Auto enthusiasts love the crackle of exhaust backfire and the wind whipping through their hair, and German auto-tuner Alpina is about to give us both with the new BMW Alpina B4 Bi-Turbo cabrio. Slated to unveil at this year’s Geneva Auto Show, it’s set to launch at around the same time as the BMW M4 Convertible. Fans of high-performance drop-tops, rejoice.
Based on the BMW Alpina B4 Bi-Turbo coupe launched at last year’s Tokyo Auto Show, the cabrio’s running gear is a carryover from its coupe counterpart. The torquey 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged I-6 found in the standard 435i is revised to bring total output to 410 horsepower and 443 lb-f of torque. The 0-60 sprint drops to 4.5 seconds, or 0.5 seconds faster than the standard 435i, and the BMW Alpina B4 Bi-Turbo Cabrio tops out at an awesome 189 mph.
The BMW Alpina B4 Bi-Turbo cabrio gets significant cosmetic and performance upgrades over the standard 4-series. 20-imch Alpina-specific wheels grace those beautiful curves, while an Alpina-badged front spoiler and aero body kit complete the fully aggressive look of the B4. In addition, the tuned 4-series gets an adjustable sport suspension system, Michelin Pilot Sports, and heavy-duty brakes in all four corners. However, what is most remarkable about the B4 is its subtlety–despite being a tour de force of acceleration, handling, and style, the car doesn’t advertise its capabilities in a flashy manner. Only the trained eye could pick a B4 out of a crowd, something that certainly can’t be said about a few of the newest M cars.
Alpina tailors the buying experience entirely to the buyer, allowing considerable customizability with the B4. A wide range of colors, seat materials and stitching can all be chosen, but it seems likely that many will leave the color choices to Alpina, as the company clearly has great taste on even their sample vehicles. Luxury, too, finds its way onto the BMW Alpina B4 Bi-Turbo cabrio with rain-activated wipers, xenon headlamps, and a full-leather interior all coming standard.
The BMW Alpina B4 Bi-Turbo Cabriolet is slated to go on sale in Europe around the summer of 2015, but very well may be announced for the American market before then. Stay tuned to TFLcar.com for updates on its release.
Please enjoy this TFLcar.com review of the BMW 428i and 435i…
Frank caught automotive fever early in life. Hailing from a long line of car fanatics, Frank was able to recite the year and model of every car that passed him by age five. His passion and love for the automobile have only grown since then. When not thinking about cars, he is reading, writing, learning, or dreaming about them. His area of expertise comes in the realm of German and Italian cars, of which Porsche is a favorite. Frank currently resides in the heart of NASCAR country in Charlotte, North Carolina, with his family. He thoroughly enjoys driving exotic cars in the beautiful Carolina weather.