► New 2017 Alpina B5 spied
► It’s the faster 5-series Touring
► Spotted testing at Nurburgring
Here’s proof of just how closely Alpina and BMW work together: the famous Beemer fettlers have already been given access to the new 2017 5-series exec.
Our spies caught the new B5 Touring on test at the Nurburgring circuit in Germany, a famous hotspot for premium car makers to tune the ride and handling dynamics of their new wares. And make the ride rock-hard.
Happily, Alpina has a record of avoiding the leaden suspension often associated with ‘Ring lap times, thanks to carefully recalibrated springs and dampers. We hope the same is true here.
Both a petrol-powered B5 and a diesel demon D5 are on the drawing board at Alpina’s Buchloe HQ.
Alpina B5: what to expect
This is set to be a seriously wicked wagon, with the B5 – which features the familiar 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 – mooted to pack a total of 600bhp. The D5 will use a tri-turbo straight six mustering some 400bhp.
The new BMW 5-series is expected to be unveiled in late 2016, ahead of sales starting in spring 2017 – but Alpina is likely to wait until the next M5 is shown before officially unveiling the B5.
That points to a launch in late 2017, according to CAR’s sources. Traditional Alpina bodykit, suspension tuning and cucumber-slicing multi-spoke alloys are a given.
What is it with fast estates?
This car should plug an obvious gap in BMW’s range, as it has only occasionally offered an M5 Touring. Unlike Audi (RS6) and Mercedes (AMG E63), Munich has been more reticent in serving antique dealers and dog owners in a serious rush.
Only the E61 and E34 5-series ranges were officially given the M division treatment. Hence Alpina, BMW’s preferred tuning company for half a century, stepping into the breech.
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