For us ‘Mericans, the ALPINA B5 Touring is forbidden fruit. Not only do we not receive the 5 Series Touring, but ALPINA also excludes us from its B5 model portfolio. Which is a shame since, in terms of practical performance wagons, the ALPINA B5 Touring is hard to match. Check out this new video from AutoTopNL to get a sense of what it’s like to drive one, a taste of such forbidden fruit.
This movie, like other AutoTopNL POV films, puts you in the driver’s seat of the B5 Touring to give you the best picture of what it’s like to drive. From the driver’s seat, you can see how the interior appears, how it reacts to inputs, how rapidly it accelerates, and even how it sounds. This is most certainly the closest Americans will ever come.
The ALPINA B5 Touring is based on an M550i Touring rather than the full-fledged M5. ALPINA, on the other hand, pulls its guts out and replaces them with its own. That means the standard BMW N63 engine is entirely disassembled and rebuilt, with new pistons, an intake manifold, an exhaust manifold, larger turbochargers, and much more. On paper, the effects are scarcely noticeable, with 600 horsepower and 590 lb-ft of torque that aren’t significantly different. However, the engine’s overall personality and feel are distinct, making it significantly more interesting and thrilling to use. The difference is palpable for anybody who hasn’t driven an ALPINA.
In this video, we witness the ALPINA B5 Touring hit the Autobahn and travel at triple digit speeds. It can also reach 320 km/h (198 mph), which is incredible considering it’s a big family wagon with leather seats and a comfortable interior. Even more astounding is its top speed of 320 km/h. Thanks to ALPINA’s superb suspension, it’s rock-solid stable and very smooth. The ALPINA B5 is an excellent choice for an Autobahn cruiser. It’s simply a shame we can’t get it here.
