BMW ALPINA D3 Bi-Turbo Coupe Achieves 50mpg (UK)

BMW ALPINA D3 Bi-Turbo Coupe

By Brian Potter
August 5, 2008 5:00 PM
Filed Under: BMW, German, Tuners

For the purpose of reducing emissions and energy consumption, the UK has turned into a somewhat hostile social environment as the government imposes increasingly stringent taxation upon motorist, particularly those with vehicles in the luxury segment.

In response, famous BMW supported tuner, Alpina, has taken the 2.0-liter twin turbo diesel from BMW's 123d model, tweaked it to produce 10 more horsepower and stuck it in their E92 3-Series Coupe.

As a result, the increased hp and lighter engine means an overall power-to-weight ratio of 146hp per tonne – virtually matching BMW’s own 330d Coupe. The car is capable of 152mph and 0-62mph in 6.9 secs and yet the official fuel consumption and emission figures tell a very different story: 52.3mpg (overall EU) and 143g/km! (manual trans).

This year only 100 units of the ALPINA D3 Bi-Turbo Coupe will be available in the UK.

BMW ALPINA D3 Bi-Turbo Coupe	Price OTR	Power hp	Torque Nm	0-62mph sec.	Top speed mph	Comb. mpg	CO2 g/km
Manual gearbox	£32,950	214	450	6.9	152	52.3	143
Automatic gearbox	£34,540	214	450	6.9	152	50.4	148

Source: Alpina

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Comments

Racketeer

August 5, 2008 5:23 PM

Alpina NOT a tuner.

Alpina is a car manufacturer in its own right since 1983.

Joe_Limon

August 5, 2008 6:25 PM

weird... a small displacement turbo diesel getting good fuel economy. In a bmw yet? Haha Alpina has it right, who knows about what those naturally aspirated v10's will do in the same car.

Nurchus

August 5, 2008 10:02 PM

Very nice! I just hate those damnable wheels!

Bloody hell.

radmeister

August 5, 2008 11:11 PM

Sick colour. Wish M3 came in that colour.

RobERob

August 6, 2008 12:21 AM

I saw a new blue 3-series coupe yesterday and it was absolutely beautiful.

The_woo_factor

August 6, 2008 11:04 AM

You only saw the 3 series coupe yesterday? Gee....they are everywhere.

Xanavi23

August 6, 2008 4:20 PM

You know in a way, the 335 is a better car than the M3. At least if you get the special trim package that should be offered, M3 suspension, brakes and such. The M3 has more power stock but with a OEM twin Turbo set-up that hp disadvantage is broken with simple bolt-ons.

Not to mention you save at least $20k. If you wanna be Joe Cool then get an M3, its a good car but the 335 has massive potential as we continually see and know.

deKub

August 6, 2008 10:11 PM

does the 335 rev to 8400rpms? that motor in the M3 is a beast. M cars come with limited slip differentials and probably a slew of other things your not considering as well

lemonsqueezer2000

August 8, 2008 5:04 AM

buddy 80% of the M3 is new compared to a 335i. the entire rear suspension is new except for a rear trailing link. M3 Blows the 335i out of th water. chassis,engine,suspention, its a different car built from the ground up. GOOF

Xanavi23

August 7, 2008 5:28 AM

Actually i did...my friend has a 330 trim called the ZHP, its got the brakes, suspension and even the LSD i beleive. This car will have the same trim...as for 8400rpm....the 335 doesnt need to rev that high. Also cause its twin-turbo the 335 can support a hell of alot more power with larger turbos, pistons, rods, sleeves etc. And you can afford all this among other things because by buying this model you save easily 20-30K. The M3 is a nice car....but its not THAT fast and the 335 is by far a better value. Also insurance is cheaper on the 335, because its got a TT set-up when you're not rolling on boost it will get better gas mileage, even if the owner one day runs 30psi, if hes off-boost he'll get pretty good gas mileage.

Xanavi23

August 7, 2008 5:30 AM

**The 335i can support more power easier and with less cash spent. And because its not as "optimized" as the 4.0Liter V8 in the M3, it also stands a much better chance of supporting a twin-turbo set-up and not blowing the **** out of the block.

Xanavi23

August 7, 2008 5:59 AM

Oh yea btw, when you're gonna hard tune a car with modifications any parts the M3 has over the 335i are rendered inconsequential as all those parts are going to swapped out for far better performing counterparts. The only thing the M3 would then have over a 335i in that case would be its chassis. Which with some work, the 335i can be modified to be better/closer to the M3s.

plasma_cluster

August 9, 2008 7:32 AM

Xanavi23, watch these bmw videos on making the M cars its cool bro. click the filter button over the video to choose M3

http://www.bmwusa.com/Standard/Content/Experience/Gallery/MediaGalleryVideos.aspx

Xanavi23

August 9, 2008 11:12 PM

Dont get me wrong, despite the way i made it sound the M3 is a good car and no one can deny the engineering that went into the M3. Furthermore with everything i said about the 335i being faster/cheaper for equivalent speed i should have made it clear; The M3 will beat a tuned 335i on the track unless you get $4K Suspension among other things. I meant the 335i could be as fast(er), with modifications, on the freeway where the playing field is inevitably evened out. I dont knock anyone for buying an M3, if you have the money, by all means its at least a decent choice. I was just talking about other options a BMW fan has available to him IF he is into the world of after market modification which many drivers are.

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