When I think about BMW and tuners, there's only two brands that really stand out: Alpina and Dinan. And the reason I stick to ONLY those two companies is because both of those are the ONLY two aftermarket suppliers that actually get BMW's nod of approval. AND Alpina is the only company that BMW works with and distributes via its dealers.
Though the U.S. market only gets very limited exposure on occasion — THINK: the Alpina Z8 and, currently, the Alpina B7 — that doesn't mean that Alpina isn't constantly churning out products for the market abroad. From what I've seen so far, the company has created the B3, B5 and B6 coupe.
The latest two versions are the B4 — based on the all-new 4-Series — and what we're seeing here, the B6 Gran Coupe. And if you've been following Alpina since it started working on BMW's not much has changed from their formula over the years.
Add a set of bigger wheels and tires, tack on an aerodynamics kit to the vehicle's front valence, side skirts and rear valence, plus a rear spoiler and you've got an Alpina. In addition to that there are typically some power upgrades that bring it close to the Ms — give or take 540 horsepower and 516 lb.-ft. of torque — and some suspension modifications.
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