B3/B4 [Spyshots] BMW Alpina B3 Spied

[DeDe]

No no no no
I don't blame you, but you haven't been following the F80 M3 much have you? Target weight for F80 is the E46 M3. Vastly different from the current M5 and M6, and also compared to the E90 Alpina B3. The B3 S is not the perfect example at all.
So you shouldn't be so sure about the new B3 being close to the new M3, I don't think it will be like it has been the last couple of years.

We heard this "weight-reduction" topic a few times recently and most of them was only a marketing trick. Good examples are the 991 Carrera models. Or the new Range Rover.

But I'm also curious to see the new weight-reduction tricks of M GmbH, since the bases are the same for M3 and B3.

 

[Levi68]

What insiders say is that the difference between E9XM and F8XM will be bigger than it ever was before (generation to generation). I guess most has to do with weight-reduction, and the improvement is such, that even a mediocre N55 is enough to power the next M3.

 

[E38_E30]

update via Alpina's facebook site:

The all new BMW ALPINA B3 Bi-Turbo: 8-Speed Sport-Automatic Transmission, Adaptive ALPINA Sport Suspension, 20" ALPINA CLASSIC Wheels, Optional All-Wheel Drive. See for yourself at the Geneva Motor Show, 7th - 17th of March, Stand 6252, Hall 6.

 

[Levi68]

This pic doesn't actually reveal anything, not even the tire size. But good to see Michelin Pilot Super Sport. It almost is the "M3 F30", especially if the rumors are true that the engine is based on the high performance version of N55, which is known as S55 in the M3 F80.

 

[picsoubmw]

From BMW Car Magazine facebook page :

 

[Levi68]

"Biturbo N55". I now wonder how closely it is related to S55 which also is a biturbo version of N55. It would actually make sense for the M3 to get V6, but unfortunately it is not happening.

Regarding the gap between 335i and M3, I honestly don't see any. 335i is already @ 50K, so most clients wanting to more can already spend another 30K.

 

[Giannis]

It would actually make sense for the M3 to get V6, but unfortunately it is not happening.

There we go again...

In what way does it make sense for the M3 to get V6 in your opinion? And what's wrong with a perfectly fine I6?

@Levi68

 

[Levi68]

There we go again...

In what way does it make sense for the M3 to get V6 in your opinion? And what's wrong with a perfectly fine I6?

@Levi68

There is nothing wrong with a perfectly fine I6 engine. N55 is a good engine, but not for an M car and thus not a perfectly fine I6 engine. BMW managed to turn the M54 into an M engine, I don't see that possible with with the N55. Unlike the S54, the S55 will not be a high-revving engine. I don't see how that is possible, especially with the given PS figures of the VIN leak. S55 is a big let-down compared to Porsche's new 3.8 Flat6s. Well I'm waiting for official details/reveal, but I don't have high hopes. I don't want to be disapointed as I was with the 1M.

 

[Giannis]

There is nothing wrong with a perfectly fine I6 engine. N55 is a good engine, but not for an M car and thus not a perfectly fine I6 engine. BMW managed to turn the M54 into an M engine, I don't see that possible with with the N55. Unlike the S54, the S55 will not be a high-revving engine. I don't see how that is possible, especially with the given PS figures of the VIN leak. S55 is a big let-down compared to Porsche's new 3.8 Flat6s. Well I'm waiting for official details/reveal, but I don't have high hopes. I don't want to be disapointed as I was with the 1M.

So, what about the V6? You didn't say anything new...

Or, you believe that if it was a turbocharged V6, it could have a high-rev limiter, or just be special enough. Then again, special enough in what way? Of just being different (I said different, not better)?

 

[Levi68]

So, what about the V6? You didn't say anything new...

Or, you believe that if it was a turbocharged V6, it could have a high-rev limiter, or just be special enough. Then again, special enough in what way? Of just being different (I said different, not better)?

