The Alpina BMW D3 Bi-Turbo, celebrating its world debut at the 2008 GENEVA Salon d’Automobile – with 214 HP/211 bhp (157 kW) @ 4,100 rpm – is an exceptionally powerful and unusually high-revving diesel. Lastly, the “D” on the Alpina BMW D3 Bi-Turbo stands for the German “Drehmoment” or torque, which the D3 has in spades. At 450 Nm (332 lbs-ft) of torque from 2,000 to 2,500 rpm, the 2.0-litre, four-cylinder D3 is operating in V8 engine territory, or amongst large-displacement six-cylinder diesel engines. With the purchase of a D3 Bi-Turbo, an Alpina customer owns an engine transmission combination that is a rare and fine delicacy when measured against its diesel competitors.
The standard tyres and weight-optimised 18″ Alpina CLASSIC light-alloy wheels can be up-graded with an optional 19″ wheel/tyre combination, available in either Alpina CLASSIC or DYNAMIC wheel design. The interplay of 245/40 ZR18 front tyres and 265/40 ZR18 rear tyres, riding on 8×18″ front and 9×18″ rear wheels, yields outstandingly exact handling. The key is Alpina’s choice not to use the heavy Run-Flat tyre technology, for reasons of weight and comfort.
The D3 Bi-Turbo only really becomes the perfect “Sport Diesel” though, when the driver shifts manually using the shift buttons on the back of the steering wheel. Lightning-quick shifts are the order of the day – even the best drivers can’t shift any quicker than themselves. This reveals itself in impressive performance numbers for both transmissions The manual D3 Coupé reaches 100 km/h [62 mph] in 6.9 seconds (automatic 7.0 sec), with a top speed of 244 km/h [152 mph].
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The new BMW ALPINA B3 Bi-Turbo continues this tradition for the first time on the basis of the BMW 3 Series with its world premiere at the 2007 Geneva Salon d’Automobile.
The heart of the B3 Bi-Turbo offers 265 kW (360 hp) at 5,500 – 6,000 revolutions per minute, as well as maximum torque of 500 Nm from 3,800 – 5,000 rpm. The B3 Bi-Turbo’s engine has a sporty engine’s willingness to rev to 7,000 rpm. Equally as present but usually reserved for diesel engines, there is vigorous torque from 1,500 rpm onwards. The result: a powerband broader than ever before experienced, guaranteeing both sporty and bullish driving dynamics.
The allure of the new BMW ALPINA B3 Bi-Turbo is found in its V8 like performance, but with the advantages of a much lighter and noticeably thriftier 3.0-litre straight-six, a six with an aluminium block and twin-turbo charging. The smooth-running nature inherent in this engine concept is even more prominent when the engine is charged.
The BMW ALPINA B3 Bi-Turbo embodies pure driving enjoyment – whether cruising along or enjoying all 7,000 revs in each gear. The reason for the spontaneous responsiveness of the B3 Bi-Turbo is the ZF 6-speed sport automatic transmission with its very short shift sequences, which smoothly processes the power through the drivetrain without any uncomfortable interruption of forward momentum. The driver may also choose to shift manually at the wheel using SWITCH-TRONIC, which contributes in no small part to both the awe-inspiring performance numbers and the ability to save fuel in top gear. Frugality and driving excitement are therefore not contradictory in the B3 Bi-Turbo. Driven by high torque means using sixth gear on the Autobahn is more than sufficient in almost all situations.
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This unique addition Alfa Romeo’s UK range includes refined styling changes, inside and out. And to ensure ultimate exclusivity, production of the Alfa Romeo Brera S will be limited to just 500 individually numbered models.
Power comes from a choice of two existing direct injection petrol engines – the 185 bhp 2.2 JTS and the 260 bhp 3.2 V6 JTS.
Marketing director at Alfa Romeo UK, Nicholas Bernard, says: “Significantly, the Alfa Romeo Brera S isn’t simply about brute force, it’s about how the available power is transferred to the road and how the road surface is communicated back to the driver to bring new levels of sports handling and driver-focused confidence and involvement.”
Briefed to make the Alfa Romeo Brera S less of a long-distance tourer and more sporty on UK roads, the engineering team at Prodrive developed a unique suspension set-up. Prodrive engineers meticulously experimented with spring rates and ride heights to match the reduced weights of the 2008 model year Alfa Breras. Then followed an extensive damper tuning exercise to achieve the desired ride/handling balance and steering response required by driving enthusiasts in the UK.
