Pros: It doesn’t get much more exclusive than this from BMW. The Alpina B6 Gran Coupe is a limited-production, hopped-up 6 Series that’s sure to get the adrenaline pumping and keep you weak in the knees -- always.
Cons: There’s a price to pay when it comes to “limited production” vehicles, and the B6 Alpina is definitely exclusive with the price to match.
Price and Fuel Economy: As mentioned above, you are most definitely going to pay to play here. This puppy demands a near $20k premium over the M6 Gran Coupe, but in our eyes it’s well worth every extra penny. With a starting price of $132,900 the BMW Alpina B6 Gran Coupe is skimming exotic-car territory, especially when you start adding accessories and packages (because there are a few, and you will want to select them when you spec yours out).
As for fuel economy, well, if you’re really interested in that, then perhaps a 4.4L twin-turbo V8 ain’t the right engine for you. Regardless, if you really want to know, the 2015 BMW Alpina B6 returns an average of 14.3L/100km in the city and 11.8L/100km on the highway. Not entirely horrible, but we’re pretty sure you won’t see anywhere near those numbers once your foot hits the go pedal and you discover what this baby can do.
Powertrain: That go pedal is attached to an incredibly fine-tuned and high-performing 4.4L Alpina TwinPower Turbo V8 that produces a fabulous 600 horsepower (up 60 hp from the V8 you’ll find in the M6) and 540 lb-ft of torque. That’s a whole lot of power being sent to all four wheels thanks to BMW’s xDrive system, and controlled via an 8-speed sport automatic transmission that includes Alpina SWITCH-TRONIC software for quick shifts and high performance. The 100km/h mark is reached in just 3.7 seconds from a standstill. Yup, it’s that fast.
Changes and Improvements: As this is a limited-production, special-edition 6 Series Gran Coupe, everything about this BMW is an improvement. From the hand-stitched leather-wrapped steering wheel to the exclusive multiple-spoke Alpina wheels and Alpina crests throughout the car.
Cargo Capacity: There’s seating for five in the Alpina B6, and you’ll have no problem fitting a few golf bags in the rear with 460 litres of trunk space.
Safety: Look for all manners of standard safety equipment and airbags, as well as ISOFIX child seat attachments in the rear, dynamic stability control, dynamic brake control, and dynamic traction control.
Direct Competitors: Mercedes-Benz CLS 63 AMG, Audi RS 7, Porsche Panamera GTS