Published:
13 November 2020
Alpina B3 Touring
This magazine usually reserves coveted five-star verdicts for cars that profoundly change their particular game. There is little revolutionary about this new Alpina B3, but in Touring guise, the car’s collection of attributes are so compelling and appreciable that they exceed the sum of their parts.
The B3 Touring earns five stars because there is arguably no other car on sale that so successfully slathers its appeal across the realms of comfort, performance, practicality, engagement and – relative to the cars against which it competes – value for money. It is one sensationally well-rounded product. Alpina’s success stems from its ability to recognise what customers want from their cars.
BMW’s latest 3 Series represents the finest base for an Alpina conversion since at least the E46 generation, if not the E30, but an extraordinarily potent engine and detail chassis engineering changes take the package to new heights of maturity and enjoyment. This is most obviously demonstrated in the way the new car is sweeter than its excellent predecessor not only on B-roads but also on motorways.
For those who like to drive their performance cars seven days a week and in all seasons, the B3 Touring is an especially rare gem.
