Test Drive Alpina B3 Convertible since 2007 Convertible
Leading together
BMW Alpina B3 Allrad. Price: from 79 900. On sale: since July 2008 The family-owned enterprise from the German town of Bucket, for more than 40 years, engaged in the creation of exclusive sports cars under the Alpina brand, began to produce all-wheel drive models based on BMW 3-Series
Despite a number of fundamental differences, the main competitors of Alpina cars are charged BMW from the Motorsport GmbH division: similar dynamics and prices of these machines give full right to carry out such parallels. However, in the spring of this year, a fracture occurred in the opposition of two rivals. Alpina played a trump card, which producers Emok had nothing to cover. This trump card was the all-wheel drive version of the BMW Alpina B3 coupe of an irreconcilable BMW M3 enemy. The installation of a all-wheel drive transmission increased overclocking time to a hundred only 0.1 seconds and reduced the maximum speed by 5 km / h, however, against the background of the advantages that the dynamics can be closed on such a minor deterioration in the dynamics.
The feature of Alpina sports cars is that they can be used not only as a weekend car, but also for everyday trips as well as serial BMW. Thanks to the optimal settings of the shock absorbers, outstanding the power and torque characteristics of the hand-made inflatable engines, as well as the mandatory automatic transmission with the branded manual switching system, the Switch-Tronic gear of the machine from bugs are a healthy compromise of comfort and sports character. However, the restriction for the operation of such sports cars can enter the weather: on a slippery road, a powerful rear-wheel drive beast requires a professional teller. In this regard, the four-wheel drive is preferable: when the torque is distributed between four wheels, and does not collapse avalanche on the rear axle, to cope with the car is much easier.
Rain during a test drive that may be worse! But the shower, which broke out when testing BMW Alpina B3 Allrad on the autobahn in the vicinity of Munich, was our hand: a great opportunity to check the advantages of a full drive! At a speed of 200 km / h, wiper works at the maximum, but still do not have time to completely clean the glass from water flows. The car is standing on the road as glove: there is no hint of a decrease in informativeness. Last year, last year, when testing BMW Alpina B3, the drop in the steering force at the same speed caused discomfort. This problem was not ignored by Alpina engineers: they worked on the suspension, and now even on the wet track, the steering remains collected. What about overclocking? Give the speed, and immediately the gas pedal to the floor: the motor takes a deafeningly high octave, the overloads are pressed into the chair, but I manage to notice the edge of the eye, that the light of the anti-slip system on the instrument panel has not caught fire. Four leading wheels managed to digest all half-one Buturbo. Of course, German Autobans are not domestic roads, but, even despite the approach of testing conditions for ideal, they allow you to make a major conclusion: a four-wheel drive has practically did not affect the dynamics, providing the best control over the car on a slippery coating. In our climatic conditions, the novelty Alpina will become an excellent sports car for every day.
20 years later Alpina's world fame is largely obliged by motor racing. For the first time, Alpina car went to the racing track in 1968, after which the company began to participate in competitions on a regular basis, attracting the best riders, among which the nicknames of Lauda, \u200b\u200bJacques X, Hans, and Dieter Quester. Alpina's account was three victories in the European Body Championship, first place in SPA-Francorchamps, as well as numerous victories on a 24-hour race on Nürburgring. However, despite the success, the limited production capacity of the enterprise into bugs forced Alpina to leave the big sport. This happened in 1988, and after 20 years, the company announced the intention to return to the motor sport: in 2009, a specially prepared version of Alpina B6 S was performed within the framework of the FIA \u200b\u200bGT3 championship with a motor capacity of 530 hp
Driving
Cancelled dynamics and handling. Powerful brake system.
Salon
The interior can be completely overcame according to the wishes of the customer.
Comfort
At a high level, although low-profile tires make a car susceptible to the quality of the road coating.
Safety
Complies with the characteristics of the serial BMW 3-Series, which received 5 stars Euro NCAP.
Price
Alpina cars are not suiced, but such a fee for exclusivity.
Advantages and disadvantages + The dynamics and controllability of sports car are combined with the comfort of serial BMW, the ability to individualize the car.
- Hard suspension, high price.
Specifications
Brand and Model - BMW Alpina B3 Allrad
Dimensions - 4580x1782x1410
Engine - gasoline, 2979 cm3, 360 hp / 55006000 min-1
Transmission - automatic, 6-speed
Dynamics of MAX 280 km / h; 4.9 s to 100 km / h
Competitors - Audi RS4
Our opinion
The release of the all-wheel drive car is an important step for the development of the success of Alpina in the Russian market. The coupe is not the only model of the company with all the leading wheels: soon the appearance of the B3 Allrad sedan is expected, which has all the chances of becoming alpina sales in our country.
Posted by: Maxim Fedorov
