BMW Alpina B5 Biturbo Revised: The Other Hot 5-series [Geneva Auto Show]

For those who think BMW's M5 is too mainstream, we have another option: the newly updated Alpina B5 Biturbo. The sedan and wagon have been updated since the new F10 version originally debuted. Updated B5s, including one in a radical, very-un-BMW shade of green, debuted at this year's Geneva show. The B5 uses the same 4.4-liter twin-turbo V-8 as the previous model did, only now it has been tweaked to deliver 540 hp and 538 lb-ft of twist. Those numbers are a big jump from the previous version's 500 hp and 516 lb-ft. Thanks to the revised engine, Alpina claims this fat-cat sedan (the last 550i we tested weighed in at 4710 pounds) can hustle to 62 in just 4.5 seconds. Hop on the autobahn, and the fun doesn't let up until 198 mph. The boosted V-8 keeps a version of the 550i's eight-speed automatic transmission. It sits on the same 20-inch signature Alpina wheels as before, wrapped in 255/35 front and 285/30 rear Michelin Pilot Super Sports. You may have noticed that the B5′s performance stats are nearly identical to those of the latest M5, which in our testing hit 60 mph in 3.7 seconds and can reach 190 mph. So it all comes down to a matter of taste, but, in reality, you probably can't go wrong with either. Of course, the B5 isn't available in the U.S.; the M5 isn't available in Alpina's blue or green hues. We realize we're not helping you decide. Sorry. from Car and Driver Blog http://blog.caranddriver.com

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