Production limited to 250 sedans and wagons of boosted Alpina B5 that’s faster than BMW M5 CS
Alpina will farewell the current-generation BMW 5 Series with its 2023 Alpina B5 GT Limited Edition – an even more powerful version of its tuned super-sedan that monsters the fastest BMW M5s for speed.
Available in both sedan and Touring wagon body style, but restricted to just 250 units, the Alpina B5 GT Limited Edition benefits from retuned software that raises output from its 4.4-litre twin-turbocharged V8 to 466kW and 850Nm of torque.
It also features a modified air intake duct and a revised air intake silencer.
Making the B5 GT the most powerful 5 Series Alpina yet, the B5 GT LE produces 9kW/50Nm more than the standard B5 but 1kW less than the BMW M5 CS that remains the Bavarian car-maker’s most powerful sedan yet.
Driving all four wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission, which also has upgraded software, Alpina says 0-100km/h takes 3.4 seconds for the sedan and 3.6sec for the Touring.
Earning bragging rights over BMW’s best, top speed for the B5 GT LE is 330km/h for the sedan and 322km/h for the wagon, both humbling the M5 CS that is electronically limited to 305km/h.
As well as extra output, the B5 GT LE also gets a tweaked Alpina quad sports exhaust and handling upgrades that include reinforced top mounts on the front struts that are said to increase steering precision.
At the rear, the rear axle has been lowered to reduce the centre of gravity.
As standard there’s powerful Brembo brakes with huge 395mm rotors on the front axle and, unusually, larger 398mm discs at the rear.
Externally, there’s little to mark out the B5 GT from the standard B5.
The limited Alpina sits on the same 20-inch forged alloys as standard, although look closely and there is B5 GT lettering on the rims.
Inside, it’s a similar story with the interior almost indistinguishable aside from B5 GT metal emblems and a numbered plaque on the centre console.
Available to order now, the limited-run Alpina B5 GT Limited Edition is not expected to make it Down Under following the decision by Alpina Automobiles Australia in 2020 not to import the updated B5 and D5 S.
In Europe the new Alpina B5 GT Limited Edition has been priced from €145,000 ($A225,000) for the sedan and €148,500 ($A230,000) for the wagon, with deliveries confirmed to begin in July.
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Keyword: 2023 Alpina B5 GT Limited Edition breaks cover