2009 BMW Alpina B6S Detail

Few sportscars can emulate the ease which the supercharged V8 BMW ALPINA B6 S fuses seemingly incompatible qualities together. Enormous speed and power blend with luxury, comfort and relaxed control, creating a single harmonious entity.

The B6 S unifies the elegant appearance of a Gran Tourismo with the performance of a super-sportscar. Numbers are not enough to communicate the Coupé’s acceleration accurately – in 4.5 seconds from 0-100km/h (0-62mph) from a standing start. The 300km/h (186mph) mark passes by in less than 60 seconds, an experience that has to be experienced to be believed.

To satisfy our most sport-oriented customers, the BMW ALPINA B6 S comes with a torque-sensing limited-slip differential as standard, developed in cooperation with Drexler Motorsport. The locking effect amounts to 30% under acceleration and 20% on a trailing throttle. This concept improves directional stability and vehicle control under weight transfer during cornering, especially during load changes.

Developed in co-operation with SACHS Race Engineering, the electronically-controlled adjustable damping, called EDC, comes as standard on the B6 S. The dampers automatically increase their resistance in a fraction of a second to help ensure safe driving. The more sport-oriented driver can also manually select firmer damper settings in advance, using the EDC button located on the centre console.

Powertrain

The B6 S powertrain, based on a 4.4 l V8, is truly unique. The charging system of this engine differs from conventional solutions: it is neither a turbocharger nor a compressor, instead boost comes from a so-called 'radial compressor' which one may visualise as a combination of both.

A quick glance at the power / torque curve suggest what one can expect from the complex technology that fills the BMW ALPINA B6 S' engine bay. At a humble 2500rpm the engine already delivers 200hp. At 5500rpm a peak of 530hp (390kW) is available. This provides a very broad power band across which the B6 S offers superior performance, its 725Nm of torque providing turbine like acceleration!

ALPINA have worked closely with ZF to develop a new sports automatic transmission with ALPINA SWITCH-TRONIC. This perfectly augments the car's character, letting you select gears manually or leaving the automatic to change gears almost imperceptibly. In manual-mode, shift durations and reacton times have been reduced by nearly half over previous generations, allowing for a dynamic, involved and sporty driving experience akin to a double clutch gearbox. Especially sporty drivers will benefit from an automatic double-declutching function on downshifts, eliminating engine drag and reducing load alteration effects.

To satisfy our most sport-oriented customers, the BMW ALPINA B6 S comes with a torque-sensing limited-slip differential as standard (Coupé), developed in cooperation with Drexler Motorsport. The locking effect amounts to 30% under acceleration and 20% on a trailing throttle. This concept improves directional stability and vehicle control under weight transfer during cornering, especially during load changes.

Chassis & Suspension

As the sportiest representative of the ALPINA line-up, the B6 S Coupé unifies the elegant appearance of a Gran Tourismo with the performance of a super-sportscar. To match power and performance, the B6 S' s features an electronic damper control (EDC). By means of varying compression and re-bound damper settings, the B6 S profits from sporty handling without compromising on comfort. Soft dampening in the standard setting provides a subtle ride, which automatically tightens when lateral forces increase. Alternatively one can manually select firmer damper settings in advance, using the EDC button located on the centre console. Thanks in no small part to the standard 20” wheels, truly light-footed and neutral handling has been achieved with excellent turn-in and minimal body-roll.

Design

Eyes immediately focus on the unique and exclusive bonnet of the B6 S. Gently rising from the bonnet’s front edge to the windscreen, the elevated centre channel visually awards the entire automobile added length. The lightweight carbon composite construction features

two harmoniously integrated vertical air outlets which allow air to exit from the engine bay, with better cooling ensuring that all 530 horses gallop even at the highest ambient temperatures. Typical ALPINA, typical form-follows-function - much like in racing actually.

In addition to the typical ALPINA front and rear spoiler, the B6 S features a prominent rear diffusor which is integrated between the two twin exhaust tips.