Alpina B5 Touring and XD3 join local range

The local importer has announced pricing and specification details for two new additions to the Alpina range in Australia, the Alpina B5 Touring and the Alpina XD3.

In keeping with the brand's affiliation with BMW, both new models are based on BMWs. The Alpina B5 Touring is the current BMW 5 Series Touring wagon with the mechanicals from the B5 sedan. That makes the B5 Touring the most powerful 5 Series wagon variant available in the Australian market, with a 0-100km/h time of 3.7 seconds – just 0.2 seconds slower than the B5 sedan. Alpina claims the B5 Touring will reach 200km/h in 12.3 seconds and tops out at 322km/h.

The 4.4-litre V8 under the bonnet produces 447kW and 800Nm for an official fuel consumption figure of 11.1L/100km. Like the BMW M5, both Alpina B5 variants feature all-wheel drive traction and the only transmission available is ZF's eight-speed 8HP75 automatic.

The B5 Touring rides on 20-inch alloy wheels (8.5-inch wide at the front, 10-inch at the rear) and the tyres measure 255/35 ZR20 (front) and 285/30 ZR20 (rear).

Alpina is offering the B5 Touring to Australian consumers for $217,000, which includes $34,770 for luxury car tax (LCT).

The Alpina XD3 is also now available to order, and is based on the BMW X3, but with the Alpina's 3.0-litre inline diesel six-cylinder developing considerably more power and torque – 285kW and 770Nm for the Alpina, versus 195kW and 620Nm for the BMW X3 xDrive30d. According to Alpina, the XD3 will hit 100km/h from a standing start in 4.6 seconds and it will reach a top speed of 266km/h. That's fast enough to see of BMW's larger X5 M50d, which costs around $40,000 more.

The XD3 rides on 20-inch wheels (8.5-inch wide at the front and 10-inch wide at the rear), respectively shod with 255/45 ZR20 front tyres and 285/40 ZR20 rear tyres. Alpina is asking $109,900 for the XD3.