The Alpina->ke1232-BMW->ke178 love affair goes back all the way to 1965, when the small Bavarian company began tuning carburetors and cylinder heads in a typewriter factory. Yes, that's right, Alpina started as an office machinery company. The small venture began making a name for itself in the early 1970s by building a few BMWs that went on to win prestigious racing->ke148 events and series such as the European Touring Car Championship, the German Hillclimb Championship and the Spa 24 Hours race.

More than forty years have passed since its 2800CS wowed the crowds, and Alpina established itself as a semi-official tuner whose creations can be found in between the stock BMW and the more potent vehicles delivered by the M Performance division. Well, sort of, but we'll get back on that later in this review.

Moving on, Alpina's latest creation, which is set to make it first public appearance on American soil at the 2014 New York Auto Show->ke226, is the 2015 B6 xDrive Gran Coupe -- a more powerful and exclusive version of the BMW 650i Gran Coupe.

The all-wheel-drive performance sedan will become the second Alpina model to go on sale in the United States, where it will be joining the larger, 7 Series-based B7.

Click past the jump to read more about the 2015 BMW Alpina B6 xDrive Gran Coupe.

2015 BMW Alpina B6 xDrive Gran Coupe

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 2015 BMW Alpina B6 xDrive Gran Coupe
  • Engine/Motor: V8
  • Horsepower: 540
  • Torque: 540
  • Transmission: 8 speed Sport Automatic
  • [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array
Pros
Cons

Exterior

The typical Alpina design features are noticeable from bumper to bumper. Up front, the apron incorporates protruding splitter elements that force airflow over and around the body for increased stability, but captures and sends sufficient air to keep the powertrain from overheating.

Around the back, the sedan's sporty character is highlighted by a discreet trunklid spoiler (which doesn't ruin the car's graceful lines), a twin exhaust system and a mandatory rear diffuser. The 20-inch Alpina Classic 21-spoke wheels hide massive 14.7-inch front and 13.6-inch rear brake discs and round up the B6 Gran Coupe's exclusive appearance.

Interior

As with most Alpina models, the B6 Gran Coupe's interior is no stranger to luxury. The cabin benefits from the company's exclusive Lavalina leather, hand stitched to anything from the seats to the steering wheel, and a selection of Myrtle wood or classic Piano Black ornaments.

The illuminated Aplina logos in the door sills are ready to welcome the driver in the cabin he will be able to delicately select via BMW's extensive customization program.

Drivetrain

Under the hood of the 2015 B6 Gran Coupe lies a twin-turbo 4.4-liter, V-8 engine tweaked to deliver 540 horsepower and 540 pound-feet of torque. Compared to the M6 Gran Coupe, the Alpina misses 20 horses but has an extra 40 poun-feed to kick about. Because of that, and aided by its all-wheel-drive system and eight-speed automatic (the M6 sports a seven-speed dual-clutch), the B6 Gran Coupe outperforms its M-badged cousin from 0 to 60 mph by nearly half a seconds.

Specifically, the Alpina needs just 3.7 seconds to reach the aforementioned mark, while the M6 covers the same sprint in 4.1 seconds. As far as top speed goes, the B6 is unstoppable until it reaches 198 mph, whereas the M6 Grand Coupe can't get past 155 mph without the M Dynamic Mode (which will enable it to reach 190 mph).

Keeping the B6 Gran Coupe on the road at such dazzling speed will be the Electronic Damping Control and the Active Roll Stabilization technology which make a great team with the fully variable torque distribution that comes with the all-wheel-drive system.

2015 BMW Alpina B6 xDrive Gran Coupe - Drivetrain Specifications

Type

4.4-liter ALPINA Bi-Turbo V8

Horsepower

540 HP

Torque

540 LBS-FT

Transmission

8 speed Sport Automatic

0 to 60 mph

3.7 seconds

Top Speed

198 MPH


Prices

Once it hits U.S. dealerships after it bows during the 2014 New York Auto Show, the 2015 Aplina B6 Gran Coupe will get a sticker of $118,225, including destination and handling. That's exactly $2,300 more than the M6 Gran Coupe currently available across the nation.

Competition

Mercedes-Benz CLS 63 AMG 4MATIC

With the M6 Gran Coupe already on its tale, the 2014 Mercedes-Benz->ke187 CLS 63 AMG has one more BMW to worry about starting this year. With 550 horsepower at its disposal, provided by a larger, 5.5-liter V-8, the souped up, four-wheel-drive sedan->ke142 is mostly on par with the Alpina B6 Gran Coupe as far as performance goes. The Stuttgart-forged machine needs 3.7 seconds to get from naught to 60 miles per hour. However, its speedometer is forced, just like the M6, to a halt at 155 mph.

The sleek AMG-prepped sedan has more chances of winning a beauty contest and stands firm when challenged to a driving dynamics contest. It's also better placed on the pricing ladder, with the S model, which comes with a power bump that enable the V-8 to generate 577 horsepower, being priced from $107,425.

The sticker also includes AMG->ke8 sports seats wrapped in Nappa leather, an AMG Performance steering wheel with aluminum shift panels racing-inspired specially shaped grip areas.

Audi RS 7

Audi->ke14 joined the performance four-door coupe->ke141 tussle last fall, when the RS 7, a much more aggressive and powerful A7, joined the ranks. Compared to its rivals, the four-ringed sedan is motivated by the smallest V-8 powerplant (4.4 liters), but churns more horsepower than the Alpina B6 Gran Coupe, at 560 hp. Torque figures are lower at 516 lb-ft, which takes the RS 7 a bit longer to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph (3.9 seconds). However, Audi allows its sedan to charge up to 189 miles per hour.

Engine upgrades aren't the only ones responsible for the RS 7's staggering performance. An aerodynamic body kit that includes optimized front and rear bumpers, a larger diffuser and a power extending spoiler are also enabling it to travel faster and stick to the road. Carbon-fiber inlays, Alcantara, Valcona leather and a flat-bottomed steering wheel provide the interior with a sporty, yet elegant look.

Moving over to pricing, the 2014 Audi RS 7 is the cheapest of the three, starting from $104,900, with an eight-speed Tiptronic automatic and the legendary quattro all-while-drive system included.

Conclusion

Let's get one thing straight. The Alpina B6 Gran Coupe is not for everyone. Although it outguns the M6 Gran Coupe in a straight line, it lacks the brand chutzpah the latter benefits from. Not to mention that it's the most expensive vehicle in its class. On the other hand, acquiring an Alpina requires no reasoning. You're either familiar with the company's glorious past or you're just looking to park a vehicle that's more intriguing than an M-badged BMW in your driveway. It's as simple as that. If you need more than 5 seconds to decide, then you'd better take it at Mercedes or Audi.