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Alpina, which has been tuning BMWs for years, has come up with a competitor to the new M5. It develops the very same quantity of power, reaches 60 mph in 4.7 seconds and has a top speed of 195 mph - Alpina doesn’t believe in 155 mph limiters for its cars. As an outcome, it claims this is the world’s fastest production sedan - and not many people would argue.

Heart of the BMW Alpina B5 - based on the 5 Series, like the M5 - is BMW’s 4.4 liter V-8. BMW’s M Division does without turbos and superchargers. Not Alpina; they’ve adopted a centrifugal compressor, engine driven, to enhance energy throughout the speed range and create the very same energy ouput as the BMW V-10.

Bu the system has a neat twist. At idling and when driving at low speed, the compressor does not operate, so gas mileage is fairly good. A throttle plate upstream of the supercharger cuts it in and out according to load.

Mighty effective with 500 bhp

This is often a mighty effective engine; at 2,500 rpm it develops 200 bhp, and ramps up to 500 bhp at only 5,500 rpm, so the character of the engine is completely distinct from BMW’s V-10. Thanks to the supercharger, there’s massive torque over a big range, with the maximum of 516 lb ft accessible from four,250 to 5,250 rpm - terrific mid-range energy.

The engine drives by means of a ZF six-speed automatic, and also the brakes, wheels and tires are all upgraded. The tires are Michelin Pilot Sport 2s, 245/40ZR 19 at the front and 275/35ZR 19 at the rear - these are just a bit narrower than those on the M5. The Alpina is also over 200 lb lighter than the M5 at three,790 lb. Not a copy, a various method to getting comparable performance. Do you favor revving to 8,000 rpm or receiving a massive thump in the back at 4,000-5,500 rpm?

If you fancy one thing a bit much more nimble, try the BMW Alpina B3 S Coupe. It really is powered by BMW’s straight six, bored out to 3.three liter. It churns out 305 bhp at 6,300 rpm. Good for 168 mph along with a 0-60 mph time of 5.four seconds. An accurate competitor for many sports cars.

John Hartley is editor of Alpina Cars , an on the internet magazine devoted to quickly cars and supercars. He has written from several of the world’s top auto magazines, and has written quite a few books about vehicles along with the auto industry, including ‘Suspension and Steering Q&A’ and ‘The Electronics Revolution in the Motor Industry’.

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