What's the news?
Alpina, the Buchloe-based manufacturer that takes BMWs and makes them even faster and more luxurious, has turned its attentions to the four-door 6 Series, giving us the B6 Gran Coupé. Interestingly, the company has paired its sensational 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 engine with BMW's xDrive all-wheel drive set-up.
Exterior
The 6 Series GC is, if anything, better-looking than the two-door it is based upon and Alpina's time-honoured, classy additions do wonders for the B6. One of the finest alloy wheel designs of all time, colloquially known as the 'Alpina cotton reel', is on display, here in 20-inch and 21-spoke specification.
The beefed up body kit around the lower sections of the GC isn't just for show but has aerodynamic benefits too, with the front, Alpina-branded bumper directing airflow over and around the body rather than under it, leading to increased high-speed stability, while it also gets sufficient cooling air to the B6's Herculean engine - flow is directed straight to the intercooler, while there are dedicated oil and coolant heat exchangers too. NACA ducts also channel cold air to the brakes, up to 373mm and 345mm front and rear.
At the back is a diffuser, tasteful boot lip spoiler and Alpina's oval quad exhaust tips. You can finish your B6 GC with an Individual package that lets you choose any hue you like, outside and in, but two exclusive colours will be available for the B6: Alpina Blue, a classic, and Alpina Green.
Interior
Some more Alpina traditions in here, including its own steering wheel with attendant roundel and blue dials in the instrument cluster. Exclusive Lavalina leather is used everywhere, including on said wheel, while the door sills feature illuminated Alpina logos and there's the option of Alpina-specific Myrtle wood or Piano Black trim finishes. Like the outside, you can 'Individual' it up in here.
Mechanicals
The B6 GC features the same 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 as its B6 coupé and convertible siblings, with an eight-speed sport automatic gearbox matched to it. However, the xDrive transmission gives it a traction advantage over the rear-wheel drive B6 Coupé, despite the extra weight. The 0-62mph sprint drops nearly half a second, from 4.3- to 3.9 seconds, although you lose 1mph flat out, the GC hitting 198mph while the Coupé edges that tiny bit closer to the magic 200mph barrier.
This monster performance is because the engine makes 540hp from 5,200- to 6,250rpm, and a gargantuan 732Nm from just 2,800rpm all the way out to 5,000rpm. As well as xDrive and the aforementioned whopping brakes, Alpina fits a stainless steel exhaust system, plus Electronic Damping Control and Active Roll Stabilisation to ensure the big B6 handles tidily. Fuel economy is 27.2mpg combined and CO2 emissions are 242g/km; the xDrive here reducing what little green credentials the B6 possesses, as the Coupé version does 30mpg and emits 219g/km CO2.
Anything else?
The B6 Gran Coupé will be on display at the New York International Auto Show in April, and it's a special order, limited production vehicle. The one price we have is in US dollars, at $118,225 - that's roughly £70,720. And if you think we'll pay that price in Europe, you'll be sorely disappointed. Expect it to possibly have a premium over the M6 Gran Coupé, itself not cheap as it starts at £97,490.
Every Alpina begins life on the same production line as the BMW model, so the B6 GC starts at Dingolfing, before transferring to Buchloe for two weeks of hand-crafting, which transforms it into the finished article. If you feel like a pan-European running-in session, you can pick up your B6 Gran Coupé from the BMW Welt delivery centre in Munich.
Matt Robinson - 11 Mar 2014