According to Prodrive Project Leader, Peter Cambridge, the result is “a car that ‘shrinks’ around the driver and delivers all the fun and engagement of a sports car driving experience on A and B-roads. Yet, on motorways, offers a compliant and composed ride.”
The sports car driving experience is achieved by reducing roll and pitch, flattening the cornering attitude, and subsequently instilling confidence-inspiring steering.
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The Alfa Romeo Mi.To is the first car to be built since the 8C Competizione, Alfa Romeo’s icon of style and technology, from which it borrows certain characteristic traits: the particular shape of the unframed side windows, the three-lobed motif that distinguishes the front bumper, the shape of the headlights and the LED tail lights. The headlights and tail lights represent a distinctive personalised feature: a frame featuring different forms of material processing and colours to create an ultra-stylish eye-liner effect that underscores the car’s style and aggression.
The highly personal dashboard and seats ensure that the interior represents the ultimate expression of Italian style, welcoming yet sporty, with top-quality materials and the closest attention to detail.
The greatest thought has also gone into defining the dimensions, which add up to a compact and dynamic shape: the Alfa Romeo Mi.To is 4.06 metres long, 1.44 metres high and 1.72 metres wide.
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This new open top Alfa Romeo 8C Spider immediately entices with that unmistakable “Italian elegance”, a unique and inimitable style that hints at its typically sporty Alfa handling.
Under the bonnet is a powerful 8 cylinder 4.7 litre engine producing 450 HP, matched to a 6 speed robotic gearbox, the new Alfa Romeo 8C Spider is truly beautiful, powerful and rock solid, where its gracious lines and dimensions gel perfectly with typical Alfa Romeo engineering and drive-ability. Needless to say, alongside this attractive Spider is the Alfa 8C Competizione, the epitome of Alfa Romeo’s innovation in the fields of engines and engineering, heightened competitiveness and continuous technological research.
The Alfa Romeo 159 Sportwagon on the other hand combines the style, performance and handling of a genuine sports car with the flexibility of use and luggage space versatility of a prestigious station wagon.
The versions exhibited offer two new Euro 5 compliant engines which will be available from the beginning of April: the 1.75 liter 200 HP TBi engine and the 2.0 liter 170 HP JTDM engine. In detail, the Alfa Romeo 159 is fitted with the new 1.75 liter TBi engine (Euro 5) – maximum output 200 HP from 4750 to 5500 rpm and maximum torque of 320 Nm at 1400 rpm – giving it a maximum speed of 235 km/h and acceleration of 0 to 100 km/h in barely 7.7 seconds.
The powerful Alfa Romeo 159 sedan is offered in the TI sporting version, featuring lowered geometry, bigger tires, 19 inch alloy rims, miniskirts and large aluminum brakes with red calipers. So, a very determined-looking car with a decidedly “ground-hugging” look. Inside, the TI environment is recognizable from the shaped sports seats in perforated leather with the Alfa Romeo logo stitched in red, plus the steering wheel with sports grip and the gear knob covered in leather with red stitching.
The internal coverings are black and the insignia are in “brushed dark aluminum”. The same impression of sportiness appears in the instrument panel graphics, the pedals and the aluminum scuff plate with TI logo. Finally, this particular version comes with high-end equipment including triple-zone climate control, VDC system with Electronic Q2, Blue&Me Nav GPS and entertainment system, Bose Hi-Fi system and Cruise Control.
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Frankfurt sees the debut of the new 147 CNC CoSTUME NATIONAL, the fruit of collaboration between Alfa Romeo and stylist Ennio Capasa. The version on display is a 5-door, equipped with the sparkling 150 bhp 1.9 JTDM engine; the most sophisticated safety features are standard equipment – from VDC to ASR, ABS complete with EBD and 6 airbags – and there is a wide range of options: a Bose Hi-Fi system with subwoofer, low suspension settings, Xenon headlights, satellite navigator and antitheft system.
The Alfa Romeo 147 CNC Costume National was inspired by the music world Pop, Indie, and Garage by street culture and by the multimedia world. This special series will have a production run of 1000, and will be characterised not only by the exclusive Eldorado White paintwork with its exclusive mother-of-pearl effect (Polar White for the normal output), and by special refined details like the chrome-plated exhaust terminal, glossy black wing mirror cases, darkened rear lights and exclusive painted, sparkle-effect 17 wheels with their aeronautical design. And the 147 CNC logos on the pillars and tailgate add an extra touch of refinement.