Why do you think the Nissan GT-R switched from I6 to V6? And that I6 was far from being a bad engine.

 

[Levi68]

Back to topic:

Specs have been released. Apparently it is not N55, but still N54. Not sure though.

BMW Alpina B3 Biturbo
Twin-Turbo 3.0l I6
410 PS @ 5.500-6.250 RPM
600 Nm @ 3.000 RPM
8-Speed Automatic
V-max: 305 km/h (RWD) / 302 km/h (AWD)
0-100 km/h: 4.2 sec (RWD) / 4.0 sec (AWD)
0-200 km/h: 14.0 sec
Average Consumption: 7.6l/100km (RWD) / 7.9l/100km (AWD)
CO²: 177 g/km (RWD) / 183 g/km (AWD)
Base Price: 65.000 €



This has almost "new M3". The M3 F80 has to offer really something special, other than the ///M badge. Weight reduction is good, but not if it is at the cost of what made the M3 so successful for all these years.

 

[Giannis]

Apparently it is not N55, but still N54.

I am under the impression that the N54's internals are forged, as opposed to cast pistons and rods for the N55, which makes the N54 a more durable, yet expensive engine.

I recall reading it a few months back in BP, but I am not sure.

 

[DeDe]

14,0 sec 0-200, wow! Almost 2 seconds quicker than the B3 S and 1,5 s faster than the current M3 DKG.

 

[DblPen]

so people who wants AWD m3, can just buy AWD b3. and shouldnt there be b3 s version along the way?

 

[Levi68]

B3 S was introduced at facelift.

 

[Sunny]

BMW managed to turn the M54 into an M engine, I don't see that possible with with the N55.

Fortunately BMW's or M's expertise is not limited by the scope what you see as possible.

S55 is a big let-down compared to Porsche's new 3.8 Flat6s.

Yes, I agree between an engine that officially exists and one that doesn't, I would always pick the one that does.

I don't want to be disapointed as I was with the 1M.

If 1M was disappointment for you, I sincerely hope next M3 is too.

So, what about the V6? You didn't say anything new...

The V6 costs a nice round $1million more to develop so they canned it... Remember that Levi? lol

 

[DblPen]

B3 S was introduced at facelift.

so f30 b3 s will come with facelift only?

 

[E38_E30]

B3 S was introduced at facelift.

Sorry, not true.
B3S BiTurbo was presented at Geneva 2010.

 

[Levi68]

Wasn't it only at facelift that the B7 got a power upgrade? The B3 S also is only a power up-grade from 360 PS to 400 PS. The B3 S replaced the B3. It was not at facelift?

 

[E38_E30]

Levi you have to be more precise.

Which 7-series? E65 didn't get a power upgrade with the facelift although 6- and 5-series got one close to or shortly after BMW released the LCI version. All these models used the same powertrain, the supercharged 4.4 V8 cranking out 500 hp or 530 hp with the 'S' designation. Alpina offered this upgrade as a retrofit package to customers with LCI B5.

3-series is a different story though. It's not "just" a power upgrade. They altered a lot of the cooling system and the airflow to realize the 400 hp not just on paper but also to make sure the engine still can meet the reliability requirements of Alpina and BMW. This upgrade was not available as retrofit. The S model was introduced at Geneva '10 and the LCI 3-series was in showrooms for quite some time.

Everything was different again with the advent of the F10/11 B5 BiTurbo upgrade to 540 hp coming almost out of the blue. No facelift, no S-model. Just the power upgrade. To be honest, the engine debuted in the B6 BiT first and customers demanded the hp gain since the predecessor had more beef on the ribs. So, this update was obvious.

To cut a long story short: If Alpina has more power on tap, it's still not sure how, when and if they will release it. LCI is a good bet, sometimes. But then again they just don't do what we expect ...

btt: let's lay back and relax. The pre-LCI F30 B3 BiT is about to be released and I'm excited!