Alpina B4 S 2017 UK first drive

From £63,0009

Our first UK drive in Alpina’s more potent sports coupé emphasises the breadth of ability on offer from this Bavarian alternative

Sam Sheehan
Sam Sheehan
25 September 2017

What is it?

If you’re in the market for a fast, luxurious coupé with more than 400bhp, you’ve likely considered the Mercedes-AMG C63, Audi RS5 and BMW M4. But for a touch of added exclusivity, you might want to consider an Alpina B4 S Biturbo.

The B4 S, which supersedes the old B4, is based on the same straight-six-powered platform as the M4, which has undergone extensive technical and aesthetic adjustments, as per Alpina’s traditions. It means the car is a more potent but less focused alternative to its BMW counterpart.

Under its svelte bonnet is BMW a 3.0-litre six based on the N55 block of cooking 3 Series and 4 Series models, but it uses twin turbochargers that are 10% larger, a water-cooling system that’s 20% bigger and an uprated oil cooler with 35% more capacity. The engine spins a lighter crank that’s made from forged steel.

Related Alpina B4 Biturbo 2014-2019 reviews

Maximum power output for the Alpina-fettled N55 peaks at 434bhp at 5500-6250rpm and torque reaches 487lb ft at 3000rpm. Those figures are 9bhp and 81lb ft more than the M4, although the B4 S, which only comes with an eight-speed automatic, is 90kg heavier than the auto BMW. Still, that added torque helps the Alpina to accelerate from zero to 62mph in 4.2sec, a tenth quicker than the M4.

Under the bonnet is where the technical improvements for the B4 S over the B4 end, though: Alpina has stuck with the same suspension settings, meaning it sits on slightly less aggressive springs and dampers than its cousin from BMW's M division.

As before, the B4 S gets BMW Professional infotainment as standard, which adds a widescreen sat-nav and all-round parking sensors. The car’s seats also come wrapped in Dakota leather at no extra cost, although the car you see here features Merino leather, a £1285 option.

Alpina b4s rear cornering

What's it like?

Very approachable. From the press of the starter button to the first prod of the throttle in Sport mode, the B4 S is a docile beast. Where BMW the M4 awakens with a deep-throated growl, the Alpina, blowing through its standard-fit Akrapovič exhaust, has a subtler, softer voice.

Leave the drivetrain set to its default Comfort mode and the only hint of its potential performance comes with the effortless way it shifts the car’s 1690kg mass. The engine barely treads over 2000rpm during normal urban driving and the gearbox flicks into seventh and eighth surprisingly often.

The benefit of the N55 lump’s Alpina modifications becomes clearest when it’s set to Sport mode and allowed to spin towards the redline. The engine is responsive from low down the rev band and there’s a very obvious kick at 3000rpm that’s accompanied by a silky in-line six-tone. On upshifts, there's a hefty shove in forward thrust.

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Even with its more accelerative powertrain, the Alpina is better than the M4 in placing that power onto the tarmac. Where the M4’s grunt lands in one explosive strike that almost always seems to overcome the grip on offer, the Alpina’s more elastic motor transmits its power onto the ground with a rising surge. This means you can drive with more confidence than one does in the edgier M4 and it allows you to be more aggressive with the throttle on corner exits.

That’s not to say that the B4 S is faster than its BMW sibling. The M4, with its hunkered down body and significant weight advantage, turns and stops faster. But the Alpina’s less hard-edged suspension irons out creases and cracks in the road more effectively - impressive given that the car sits on big 20in Alpina Classic alloys. It makes maintaining a smooth pace along a B-road much easier and doesn’t require BMW the wide-eyed focus of the M4 on a slippery surface.

Combine this with wonderfully consistent steering that feels perfectly weighted to a car with this much muscle, plus a highly responsive gearbox that can be controlled manually via Alpina’s shift buttons on the back of the wheel, and you have a car that is as flattering as it is rewarding to drive.

The beauty of the B4 S comes with the ability to then dial things back to Comfort and enable the car to waft along. The dampers loosen their grasp on the body and allow for a cushioned ride - a telling illustration of the effects of the B4 S’s more virtuous suspension set-up. It also emphasises the flexibility on offer from this less focused Bavarian coupé.

If there’s one thing to complain about from behind the wheel, it’s the comparative lack of high-tech infotainment on offer, which simply can't rival the Virtual Cockpit in the Audi RS5. But while the BMW system is lacking in theatre, in the Alpina its classically styled features and the fitment of traditional dials arguably suit the car’s more traditional luxury character.

Alpina b4s dashboard

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Should I buy one?

While some of BMW’s M products are becoming increasingly garish, the Alpina represents a welcome return to the classic, subtle performance car formula.

Someone after the sharpest, hardest hot coupé will be best looking at the batch of aforementioned rivals, but enthusiasts who desire a slick-looking coupé that is as relaxing as it is rewarding to drive need look no further.

It’s fast, comfortable and stylish, and so rare that you’d be hard-pressed to see another on the road in Britain. For a sports coupé in this price bracket, that’s a highly compelling recipe.

Alpina B4 S Biturbo

Where Shenley, Hertfordshire; On sale Now; Price £63,000; Engine 2993cc, 6cyls, petrol; Power 434bhp at 5500rpm; Torque 486lb ft at 3000rpm; Gearbox 8-spd automatic; Kerbweight 1690kg; Top speed 190mph; 0-60mph 4.2sec; Fuel economy 35.8mpg; CO2 rating 180g/km; Rivals BMW M4, Mercedes-AMG C63, Audi RS5

Alpina b4s front quarter 1
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Comments
3
Add a comment…
TS7 25 September 2017

Makes one wonder...

...why BMW didn't build this car themselves.

chandrew 25 September 2017

Analogue dials vs virtual screens

After getting a 3 series with heads up display I don't really see the point of something like the Virtual Cockpit - I never take my eyes off the windscreen. If BMW / Alpina want to make it better they could improve the HUD, for example providing engine revs / gears, especially when in manual.

A B3S Touring at the moment would probably be my dream car - in Alpina Green. However it is (at least here) an expensive option. BMW will give pretty hefty discounts on a 340 (which I got) or an M3 however Alpina's are pretty much only at list. Realistically, when I enquired, a 540 touring, with pretty much all the options, was quite a bit cheaper than a B3S.

Overdrive 25 September 2017

Analogue dials vs virtual screens

Autocar wrote:

..If there’s one thing to complain about from behind the wheel, it’s the comparative lack of high-tech infotainment on offer, which simply can't rival the Virtual Cockpit in the Audi RS5.

Most people probably don't, but I actually prefer traditional dials to digital screens. They look more elegent and classy. Besides, in the B4 you can get all the infotainment, that you get in Audi's virtual cockpit, in the centally mounted screen.