Alpina makes Aussie debut

A local BMW dealer has taken on the role of distributing Alpina cars in Australia, with the first deliveries mooted for February or March next year.

BMW Australia is loosely supporting the importation and distribution of the Alpina brand by the owner of BMW dealerships in the Melbourne suburbs of Doncaster and Bundoora, but the distributor promises that the Alpina product range will be available right throughout Australia. And it will bring a different kind of product for BMW fans, says Alpina Automobiles Australia Sales Manager, Phil Jeffery.

"Alpina customers value the finely-honed feel of a bespoke car and the easily accessible performance that comes with substantial torque available at almost any engine speed," Jeffery says.

"We are not trying to compete with cars that must also perform well on a track. An Alpina is often described as 'the best performance car for the real world' and that's something we are very proud of."

The first model to be launched here is the B4 Bi-Turbo, which is based on the current 4 Series BMW coupe – and runs down the same production line, but has a twin-turbo inline six bolted into it. This engine is based on the N55 powerplant installed in the 435i, but its twin-turbo set-up and Akropavic exhaust are bespoke.

Compared with BMW's own M4, the Alpina B4 is more expensive, but Jeffery says that by the time the M4 is optioned up to a similar level, there's little to pick between them. Peak power from the 3.0-litre mill is 301kW, available between 5500 and 6250rpm. At 600Nm, the torque figure (arriving between 3000 and 4000rpm), is 50Nm better than the M4's.

Fuel consumption – with 98 RON recommended – is officially 7.6L/100km and the B4 takes 4.2 seconds for the 0-100km/h sprint.

Unlike the M car, the B4 has a ZF eight-speed automatic transmission, rather than the dual-clutch unit fitted to the M4. The torque is sent to the rear wheels, which are 9x20-inch alloys in Alpina's own multi-spoke style. At the front, the wheels measure 8x20-inch, shod with 245/30 ZR20 Michelin Pilot Super Sport tyres. The Michelins at the rear measure 265/30 ZR20.

Standard features for the B4 include Active Cruise Control (with Stop&Go), adaptive suspension, adaptive LED auto headlights, rain-sensing wipers, dual-zone climate control, an alarm, Merino leather, piano black trim with pearl chrome highlights, Harman Kardon DAB audio, voice control, satellite navigation, front/rear parking sensors, reversing camera, tyre pressure monitoring and multi-function steering wheel.

As standard, the B4 comes with front, side-impact and side curtain airbags.

Bringing Alpina to Australia has been a long, protracted process. The car assessed by motoring.com.au – a B4 Bi-Turbo built in 2014 – has only just completed ADR homologation and registration for the customer cars to follow. The distributor has plans to bring the B3 Touring model to Australia, and subsequently 5 Series and 7 Series variants. According to Jeffery, the homologation process is easier now that the first car – the B4 – is past the post.

Alpina is a brand long associated with BMW, and currently sells roughly 1800 cars around the globe. Fewer than 200 cars sold in Australia in 2017 would naturally increase the total by 10 per cent – assuming local consumers buy the Alpina product in that sort of number. The local distributor is confident BMW dealers around the country can achieve that, and has convinced the head office in Germany that selling Alpina products in Australia will be a sure-fire result, unlike a previous failed attempt some years back to establish the brand in New Zealand.

BMW for the year to date in 2016 has sold over 1200 units of 4 Series Coupe and Convertible. Combined sales of the B4 and the B3 Touring should amount to at least 20 units a month averaged out across the year.

Prices for the inaugural range are as follows:
B3 sedan – $155,900
B3 Touring (wagon) – $160,900
B4 Coupe – $160,900
B4 Convertible – $170,900