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2010 2011 BMW 5 Series Forum F10 BMW 5-Series (F10) Forums General 5-Series Sedan and Wagon (F10 / F11) Forum First Drive and photos of F10 Alpina B5 BiTurbo Sedan
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      07-01-2010, 06:26 AM   #1
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Exclamation First Drive and photos of F10 Alpina B5 BiTurbo Sedan

As many of you know, and has Alpina has teased last week, the new B5 is to debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed this week (July 1-4), and here are the first photos of the car from the ground! We hope to see more pictures of the car in its full wallpaper glory, but for now enjoy

Technical Specs known so far:
Quote:
507hp
700Nm torque
0-62mph: 4.7 secs
Top speed: 191mph
8 speed switchtronic
UPDATED WITH AUTOCAR FIRST DRIVE REVIEW:

Quote:
http://www.autocar.co.uk/CarReviews/...-B5-B5/250850/

Alpina B5
Test date 29 June 2010

What is it?


It's the new Alpina B5 Biturbo, the latest creation from the BMW-based manufacturer and the first chance we’ve had to sample a 'performance' version of the new 5-series.

Recent Alpinas have avoided using the same engines as M division products, but the B5 will come pretty close to going head to head with the forthcoming M5. It shares the same basic 4.4-litre V8 engine (the inlet set-up is different), equipped with two retuned turbochargers.

In Alpina tune the unit produces a flat 500bhp and 516lb ft. That's enough, says the firm, to take the car from 0-62mph in 4.7sec and onto a gloriously unrestricted 191mph.

Unlike the M5, which is likely to use a dual-clutch transmission, the B5 gets an eight-speed automatic. But the unit has been developed by Alpina and ZF, and it uses a trick way of speeding up shifts when you're in one of the car's sportier modes.

Instead of merely retarding the engine timing, the B5 uses its direct injection tech to merely cut off a cylinder or two. Alpina says the system cuts gearshift times in two, to around 180ms.

What's it like?

Jaw-droppingly fast. We drove the B5 from Alpina's base in Buchloe to the UK - in time for its appearance at the Goodwood Festival of Speed - and with an empty stretch of autobahn in front of it, it's supercar quick.

Alpina's claim of 0-62mph in 4.7sec feels conservative - and as for the top speed, well, we saw an indicated 190mph with three and their luggage aboard, and it was still pulling strongly.

Truth is, though, that making a 5-series with this engine feel strong on a motorway was never going to be the biggest challenge faced by Alpina's engineers. More testing is the task of making it handle on poor surfaces and twisty roads, and here the firm's modifications - lower suspension, non-runflat tyres and comprehensive reprogramming of BMW's adjustable dampers - pays off.

We wouldn't say the B5 has precisely the same level of agility and subtlety as Jaguar's XFR - but it's not far off it at all, and that means it's very good indeed. Revised steering programming makes the wheel feel lighter at low speeds than a 5-series, and weightier when you're pushing on, and it's a more satisfying set-up than BMW's.

With the car in Sport or Sport+ set-up the ride is firm but still compliant (no runflats, remember, just Michelin Pilot Sport 2s, or Pilot Super Sports on the final cars) and body control is excellent.

That trick transmission works well, too; we can't think of many dual-clutch units that beat it on speed and smoothness. The engine has massive urge from beneath 2000rpm, and if you push on it makes a great Nascar-esque soundtrack. It's perfectly docile for everyday use, though; cruise along at 80mph (barely 1900rpm) and it's silent.

Should I buy one?

At around £70k, the B5 will sit above the Jaguar XFR on price, but beat it hands down on exclusivity. Even our car - production prototype number one - was beautifully finished, the spec is relatively generous by BMW standards and Alpina can also offer a personal service matched by no mass manufacturer.

