New 2011 F10 Alpina B5 spy photos. Testing new wheel design?

Jason · 03-29-2010, 09:38 AM

The 2011 Alpina B5 (F10) has previously been spotted undergoing testing around Alpina's headquarters, and it continues to undergo testing as shown in these new photos. What's interesting about these new photos is the new set of front wheels, which is possibly a new Alpina wheel design? Alpina has traditionally stuck to a narrow range of its traditional wheel designs for its cars and this is no Alpina design we've seen before. The previous B5 test cars spotted featured all wore the Alpina Dynamic wheels. Or, perhaps we're simply looking at a random set of test wheels (such as what the rear wheels appear to be).

As seen elsewhere in the photos, the B5 will feature an Alpina front bumper lip, sideskirts, quad exhaust, and raised trunk lid. The new B5 is expected to be based on the F10 550i, with a reworked 4.4L N63 motor (V8 twin turbo).

TonyMeister · 03-29-2010, 10:23 AM

Why the pair of exhausts on the right are oval and the pair on the left are circular?

Jason · 03-29-2010, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TonyMeister

Why the pair of exhausts on the right are oval and the pair on the left are circular?

Good eye! Perhaps they're testing two different muffler or exhaust tip designs?

vincmo · 03-29-2010, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jason

Good eye! Perhaps they're testing two different muffler or exhaust tip designs?

Hi guys, I think it's only a perspective effect. Both are oval. It's because they both point at and angle (towards the sides)...They are not pointing straight back.

Oulixes · 03-29-2010, 03:35 PM

TonyMeister and Jason are right, and there is no perspective at play - one set is elliptical, the other circular. I believe, each set comes from a different muffler, too, so it is either a test of two different mufflers, or it is a devious way to confuse us and the competition.

The OP mentioned it may be a new wheel design test. It probably is, people commented recently that the traditional Alpine wheel style looked dated.

Vintage · 03-29-2010, 03:53 PM

nope - both are oval; perspective is the issue; plus that front wheel appears to just be a BBS CX-R in silver

vincmo · 03-29-2010, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oulixes

TonyMeister and Jason are right, and there is no perspective at play - one set is elliptical, the other circular. I believe, each set comes from a different muffler, too, so it is either a test of two different mufflers, or it is a devious way to confuse us and the competition.

The OP mentioned it may be a new wheel design test. It probably is, people commented recently that the traditional Alpine wheel style looked dated.

I'm not sure...I think both are oval...Here is what I mean...But you could be right

numba1guju · 03-29-2010, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vincmo

Hi guys, I think it's only a perspective effect. Both are oval. It's because they both point at and angle (towards the sides)...They are not pointing straight back.

nope left is def circular and right is oval...or maybe youre right lol...not likin the front wheels but i think its because the alpina cap isnt on there...im really liking the oval tips because of their setting

BMWMB · 03-29-2010, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VintageBMW

nope - both are oval; perspective is the issue; plus that front wheel appears to just be a BBS CX-R in silver

True...

SleepTight · 03-29-2010, 04:19 PM

Bah, arguing about the shape of the exhaust pipes is easy. Who wants to argue that the rear wheel is the same as the front wheel?

cosmos515 · 03-29-2010, 04:34 PM

"Test Vehicle".....that's cute...

vladberca · 03-29-2010, 04:53 PM

i think that will have the same engine from b7

Levi · 03-29-2010, 05:02 PM

Is it me or does the Alpina B5 Biturbo have larger flared fenders then BMW 550i?

Malbolge · 03-29-2010, 05:06 PM

What are the rear rims? They are bloody perfect!

Quote:

Originally Posted by GhostRideTheWhip

LOVE IT!!!!!!

I've never seen a BMW with oval exhaust pipes. That's always been Mercedes-AMG's thing.

See 4 cylinder M sport cars. They got a big oval exhaust, some are finished in black chrome and look very good. Mine is oval too though not as pronounced as Merc. Still, oval pipes look very good as design. I'm all for it.

Boost Gomez · 03-29-2010, 06:12 PM

The front wheels are just BBS CX-R, not a new wheel design.

italy430 · 03-29-2010, 06:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boost Gomez

The front wheels are just BBS CX-R, not a new wheel design.

I'd say a negative on that!... if you actually study the wheel a bit you'll notice it's not the BBS. it looks like it, but it's not. a big giveaway is that on the BBS, the left spoke extends further over the wheel rim, the right stops earlier. the ones on the B5 are equidistant from the center.

Philritter21 · 03-29-2010, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by italy430

a big giveaway is that on the BBS, the left spoke extends further over the wheel rim, the right stops earlier.

Uhh thats exactly whats happening on the B5 wheels. Im not sure what you are seeing?

Boost Gomez · 03-29-2010, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Philritter21

Uhh thats exactly whats happening on the B5 wheels. Im not sure what you are seeing?

Maybe he's seeing a different picture.. The wheels on the test car are BBS CX-R, I am 100% certain.

italy430 · 03-29-2010, 10:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boost Gomez

Maybe he's seeing a different picture.. The wheels on the test car are BBS CX-R, I am 100% certain.

Ya, I take that back. they do for sure look like the BBS CX-R.... i zoomed in a ton to see the details a bit better.

x838nwy · 03-30-2010, 03:12 AM

The pipes look to be circular in cross-section. They are simply cut at an angle to their lengths. As such, if you look directly into them, they'd look circular, but from the side, they look elliptical - exactly like vincmo said.

