Forbidden Fruit: 2014 Alpina B3 Biturbo And XD3 Biturbo

Alpina isn’t a brand that is too well known in North America. It only offers one model, the top-dog B7 Biturbo that we reviewed a few months back. For model year 2014, Alpina is adding a pair of new, modified BMWs to its European product range. First, is the replacement for the E90 3-Series, which carries on the B3 Biturbo designation.

 

The B3 Biturbo is the kind of vehicle you buy if you just cannot wait for the M3 and the standard 335i isn’t quite tough enough. Its 3.0-liter, biturbocharged six-cylinder has been boosted to 410 horsepower and 442 pound-feet of torque. Yes, we think that’ll do quite nicely.

 

The extra oomph of the B3 will get you to 62 miles per hour in just 4.2 seconds and on to a top speed of 190 mph.

 

An eight-speed automatic, standard on the regular 3-Series, gains Alpina’s Switch-Tronic technology, and the accompanying shift buttons on the back of the steering wheel. As the roads of the world aren’t straight, Alpina has fitted its own sport suspension, that promises greater agility without a compromise in comfort. The Alpina B3 is available in both rear and all-wheel drive, as well as in both sedan and wagon bodies.

 

The XD3 Biturbo is a new model for Alpina, and represents the brand’s first foray into BMW’s so-called Sport Activity Vehicle segment. Based on the X3, the Alpina borrows the 3.0-liter, straight-six turbodiesel from Alpina’s tweaked 5-Series, the D5 Biturbo. That means a modest 350 horsepower and a stump-pulling 516 pound-feet of torque.

 

The result of this sporty diesel is 30 miles per gallon in the city, and 37 mpg on the highway. And if fuel economy isn’t your concern, the XD3 will still hit 62 mph in a brisk 4.9 seconds.

 

Both cars receive extensive aesthetic tweaks. 20-inch Alpina Classic wheels are shod in Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires. Aerodynamic tweaks include new front and rear fascias, a meaty decklid spoiler, and a set of quad exhausts mounted out back. The interior receives some subtle tweaks, most notably with the addition of Alpina’s custom, leather-wrapped steering wheel.

 

Prices for a base B3 Biturbo start at €65,000 for a rear-drive sedan and extend to €69,700 for an all-wheel-drive wagon. The XD3, meanwhile, starts at €67,000.