Alpina has finished the development process of the new B8 Gran Coupe, which will be officially revealed to the world next Wednesday, on March 24, at 2:00 p.m. ET (7:00 p.m. CET). Based on the M850i version of the BMW 8-Series Gran Coupe, it will feature several technical upgrades that will improve upon the twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8. The exact output and torque figures haven’t been disclosed yet, but the engine will reportedly push out around 600 HP, directed to an upgraded version of the xDrive AWD system via an eight-speed automatic gearbox.
That would give it a significant boost
over the stock M850i Gran Coupe, which has 523 HP and 750 Nm available on tap. It will also be quicker than BMW’s model,
with the automaker (Alpina is recognized as an automobile manufacturer)
expected to slash a few tenths of a second from the official 0 to 100
km/h acceleration time of 3.9 seconds. Top speed will also increase well
beyond 250 km/h.
Besides having more power than the M850i
GC, Alpina’s new B8 Gran Coupe will get other technical upgrades, such as the
bespoke suspension set-up and improved braking. The exclusive front and rear
bumpers have been partially revealed in previous scoops. Moreover, the final
production model will launch with a more aggressive diffuser that has cutouts
for the new exhaust pipes.
The ‘Alpina’ badging, specific colors and
multi-wheels, as well as different upholstery and a new steering wheel, will
likely round out the project.