The wheels do look to be CX-R's generally. They might not look 100% exactly the same as the wheel in the BBS picture, but we must bear in mind that wheels of the same model can look different depending on the rim size, offset, hole patterns etc.

I like the diffusers at the rear, though. I wonder if they do anything...

TonyMeister · 03-30-2010, 05:14 AM

I hope it doesn't have that coarse twin-turbo V8 from the X5 and X6 M, because that engine sounds horrible.

d3l0n · 03-30-2010, 11:11 PM

this car looks perfect

03-29-2010, 09:38 AM	#1
Jason Administrator Drives: E90 M3 Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: IoT Posts: 13,974 iTrader: (0)	New 2011 F10 Alpina B5 spy photos. Testing new wheel design? The 2011 Alpina B5 (F10) has previously been spotted undergoing testing around Alpina's headquarters, and it continues to undergo testing as shown in these new photos. What's interesting about these new photos is the new set of front wheels, which is possibly a new Alpina wheel design? Alpina has traditionally stuck to a narrow range of its traditional wheel designs for its cars and this is no Alpina design we've seen before. The previous B5 test cars spotted featured all wore the Alpina Dynamic wheels. Or, perhaps we're simply looking at a random set of test wheels (such as what the rear wheels appear to be). As seen elsewhere in the photos, the B5 will feature an Alpina front bumper lip, sideskirts, quad exhaust, and raised trunk lid. The new B5 is expected to be based on the F10 550i, with a reworked 4.4L N63 motor (V8 twin turbo). Attached Images __________________ Check on the Latest BMW News Become a fan of Bimmerpost Facebook Follow us on Bimmerpost Twitter Subscribe to Bimmerpost Youtube Channel
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03-29-2010, 04:34 PM	#11
cosmos515 Second Lieutenant Drives: I find what I keeps Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: So Cal Posts: 215 iTrader: (0)	"Test Vehicle".....that's cute... __________________ "Motion does not equal progress" "I love the smell of cosmoline in the morning"

03-29-2010, 06:12 PM	#15
Boost Gomez Colonel Drives: C63 AMG Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Miami Posts: 2,367 iTrader: (0) Garage List 2007 BMW 335i [0.00]	The front wheels are just BBS CX-R, not a new wheel design. __________________

03-30-2010, 11:11 PM	#22
d3l0n I love the ///M3, but I want 550hp ///M5 Drives: BMW330iE90 Join Date: May 2006 Location: NYC Posts: 3,235 iTrader: (1) Garage List 2006 BMW 330i (E90) [4.50]	this car looks perfect __________________ .::d3l0n::. FS: OEM SG Side Skirts - Sparkling Graphite - PRE-LCI FS: OEM Carbon Fiber Rear Diffuser FS: (SG) E90 OEM Rear Bumper - Sparkling Graphite - Pre-LCI 328/330 i/xi

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03-29-2010, 10:23 AM	#2
TonyMeister Second Lieutenant Drives: Not a BMW... Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Manchester, UK Posts: 201 iTrader: (0)	Why the pair of exhausts on the right are oval and the pair on the left are circular?

03-29-2010, 03:35 PM	#5
Oulixes Lieutenant Colonel Drives: 330xi, 335i Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Terra Borealis Posts: 1,942 iTrader: (0)	TonyMeister and Jason are right, and there is no perspective at play - one set is elliptical, the other circular. I believe, each set comes from a different muffler, too, so it is either a test of two different mufflers, or it is a devious way to confuse us and the competition. The OP mentioned it may be a new wheel design test. It probably is, people commented recently that the traditional Alpine wheel style looked dated.

03-29-2010, 03:53 PM	#6
Vintage Colonel Drives: 2010 Z4 35i and 2010 X5 35d Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 2,050 iTrader: (0)	nope - both are oval; perspective is the issue; plus that front wheel appears to just be a BBS CX-R in silver

03-29-2010, 04:19 PM	#10
SleepTight Second Lieutenant Drives: 2013 BMW M5 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Long Island, New York Posts: 286 iTrader: (0)	Bah, arguing about the shape of the exhaust pipes is easy. Who wants to argue that the rear wheel is the same as the front wheel?

03-29-2010, 04:53 PM	#12
vladberca Colonel Drives: '09 jetta tsi 6mt Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Craiova Posts: 2,815 iTrader: (0)	i think that will have the same engine from b7

03-29-2010, 05:02 PM	#13
Levi Colonel Drives: Alfa Romeo Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Germany Posts: 2,532 iTrader: (0)	Is it me or does the Alpina B5 Biturbo have larger flared fenders then BMW 550i?

03-30-2010, 03:12 AM	#20
x838nwy Private First Class Drives: nothing right now... Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Thailand Posts: 178 iTrader: (0)	The pipes look to be circular in cross-section. They are simply cut at an angle to their lengths. As such, if you look directly into them, they'd look circular, but from the side, they look elliptical - exactly like vincmo said. The wheels do look to be CX-R's generally. They might not look 100% exactly the same as the wheel in the BBS picture, but we must bear in mind that wheels of the same model can look different depending on the rim size, offset, hole patterns etc. I like the diffusers at the rear, though. I wonder if they do anything...

03-30-2010, 05:14 AM	#21
TonyMeister Second Lieutenant Drives: Not a BMW... Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Manchester, UK Posts: 201 iTrader: (0)	I hope it doesn't have that coarse twin-turbo V8 from the X5 and X6 M, because that engine sounds horrible.