2017 Alpina B5/D5 estate spotted in light disguise ~ station of gear

First spyshots of Alpina's performance version of next BMW 5 Series on the road, B5 set to get around 580bhp

2016-07-22 11:40

We haven't even seen the next-gen BMW 5 Series undisguised yet, but Alpina is already out and about testing its hotter version. The BMW tuning specialist is set to launch its new B5 and D5 in both saloon and Touring estate form in 2018.

The new 5 Series will launch in standard form at the end of this year, but Alpina is likely to release the B5 and D5 around the same time as BMW unveils its next M5. The B5 will use the familiar 4.4-litre bi-turbo V8, likely uprated to around 580bhp.

• Best estate cars to buy now

Image 6 of 10

Image 6 of 10

The D5, on the other hand, will use a straight-six twin (or triple) turbo diesel engine churning out at least 400bhp and a substantial amount of torque. It's not clear if the cars in these images is a B5 or a D5, as both will likely get the usual Alpina treatment of a bespoke bodykit, big multi-spoke wheels and quad exhausts clearly visible.

The seventh-generation 5-Series model is set to shed around 100kg thanks to the use of light carbon-fibre reinforced plastics (CFRP) in the bodywork and chassis. The materials were first used by BMW on the new 7 Series.

This weight reduction should ensure better handling and increased performance for the B5, with Alpina’s engineers overhauling the suspension to ensure the B5 drives as its looks suggest it should.

Image 10 of 10

Image 10 of 10

BMW is hard at work developing the next generation 5 Series Saloon and more practical Touring estate variant, expected to arrive early on in 2017. The forthcoming M5 will get well over 600bhp from a tweaked version of the 4.4-litre twin turbocharged V8 engine. However, as the M5 is still unlikely to be offered in estate form, the B5 Touring will be the fastest load-lugging 5 Series you can buy.

BMW insiders told Auto Express to expect class-first autonomous features for the 5 Series, such as remote parking – which won’t require anyone to be behind the wheel – plus gesture control for answering Bluetooth calls and adjusting radio settings, all features likely to be shared in the Alpina.

What do you think of the new Alpina B5? Let us know in the comments...

Alex Jenkins

Thank you for reading the article about 2017 Alpina B5/D5 estate spotted in light disguise in blog station of gear If this article was helpful please bookmark this page in your web browser by pressing Ctrl + D on your keyboard keys.