Alpina confirms new B3 Touring for Australia

JUST one month after its public debut at the Frankfurt motor show, Alpina Automobiles Australia has locked in the third-generation B3 Touring sports wagon for a release in the second half of next year.

While pricing and specification will be confirmed closer to its local launch date, the 3 Series-based B3 Touring will head Down Under packing BMW M’s latest 3.0-litre twin-turbo inline six-cylinder engine, the S58 destined for the next-generation M3 sports sedan.

Given that an M3 Touring is once again not expected, the B3 offers buyers the opportunity to get into a wagon that is more practical than the sedan thanks to its 500L of cargo capacity, which can expand to a cavernous 1510L with the rear bench stowed.

That said, the B3 line-up is expected to soon double with the addition of an M3-rivalling sedan body style, meaning Alpina enthusiasts will likely get the best of both worlds.

As reported, the Alpina-tweaked S58 produces 340kW of power from 5000-7000rpm and 700Nm of torque from 3000-4750rpm, which is down 35kW but up 100Nm on BMW M’s most potent version of the engine that currently does service in the M Competition variants of the X3 and X4 mid-size SUVs.

Alpina is yet to release performance figures for the new B3 Touring, but given the preceding 324kW/660Nm B3 S Touring torched the zero-to-100km/h sprint in a scant 4.3 seconds, it is likely to take closer to four seconds flat.

In the B3 Touring, an eight-speed torque-converter automatic transmission supplied by ZF but tuned by Alpina sends drive to all four wheels via a rear-biased version of BMW’s xDrive system. An electronically controlled limited-slip differential is also fitted to the rear axle.

Significantly, matte-black paddle-shifters CNC machined from solid aluminium are mounted on the steering wheel as standard for the first time, replacing the old button-style set-up.

The B3 Touring’s claimed fuel consumption on the WLTP combined-cycle test is 11.1 litres per 100 kilometres.

It also features specific steering and suspension, with the latter picking up an exclusive Comfort+ mode for its adaptive dampers.

Sitting behind 19-inch Dynamic or 20-inch Classic alloy wheels wrapped in specially developed Pirelli P Zero ‘ALP’ tyres, the B3 Touring’s braking package consists of 395mm front discs with four-piston callipers, and 345mm rear rotors with floating single-pot stoppers. The calliper bodies are painted blue and feature white ‘Alpina’ logos.

The B3 Touring features specific bumpers, quad exhaust tailpipes and a sloping rear spoiler to further visually separate it from the 3 Series, while its steering wheel is trimmed in hand-stitched Lavalina leather, which can be optioned to cover addition cabin surfaces.

It also gets a vehicle-specific production plaque and metal emblems integrated into the front seat backrests and floormats as well as unique colour and trim combinations.

“The new Alpina B3 Touring presents a unique option to the Australian marketplace,” said Alpina Automobiles Australia national sales manager Phil Jeffery.

“With all the practicality of a Touring wagon, the security of all-wheel drive, incredible performance and bespoke styling options, the B3 Touring ticks a lot of desirable boxes.”