8 Series made even better
Renowned BMW specialist turns its hand to the V8-powered four-door 8 Series
Sorry to labour the 2030 point and to give the game away in the first paragraph, but we’re going to miss cars like this in nine years’ time. While accepting that something needs to be done to combat climate change, it’s a pity that it will inevitably curb machines such as the new Alpina B8 Gran Coupé.
Nestled extremely snugly under the bonnet is BMW’S 4.4-litre twinturbocharged petrol V8. Whereas the standard BMW M850i gets 523bhp and 553lb ft, Alpina’s wizards have pushed the B8 to 613bhp and 590lb ft.
This was achieved by improving the cooling. While the intercoolers’ exterior size remains the same, the B8 has specific internals, leading to a 50% increase in cooling capacity compared with its BMW sibling.
It translates to a car that can sprint from 0-62mph in 3.4sec, which is 0.5sec up on the BMW equivalent but 0.1sec down on the rival Mercedesamg GT63 S 4-Door Coupé.
Underneath, the B8 runs a fourwheel drive system based on BMW’S xdrive set-up but with tweaks to the torque distribution to make it more rear-biased. There’s an Alpinaspecific reinforced propshaft, while suspension alterations run to Bilstein dampers and Eibach springs. It also gets a stainless-steel sports exhaust.
Buchloe has rung the visual changes, too. There’s subtle Alpina lettering on the chin spoiler, plus the usual smattering of the brand’s badges inside and out.
Our test car rode on the optional Alpina Classic 21in forged alloy wheels finished in black. These save 4kg a corner, but we would stick with the standard Classics in silver (still 21in), especially as this saves £1340.
The paint you see here is unique to Alpina and comes in at a punchy £3175. It is not cheap but is probably needed: if you’re going to purchase something as rare as a B8, you might as well give it the special paint as well. The other option is Alpina’s glorious Green metallic.
The B8 contains the same Merino leather as the normal 8 Series, but it’s optionally available with punchier colours, in this case an Ivory White and Night Blue combination.
The steering wheel is finished in Alpina Lavalina leather, so feels subtly different to a normal BMW wheel. It’s a minor difference, but it’s a bit grippier and, with the blue-andgreen stitching, another reminder that you’re in something different.
Press the starter button and you’re greeted with a muted growl. But within 50 yards, you understand that this is a true Alpina. The key is the way everything balances together.
The B8 is extremely fast. So are a lot of electric cars these days, but this acceleration is more appealing, less digital, with a more nuanced torque curve as it climbs through the revs.
There’s a slight pause as the turbos spool up before everything goes warp speed; but, unlike in some other ultra-fast machines, you don’t feel like you’re driving an elastic band.
At first, I was a bit ham-fisted with the throttle, stamping more than was needed, with the result that the nose squirmed around while the weight went back on the car’s haunches too much. I soon learned the throttle is far more controllable: breathe on it and you’re still given the shock-andawe pace but with far more control.
I would prefer a bit more exhaust note when the car is in Sport driving mode. The BMW bark is there when you push on, but it’s missing at lower revs. At start-up, the V8 sounds much better from outside than from within.
The steering is delightful. It doesn’t have the feel of an out-andout sports car, but it’s incredibly linear and precise, with a richness to the fluidity that’s evidence of the engineering effort that went into it.
The same goes for the suspension. Even in Sport mode, the B8 rides with a supple and forgiving flow that makes any journey easier. With Pirelli P Zero tyres made specifically for the car, the way it rounds off edges yet also remains taut through corners is mightily impressive. Even cross-axle undulations don’t unsettle it unduly.
What all this translates into is a big saloon that’s just as happy trundling about town, racing across Europe or on a jaunt down your favourite back road. It’s impressively multitalented, with an added level of comfort and feel compared with a lot of high-end grand tourers. It’s not cheap – a good £30,000 over the 8 Series – but you can feel that cost in the engineering.
The fact that the B8 feels so special and rare brings a kind of appeal that sets it apart from even pretty unusual cars like the regular 8 Series Gran Coupé and the GT 4-Door Coupé. This is a recipe that Alpina knows well and continues to deliver on.
❝ The way it rounds off edges yet remains taut through corners is mightily impressive ❞