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M4 who? The new Alpina B4 Bi-turbo tries to improve on the ultimate driving machine

Alpina’s new B4 Biturbo may wear the blue and white logo of BMW, but the M4-based two-door has been re-engineered under Alpina’s supervision from the near ground up.

The aerodynamics, 20-inch signature wheels, and eight-speed automatic transmission are all new for the B4 coupe and convertible. Perhaps the biggest difference, though, is the engine: the Bi-turbo uses a revamped version of the 335i’s N44 straight-six, rather than the S55 B30 from the new M4. 

The re-jiggered 3.0-liter straight-six yields 410 horsepower and 443 pound-feet of torque, 20 fewer hp but 38 more torques than the M4 can muster. Alpina manages this by moving from a single turbo system to a twin, which improves throttle response. Engine internals, like the crankshaft, are now forged steel, and there’s a new cooling system to keep everything under the hood tidy.

As far as acceleration goes, the M4 is a bit quicker to 60 mph: 3.9 seconds with the six-speed manual and 4.1 for the 7-speed dual-clutch. The B4 Coupe needs 4.2 seconds to reach 60 with the automatic. And as with all Alpinas, the auto is the only transmission offered. However, for left-hand drive markets, the Alpina will be available in all-wheel drive mode that’ll get the job done in 4.0 seconds flat.

The B4 may be a tad slower, but it has the Bimmer beat in fuel efficiency : the M4 gets approximately 25 mpg on the highway, while the Bi-turbo can manage a stunning 37.2 mpg in coupe layout. The Alpina is pricier, though. The coupe starts $78,452, a noticeable jump over the M4 Coupe’s $64,200 base price. The convertible will run $85,542.

The Alpina will debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed next week, and it will do so with some extraordinary company: The Bentley Continental GT3, Elemental RP1, 2015 Range Rover Sport, a new, track-focused McLaren, and many more are all expected to make appearances at the event.

Andrew Hard
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Andrew first started writing in middle school and hasn't put the pen down since. Whether it's technology, music, sports, or…
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