enlarged air intake and optimised cooling system.
The BMW Alpina B4 has unique spoilers, exhausts, side skirts and badging
The transmission has been reinforced to handle the extra torque and is tailored to send a majority of power rearwards.
But it doesn’t just stop at the engine. BMW Alpina has gone to work on the chassis, too, upgrading bushings and mounts, adding bespoke anti-roll bars and a unique spring and damper configuration.
Brakes have seen an upgrade as well, with four-piston calipers surrounding 395mm discs at the front and 345mm discs at the rear.
The now infamous large kidney grille is front and centre on the B4
Unique bumpers, spoilers, side skirts, exhaust pipes and badging are all signs that this is no ordinary BMW Alpina product.
The B4 is now available to order in the UK and Europe with first deliveries getting underway in July and will be priced at GBP80,663 (AUD$140,160).
What is Alpina?
Alpina was founded on 1 January 1965 as an aftermarket supplier for BMW models.
Inside the B4 are plenty of nicely finished materials and modern tech
From 1968 to 1978, Alpina was very active in motorsport and then, in 1978, decided to start producing factory production cars based on BMW products.
The brand has a history of taking big-engined BMW models and making them more comfortable, faster, more powerful and more luxurious.
Alpina has been recently acquired by the BMW group, however it will operate independently until 2025.
