Alpina B4 S

Tuner sprinkles some stardust on latest BMW M4

THE latest BMW M4 is one of the best performance coupés around, but there’s no denying that it’s a bit outlandish. While the muscular body and lowered ride give it a sporty stance, for many that’s too much.

That’s where the Alpina B4 S comes in. It costs around the same as an M4 and has a little more power. But it’s more focused on understated luxury and fast cruising than the BMW. This latest version benefits from the 4 Series’ facelift, but is still distinguished by its special wheels and unique front bumper, as well as the plush interior spec.

Alpina has tweaked the 3.0-litre straightsix to produce 434bhp – 24bhp up on before and 9bhp over the M4. Torque rises by 60Nm.

That means performance is astonishing; the Alpina does 0-60mph in 3.9 seconds, and the engine pulls hard in any gear. An Akrapovic exhaust means it sounds great – more muted than the M4 but with a sweeter tone. It’s frantic when you want, although the wide torque band makes it more relaxed than the boosty BMW when driving normally.

The eight-speed auto (Alpina’s own tune of the BMW unit) is smooth and fast-shifting, adding to the luxurious feel, but the B4 isn’t all about wafting. While the steering could do with more feel, it’s sharp and accurate, and the chassis is set up well for rough roads.

It’s not as flat through corners as the harder M4, but the Alpina is stiff enough to feel sporty without bouncing over bumps and potholes. It’s a great compromise, and while the BMW feels more like a proper sports car, the Alpina arguably works better every day.

The latest version now gets a limitedslip diff and Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S tyres, helping to put more of that power down, too.

Standard kit includes Alpina leather seats and 20-inch alloys, plus BMW Professional Multimedia with sat-nav. The plush interior feels worthy of the price, especially with the Alpina plaque on the centre console showing the car’s build number, adding exclusivity.