Snapshot
- Alpina launches updated B3
- Based on recently facelifted BMW 3 Series
- Prices increase alongside power and torque improvements
The luxury cousin to BMW’s 3 Series has been updated, as Alpina gives its B3 sedan and wagon a facelift.
Coming just after BMW handed the 3 Series a facelift last week, Alpina’s B3 has undergone a mild update for 2023, with the new model now making more power and torque than before from its S58 engine.
On top of the exterior cosmetic changes to the front bumper and LED headlights, the B3 also now scores the 14.9-inch curved infotainment screen which first debuted in the iX and is rolling out amongst other BMW models.
Pricing
Appearing on Alpina’s Australian configurator, both the B3 Saloon (sedan) and B3 Touring (wagon) are listed with prices of $152,900 before on-road costs, bringing the two body styles in line for the first time.
Prices exclude on-road costs.
| Model | Price |
|---|---|
| Alpina B3 sedan | $152,900 (+$10,000) |
| Alpina B3 wagon | $152,900 (+$7000) |
Features
| 19-inch Alpina design wheels |
| Extended front lip and rear spoiler |
| Alpina exhaust |
| Power tailgate (wagon only) |
| Active guard plus |
| Three-zone climate control |
| Backrest width adjustment |
| Comfort access with smart opener |
| Connected package professional |
| 12.3-inch digital dash |
| 14.9-inch infotainment screen |
| Satellite navigation |
| Apple CarPlay/Android Auto |
| DAB radio |
| Harmon Kardon sound system |
| Auto-dim rear mirror |
| Live cockpit professional |
| Heated front seats with electronic adjustment |
| Heated steering wheel |
| Head-up display |
| Adaptive cruise control |
| Dynamic stability control (DSC) including dynamic brake control (DBC) and dynamic traction control (DTC) |
Engine, drivetrain and fuel economy
The mechanicals of the latest B3 are unchanged aside from a revised exhaust, allowing the S58 3.0-litre twin-turbo straight-six to now churn out an impressive 364kW of power and 730Nm of torque – up by 24kW and 30Nm respectively over the outgoing model.
We had both the B3 and its hardcore BMW M3 counterpart at this year’s MOTOR Performance Car of the Year test, with the S58 in each car showing completely different characteristics.
Drive continues to be sent to all four wheels through an eight-speed, ZF-built torque-converter automatic transmission, while Alpina also says the B3 features a sports differential on the back axle.
Fuel consumption is also the same with both variants recording 10.1L/100km on the combined cycle, bumped up from 9.9L/100km in the 2022 B3.
Sprint times from zero to 100km/h stand at 3.6 and 3.7 seconds for the sedan and wagon respectively, pushing each variant on to a top speed of over 300km/h.
Availability
Expect the Alpina B3 to arrive in Australia towards the end of 2022 or the start of 2023, as BMW anticipates its updated 3 Series to land in the fourth quarter of this year.
Earlier this year, BMW officially acquired Alpina with plans to bring the luxury marque under its umbrella, eventually moving all operations in-house from 2025.