B3 Biturbo

STORY

The B3 is Alpina's longest-running core model, a 3-Series-based sports saloon that has evolved alongside every generation of BMW's compact executive car since the late 1980s. The original B3 2.7, built from August 1987 on the E30 325i, used an enlarged 2.7-litre M20 six with machined combustion chambers and special pistons for 204 PS, offered as coupé, saloon, Touring and cabriolet.

Successive B3 generations tracked the E36, E46, E90 and F30 3-Series, gradually adopting turbocharging and the marque's signature ZF automatic with Switch-Tronic. The current G20-based B3 uses a heavily reworked version of BMW's S58 twin-turbo straight-six with around 495 PS, available as a saloon and as a fast, family-friendly Touring estate, true to Alpina tradition.

More than any other model, the B3 embodies Alpina's everyday-usable formula: the pace to embarrass an M3, wrapped in a quieter, more comfortable and more discreet package.