If there's £70,000 burning a hole in your pocket and you can't wait for the next M5, there's this, the Alpina B5 Biturbo.
Alpina has extracted 500bhp and 516lb.ft of torque from the 4.4-litre twin-turbo engine expected to power the M5. It will strike 191mph, getting past 62mph in just 4.7 seconds.
The eight-speed ZF automatic gearbox already found in the 5 Series acts as negotiator between engine and wheels, albeit re-programmed to better suit those gargantuan torque and power numbers.
And because of EfficientDynamics, Alpina hasn't had to do much to coax a very respectable 26.1mpg combined and 252g/km from it.
First deliveries begin in autumn, or if you want an altogether cheaper way to a spruced-up 5 Series, you could order a 520d with the
just announced M Sport pack.
Mark Nichol - 6 Jul 2010