The dark shades of the interior create an elegant dynamic environment, with seats upholstered in leather and perforated Alcantara with a jacquard tone-on-tone pattern, and a contrast between the black varnished pillars, ceiling and trims and the white of the bodywork. The sporty personality of the 147 CNC CoSTUME NATIONAL is also evident in other details like the red background of the instruments with white lighting, carpeting mats with identity plate and aluminium heel-high strips.
The Alfa Romeo Customisation programme has been available on the entire range for a couple of months, and was born out of the experience of the Alfa 8C Competizione, the model that the brand has chosen to define its strategies with precision and authority. One of the winning features of this lovely GT is the fact that it was conceived to cater for every whim of competent, refined customers, who wish to state their personality by the way they configure their car, transforming a car that is already exclusive into something unique. By the same principle, the ‘Unique Alfa’ Programme, the expression of the best Italian products, now extends this opportunity to the other Alfa Romeo models. Alfa Romeo is one of the most prestigious brands in motoring history, and it indubitably conjures up the art of Italian living, expressed in a perfect synthesis of tradition and modernity, heritage and the avant-garde, beauty and culture. And it is thanks to this propensity for art and beauty that the Alfa Romeo Customisation Programme has taken shape, developing into three different areas that identify the brand’s exclusive values and make its relationship with its customers unique.
The first area, known as ‘Vintage’, reinterprets Alfa Romeo tradition with elegance and modernity: intriguing colours that conjure up the Dolce Vita or victories on the world’s most prestigious racing circuits, chromatic treatments that recall the timeless emotion of the prestigious finish, and upholstery crafted with the care and precision typical of a craftsman’s workshop.
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The new Autodelta Alfa Romeo 159 J4 2.2 C features a specially-developed supercharger system including a Rotrex C30-74 unit, new aluminium inlet manifold and bespoke intercooler, which adds up to drive the Alfa 159 saloon to power of 245 bhp and 290 Nm of torque coupled to upgrades in the area of the transmission, chassis, brakes, electronics and aerodynamics. It becomes the third member of the exclusive J-series model range, joining the Brera J5 3.2 C and Spider J6 3.2 C in our line-up.
The dramatic model is the result of an 18 month development programme that has focused on supercharging Alfa Romeos direct injection JTS engine, making Autodelta the only firm in the world to apply forced induction principles to this power unit. The overall package hones the Alfa 159 into a true high performance saloon, pushing its dynamic abilities forward in every area, but without compromising on its comfort and ‘touring’ characteristics. Top speed is raised to 165 mph, while 0-62 mph is achieved in 6.9 seconds.
Exclusive features of the 159 J4 2.2 C include 8.5×19 OZ Botticelli Ultra Light alloy wheels, height adjustable coil over dampers with bound and rebound settings, stainless steel free flow dual silencer exhaust system, mechanical limited slip differential, front, rear and side aerodynamic kit, and perforated discs and new compound pads all round. The order book is set to open on July 1st when full pricing will be announced.
The Autodelta Spider J6 3.2 C once again redefines the company’s pursuit of the maximum performance and driving pleasure to be drawn from Alfa Romeo’s production models, and is the culmination of more than a year’s intense research and development as well as engineering innovation. It evolves from the Brera J5 3.2 C programme, however, it offers new specification in areas pertaining to a convertible sports car as well as unique and individual styling cues.
In line with a new generation of model designations, introduced with the Brera J5, and created to classify bespoke Autodelta models in a logical and progressive manner, the new Spider project becomes the first bearer of the J6 code. The ‘C’ tag designates ‘Compressore’.
Glorious, powerful, responsive – the V6 engine is at the heart of Alfa Romeo’s sporting ambitions. But time simply doesn’t stand still, and after three decades one of the most beloved automotive masterpieces, the ‘Arese V6’, has given way to an all-new 3.2-litre V6 engine which brings with it fresh challenges for Autodelta’s engineering team.
From a standard power output of 260 bhp @ 6,300 rpm and maximum torque of 322 Nm @ 4,500 rpm, the Spider J6’s V6 engine to now turns out 348 bhp (an increase of 88 bhp) and 430 Nm of torque (an extra 108 Nm), all delivered in a useable, responsive and smooth manner. The Autodelta Spider J6 3.2 C races from 0 to 100 km/h (0 to 62.5 mph) in a highly impressive 5.4 seconds (standard model: 7.0 seconds), while it hits a top speed of 260 km/h (161 mph); compared to the standard model’s 239 km/h (149 mph).
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