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Detroit, 1:47 AM
Wed Nov 25
23 posts in the last 24 hours
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03/17/09
03/17/09
We are clever. We took a small diesel from a small car and put it in a bigger car so that we could claim to be green with mileage of 45mpg. See AlGore, we care about Mother Earth.
Oh, it produces 214hp -- more hp/L than any other current Alpina engine -- and will propel the 3-series to 62mph in 6.9s (not 7s) and onward to a top speed of 152mph.
The BMW Alpina D3 Bi-Turbo -- for the smug prick in your life.
03/17/09
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03/17/09
I kind of thought the same thing.
You would have to make a new word, smarrogance?
03/17/09
That's what I had in my head.
03/17/09
03/17/09
I am amused.
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03/17/09
Incidentally, the 123d is one of the finest vehicles I have ever driven.
Shame it looks uglier than a hessian bag full of penises.
03/17/09
Because they already have the 6-cylinder 325d. Which is just a more relaxed de-tuned 330d.
03/17/09
03/17/09
Side note: couldn't diesels' relatively dismal 0-60 times (compared with their gasoline counterparts, at least) be improved with shorter gearing? Is that part of the reason why diesel trucks end up with eleventy bajillion gears? I'm not trying to be a smartass (much), I'm just curious since I don't know a whole lot about diesels.
03/17/09
The ideal thing for a fast diesel would be a CVT of some sort, but IIRC, they just can't handle big torque (yet).
Big trucks have lots of gears close together primarily for massive load hauling, not for speed.
03/17/09
Semis have a lot of short gears for hauling. ASH is right with the idea of a CVT being great for this purpose but I don't know one that wouldn't grenade when mated to a diesel.
03/17/09
03/17/09
I might be near redline at 60mph in 2nd, but I can't say I do that very often. Searching around on the web quickly, I see that a lot of sportier cars or big engines hit 65-75 in 2nd. I'd imagine more everyday cars probably redline before that. Interesting topic for more reading...
03/17/09
$43K for the entire car is a little unreasonable for me, but not for a BMW, I suppose. But $43K plus the cost of the car would be f'ing ridonkulous.
03/17/09
03/17/09
But will we ever see it in the US?
03/17/09
You can custom order one from Alpina, no doubt.
But for that price, I would sooner have the Prius and Civic Si.
03/17/09
But how is it going to run with our diesel quality?
Are you talking about combining a Prius and a Civic Si, or two seperate vehicles?
03/17/09
03/17/09
Too bad American refineries don't cook up any diesel.
03/17/09
03/17/09
Reasonable performance and awesome mileage for $43K and no warranty? No.
03/17/09
I'm sure Alpina has a warranty on everything they sell. They wouldn't be able to sell anything if they didn't.
Plus, the B7 that was sold in the states was actually offered through BMW dealers.
Think about it: For the price of TWO Priussesesss ... or whatever, you can get better MPG without all the smug! The best part is, no one will ever know. Unless you go bragging about it, which would probably end up happening. Smug assholes ... *grumble grumble*
Ok, I'm done.
03/17/09
Alpina cars carry a full warranty.
03/17/09
Yeah, in retrospect, I suppose they may well have a warranty program, particularly if the cars are sold under the "Alpina" name rather than the "BMW" name.
I admit, however, to not knowing enough about either Alpina or BMW to be certain.
And yes, as cool as it is, I would still rather have the two Priuses. Yes, they are the anti-cool, but at the same time, having to two functional vehicles is better than having one functional vehicle.
Additionally, from an economic standpoint, this thing still makes no sense over a Prius, as the new Prius gets 50+ mpg on standard gasoline, which is significantly cheaper than diesel in the US?
If you just can't stand the Prius and are willing to sacrifice 5 mpg for looks and a more interesting drive? The Ford Fusion hybrid is available for at least $10K cheaper and gets the same mileage on gasoline, which, again, is cheaper than diesel.
03/17/09
03/17/09
This BMW isn't being marketed for just anyone. Diesel is currently more expensive. Why? We'll never know.
Look at it from the point of view of someone that has enough money to drop on a BMW already. Think of all of those movie-star types that drive Prisususesesses just to be eco-friendly.
This is right up their alley. If I had the money it would be right up my alley. I can't say many things for sure but I know the BMW has to be exponentially more fun to drive than any Prius, ever.
The thought of a vehicle that gets 45mpg and I can still have an ass-load of fun in all while retaining luxury status excites the hell out of me.
03/17/09
03/17/09
You have a good argument there.
But even so, I would just as soon skip out on both the Prius smug stereotype and the BMW douchebag stereotype and take the Fusion Hybrid.
That way I could at least be a domestic douchebag.
03/17/09
Actually they are not even tuners but car company, beemer looking cars they sell have their name in every tag so they are registered as Alpinas not BMWs, at least in europe
03/17/09
Indeed. I stand totally corrected on that one.
I'm generally a fan of classic domestic cars, so I will admit that my knowledge of European automakers is somewhat lacking.
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