Alpina B3 LCI now on sale

ALPINA Automobiles Australia has announced specification and pricing of its updated B3 Sedan and Touring range.

Priced from $152,900 (plus on-road costs) for the Sedan and $155,900 (+ ORCs) for the Touring – the variants are $10,000 more expensive than their pre-facelift predecessors – the B3 LCI (Life Cycle Impulse) gains a revised drivetrain, a new exterior design and the latest BMW innovations in the areas of digitalisation and connectivity.

Revised engine software sees the BMW-sourced twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre I6 produce an additional 24kW (now 364kW) and 30Nm (now 730Nm) with earlier torque delivery (2500-4500rpm) and a recalibrated eight-speed automatic transmission that Alpina says “ensures an unforgettable driving experience.”

The B3 duo feature a rear-biased all-wheel-drive system that can catapult the Sedan from zero to100km/h in 3.6 seconds, with the Touring a tenth of a second slower (3.7 seconds). The WLTP-tested fuel economy figure of both variants is 10.1 litres per 100km (on the combined cycle).

Alpina’s B3 Sedan and Touring ride on model-specific front pivot joints that are said to allow increased negative camber to facilitate sharper steering responses and better front-end grip. The variants’ electrically assisted steering system offers a variable ratio to improve low- speed manoeuvrability as well as high-speed stability.

Eibach springs are fitted at each corner of the B3, as well as three-stage variable dampers, which can be set to Comfort, Comfort+, Sport and Sport+ modes.

Braking arrives courtesy of an Alpina performance braking system featuring 395mm front brake discs clamped by four-piston calipers, while the rear 345mm discs use floating-piston-type calipers. Behind the eye-catching 19-inch Dynamic light alloys, each caliper is painted in timeless Alpina Blue and features a white Alpina logo.

Inside the cabin, both variants feature a large (14.9-inch) curved instrument panel and central infotainment display with Alpina-specific graphics. Other LCI updates include a Lavalina leather-trimmed steering wheel with blue and green stitching, piano-black trim garnishing, plus Alpina-specific door sill finishers, floormats and head restraint logos.

Tech updates see the B3 range equipped with BMW 3 Series LCI features such as Live Cockpit Professional, head-up display, Driving Assistant Plus, Parking Assistant Plus, Comfort Access, a 16-speaker harman/Kardon surround sound system, heated steering wheel, DAB+ digital radio reception, and heated front sport seats in Vernasca leather.

Alpina Automobiles Australia further offers the B3 range with a range of optional equipment, including a so called “Autobahn Edition” especially tailored for the local market; it includes all the Alpina Identity items bundled into a single option pack.

The package includes Alpina Blue or Alpina Green II Paintwork, floormats and luggage compartment mat with leather piping, aluminium pedals, High Performance brake system, 20-inch Classic alloy wheels, Merino leather upholstery and leather dashboard trim, sunroof, adaptive LED headlights, high-beam assistance, drive recorder, wireless charging pad, as well as Shadow Line Extended trim garnishing.

Bespoke Lavalina leather interior packages that use Alpina’s in-house saddlery to offer what the brand says is “a truly unique luxury solution in the cockpit” are also offered.

Alpina models are backed by a three-year/unlimited kilometre warranty with complimentary roadside assistance. Servicing is via BMW dealerships following the same requirements as the M340i xDrive variant.

“Both the B3 Sedan and B3 Touring, with now even more power and torque, ensure plenty of driving pleasure,” said Alpina Australia national sales manager Phil Jeffery.

“Alpina B3 models are very successful in Australia and the model year 2023 will build on this success.”

2022 Alpina B3 pricing*:

*Pricing excludes on-road costs.