Alpina D3 Biturbo reviewed and priced by Evo

The Alpina D3 Biturbo makes a case for being the best all-round performance car on sale. It is the successor to the much-loved first-generation Alpina D3, which was based on the BMW E90 3-series and held the title of the fastest diesel-powered production car in the world. The new model is priced at £46,950 for the saloon body style. It replaces the previous four-cylinder diesel setup with a larger 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged straight-six engine. This unit produces 345bhp and delivers an astonishing 516lb ft of torque. Like the 335d it is based on, the only transmission available is BMW’s eight-speed torque converter automatic. Alpina has rewritten the software for the gearbox, stability control, switchable dampers, and electric power steering to match the new powerplant.

Handling and chassis details

Alpina’s springs are 40-percent stiffer than those of the standard car, and the vehicle rides on 20-inch alloys. The company has recalibrated the switchable dampers to be softer in compression and firmer in rebound. In the default ‘comfort’ mode, the suspension is actually softer than the standard 335d. The geometry has been revised and new bushes and anti-roll bars have been fitted to improve the chassis. There is also a brace to stiffen the front end further. The steering rack is shared with the 3-series, but the firmer front end and revised geometry give it more positive responses. The D3 copes with British roads far better than an M-Sport spec 3-series. It tackles rough tarmac with far more composure than a car wearing such wide rubber should.

Deeply impressive is the way the D3’s chassis manages to deal with the engine’s vast output. Even on gentle throttle applications, you can feel the back end of the car twitching as the torque reaches the rear axle. Stability control intervenes to keep everything in line. Turning the system into its more permissive ‘sport plus’ mode allows a modest, but predictable, degree of slip. This makes the D3 an amusing companion on a damp road. If you turn everything off, the D3 turns into a proper tyre-smoking DERV-powered hooligan. It takes a while to get used to the modest engine speeds at which the torque can overwhelm the available grip.

Despite this capability, the D3 is never less than supremely relaxing. It cruises quietly and comfortably at speed, pillowing away rougher road surfaces and delivering effortless performance whenever you want it. It is genuinely hard to think of another car that ticks so many boxes as an all-rounder. The D3 Biturbo is £5,400 more than a BMW 335d M Sport saloon. After spending time in it, it is hard not to conclude that the supplement is justified. Another way to look at it is that it is less than the new BMW M3, yet offers very similar real-world pace. The CO2 emissions of just 139g/km are astonishing for a car with this level of performance.

Specifying a limited slip differential costs £1,990, but it is worth considering if you plan to take the car on track. We could not get close to the official 53.3mpg economy figure. Despite driving the car extremely hard, we still managed an indicated 36.5mpg. That is realistically the worst you are going to get in terms of road use barring trips to the Autobahn. Frankly, that is remarkable.