What is in effect a successor to the Alpina B5 has arrived in the form of the Bovensiepen 05 GT – an adapted version of the BMW M5 Touring from the family that founded Alpina but that recently sold the naming rights to BMW.
The 05 GT comes hot on the heels of the Bovensiepen Zagato, though it is pitched at a more attainable price than the carbon-bodied coupe and demonstrates an easily repeatable format for the brand as it forges a new path. Unlike the limited-edition, M4-based Zagato, the 05 GT involves no fundamental rethinking of the donor car, either in stylistic or mechanical terms.
Nonetheless, there are myriad changes that explain the circa €50,000 cost of the conversion, which takes place on site in Buchloe.
Foremost among them is an exterior styling package from the studio of Frank Stephenson, known for his work on the Ferrari F430, the first BMW Mini and McLaren’s P1. The aim has been to tone down the bravura of the regular M5 Touring while reducing the visual heft of the flanks. New bumpers front and rear, as well as fairly involved treatment of the skirts and a trailing rear spoiler are the notable elements, replete with ‘Bovensiepen’ script at the front.
Seen in the metal at a small launch event in Austria, the 05 GT is indeed considerably more subtle than the G90-generation M5, and the only real hint at its hammer-like performance are the quartet of tips for titanium exhaust from Akrapovic, which saves 8kg over the standard stainless steel piping.
Changes to the driveline are limited to retune of the 4.4-litre S68 twin-turbo V8, which along with an optimised air intake and the free-flowing exhaust, sees total output climb from 718bhp and 738lb ft in the regular M5 to 790bhp and 811lb ft. The electrical portion remains untouched, and still provides up to 195bhp and 35 miles or so of real-world electric range. Bovensiepen quotes a top speed of more than 190mph and a 0-62mph time of ‘less than’ 3.6sec. A kerb weight of 2555kg makes it 5kg heavier than the regular M5 Touring.
Of more interest to the traditional Alpina buyer – still the kind of customer Bovensiepen is targeting here, with the 05 GT’s blend of monumental speed and supposedly M5-beating comfort – are the suspension modifications.