Of course, you could be tempted to wait for the M5, which will offer a more hardcore experience but, almost inevitably, more compromises on ride quality to boot. But if you're more sold on a 5-series than an XF, we'd be sorely tempted to put down a deposit now. Even by Alpina's relatively high standards, this is the firm's most complete package ever.
Source: Neil Whitehead via E38_E30 on GCF

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      07-01-2010, 06:45 AM   #2
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Fantastic looks. Much better than the M package imo.

The wheels too are great and proportionally right.

http://www.autocar.co.uk/News/NewsAr...llCars/250837/



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      07-01-2010, 07:06 AM   #3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Robin Hood View Post
Fantastic looks. Much better than the M package imo.

The wheels too are great and proportionally right.

http://www.autocar.co.uk/News/NewsAr...llCars/250837/



















I think the M - sport pack for the 5 is the clumsiest design on a BMW to date. The e60 M-sport was eye candy. Very disappointed...
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      07-01-2010, 07:07 AM   #4
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      07-01-2010, 07:25 AM   #5
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Nice..........
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      07-01-2010, 07:29 AM   #6
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Exclamation

BY FAR better than BMW's muddled up M sport look for the new 5
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      07-01-2010, 07:39 AM   #7
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507hp? 191mph?
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      07-01-2010, 08:00 AM   #8
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8 speed auto? If I'm not wrong, the Alpina B7 uses a 6 speed auto.Hmm, have they upgraded the 6 speed auto in Alpina b7 too?

Anyway, looks good in a gracious way.

Quote:
Originally Posted by d3l0n View Post
507hp? 191mph?
This.
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      07-01-2010, 08:00 AM   #9
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nice. better than Mpack. exhausts look menacing and correct shape too! beautiful car, in black it will be a monster.
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      07-01-2010, 08:44 AM   #10
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I like the back much better than the front. If I end up purchasing a 550, I would switch the exhaust to double dual exhaust.
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      07-01-2010, 08:52 AM   #11
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Rear bumper is superb, front and rims don't suit at all.
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      07-01-2010, 09:02 AM   #12
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      07-01-2010, 09:15 AM   #13
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Quote:
8 speed auto? If I'm not wrong, the Alpina B7 uses a 6 speed auto.Hmm, have they upgraded the 6 speed auto in Alpina b7 too?
I'm 90% sure they use the 8speed in the B7 as well. I drove one about a month ago.


Alpina B5 that's what I'm talking about! Way better looking than the M-package on the exterior... now I just hope it somehow gets the M-package interior
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      07-01-2010, 09:19 AM   #14
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I agree

rear and rims look great....but the front looks like something from the 80s
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      07-01-2010, 09:21 AM   #15
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ok first off, damn! that looks great, alpina never fails to please me visually with aesthetics!

on the other side of it...they really need to get off their own nutz about those wheels, they are awesome in their own sense but they have been on every alpina car since like 1354 BC LOL

that front end also does need to be broken up a bit because that huge ass black smiles makes me giggle when it looks at me
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      07-01-2010, 09:35 AM   #16
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hope alpina makes just a front lip add-on for non non m sport front f10 bumpers (like they did for the e60's)


I think the rdsport f10 front bumper looks the most promising thus far...
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      07-01-2010, 09:54 AM   #17
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I had to come back and comment again. This is the best looking four door car I've ever seen. Bar none.

Bravo Alpina. Bravo.

Now bring it stateside!!!!!!!!
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      07-01-2010, 10:26 AM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by GreenPlease View Post
I had to come back and comment again. This is the best looking four door car I've ever seen. Bar none.

Bravo Alpina. Bravo.

Now bring it stateside!!!!!!!!
doubt a stateside alpina b5 will ever happen....sadly...
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      07-01-2010, 10:35 AM   #19
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      07-01-2010, 10:45 AM   #20
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Wow thats an ugly mug. Love the rest though.
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      07-01-2010, 11:23 AM   #21
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It says that it does 26 Mpg combined.

26 Mpg UK = 22 Mpg US.
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      07-01-2010, 11:29 AM   #22
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Quote:
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Rear bumper is superb, front and rims don't suit at all.
Couldn't agree more!
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