Alpina B10

Alpina B10: which version to buy and why

If the question is which Alpina B10 to buy, the data split is not “one car, three ages.” Across 3 generations (1984–2004) you choose among Diesel Turbo Inline 6, naturally aspirated Gasoline Inline 6, Gasoline V-shaped 8, and one Gasoline Turbo Inline 6. Every listed version is RWD and Sedan.

If the question is which Alpina B10 to buy, the data split is not “one car, three ages.” Across 3 generations (1984–2004) you choose among Diesel Turbo Inline 6, naturally aspirated Gasoline Inline 6, Gasoline V-shaped 8, and one Gasoline Turbo Inline 6. Every listed version is RWD and Sedan. The fastest measured 0–100 km/h is 5.4 s on 3 generation 4.8 AT; the highest measured top speed is 290 km/h on 2 generation 3.4 MT at 360 hp. The lowest measured mixed fuel use is 7.5 l/100 km on the lighter 3 generation 2.9 MT. There are no prices in this catalogue, so “what you pay extra for” means extra displacement, extra horsepower, extra torque, and extra kerb weight — not money.

Which generation changed what

1 generation (1984-01-01 to 1987-12-31) is one version only: 3.4 MT, 261 hp / 192 kW at 6000 rpm, 346 Nm at 4000 rpm, 3430 cm³, Gasoline, 6 cylinders Inline, boost No, Manual 5, RWD. 0–100 is 6.4 s, top speed 250 km/h. Tank, kerb weight, gross weight, ground clearance, wheels, CO2, eco class, city/highway/mixed mpg, compression, and bore × stroke are not measured. Rear brakes are Disc. If you want a B10 with a short spec sheet and a single gearbox, this is the generation; you are not choosing among engines, only whether 6.4 s and 250 km/h from 261 hp is enough.

2 generation (1988-01-01 to 1996-12-31) adds the V-shaped 8 and the only Turbo gasoline B10 in the file. Body stays Sedan. Ground clearance where measured is 120 mm. Two 3.0 MT share the name and both make 231 hp / 170 kW at 5800 rpm, 312 Nm at 4200 rpm, 2997 cm³, Gasoline, Inline 6, boost No, Manual 5. Distinguish them by sprint: 7.9 s / 235 km/h versus 8.4 s / 230 km/h. The slower 3.0 MT is the one with measured kerb 1725 kg, gross 2275 kg, tank 80 l, wheels 235/45 R17 and 265/40 R17, rear brakes Disc ventilated. The faster 3.0 MT has tank, kerb, gross, wheels, and mpg not measured, rear brakes Disc.

Two 3.4 MT share the name and must be split by power. 3.4 MT 254 hp / 187 kW, 325 Nm, 3430 cm³, boost No, Manual 6: 6.4 s, 250 km/h — same 0–100 and top speed as 1 generation 3.4 MT 261 hp, but 7 hp less, 21 Nm less, and one extra gear. 3.4 MT 360 hp / 265 kW, 520 Nm, same 3430 cm³, boost Turbo, Manual 6: 5.6 s, 290 km/h. That is +106 hp and +195 Nm versus the non-Turbo 3.4 MT, +99 hp versus 1 generation 3.4 MT, and 0.8 s quicker than the 254 hp car. Specific output is 360 / 3.430 ≈ 105.0 hp per litre, the highest in the catalogue. Compression, bore × stroke, tank, kerb, mpg, and wheels are not measured on both 3.4 MT rows.

4.0 MT appears twice at 315 hp / 232 kW, 410 Nm, 3982 cm³, V-shaped 8, boost No, Manual 6. One is 6.5 s / 268 km/h (kerb not measured); the other is 6.7 s / 263 km/h with kerb 1725 kg, tank 80 l, wheels 235/45 R17 and 265/40 R17. 4.6 MT appears twice at 340 hp / 250 kW, 480 Nm, 4619 cm³: 6.1 s / 275 km/h versus 6.2 s / 270 km/h (the latter kerb 1680 kg, tank 80 l). 4.6 AT is 340 hp, Automatic 5, 0–100 not measured, top speed not measured, kerb not measured, tank 80 l.

3 generation (1997-01-01 to 2004-12-31) is the only generation with Diesel, with Automatic gasoline sixes, and with a 4.8 AT. The file lists 17 modifications and shows 12. Tank is 70 l on every shown row (10 l less than the measured 80 l tanks of 2 generation). Ground clearance is 120 mm on every shown row. Drive stays RWD. Front and rear brakes are Ventilated disc / Disc ventilated. Suspension is Independent, spring at both ends.

Two weight clusters sit under the same version names. Lighter cluster: kerb about 1535–1540 kg where measured, gross 1995–2080 kg. Heavier cluster: kerb 1640 kg or 1690 kg, gross 2260–2270 kg. Same name, same power — buy by mass and 0–100, not by badge.

Engines and specs

3.3 AT uses fuel 98 and compression 10.2; 3.3 MT uses fuel 95 and compression 10.5. Same 280 hp name pair, different octane. Engine position is Front, longitudinal on 3.2 MT (1535 kg) and 3.3 MT; it is not measured on the other 3 generation rows. Injection on gasoline versions that list it is Distributed injection (multi-point). Diesel 2.9 versions have injection not measured. Diesel compression is 16; gasoline sixes and eights that list it sit at 10.2–10.7.

Specific output (hp per litre, arithmetic on the given figures): 2.9 Diesel 245 / 2.926 ≈ 83.7; 3.2 260 / 3.152 ≈ 82.5; 3.3 280 / 3.300 ≈ 84.8; 4.6 MT 340 / 4.619 ≈ 73.6; 4.6 AT 347 / 4.619 ≈ 75.1; 4.8 AT 375 / 4.837 ≈ 77.5; 2 generation 3.4 MT 360 / 3.430 ≈ 105.0; 4.0 MT 315 / 3.982 ≈ 79.1. The V-shaped 8 buys displacement, not the densest power.

Performance and mpg

3 generation 0–100 km/h, light cluster: 2.9 AT 6.8 s (top speed not measured); 2.9 MT 7.2 s / 254 km/h; 3.2 MT 6.5 s / 260 km/h; 3.3 MT 6.3 s / 262 km/h; 3.3 AT 0–100 not measured, top speed not measured; 4.6 MT 5.9 s / 275 km/h; 4.6 AT 5.5 s / 279 km/h; 4.8 AT 5.4 s / 284 km/h. Heavy cluster: 2.9 MT 7.5 s / 251 km/h; 2.9 AT 7.1 s (top speed not measured); 3.2 MT 6.9 s / 252 km/h; 3.2 AT 0–100 not measured, top speed not measured.

The Automatic Diesel 2.9 AT at 6.8 s is 0.4 s quicker than the Manual 2.9 MT at 7.2 s in the light cluster, despite the same 245 hp and 500 Nm. In the heavy cluster the Automatic 2.9 AT at 7.1 s is 0.4 s quicker than 2.9 MT at 7.5 s. Extra gears on the Diesel Manual (6 versus 5) do not buy a quicker 0–100 in this file.

3.2 MT light (6.5 s) versus 3.3 MT (6.3 s): +20 hp, +5 Nm, +148 cm³ for 0.2 s. 3.3 MT versus 4.6 MT: +60 hp, +135 Nm for 0.4 s (6.3 → 5.9). 4.6 AT versus 4.8 AT: +28 hp, +30 Nm, +218 cm³ for 0.1 s (5.5 → 5.4) and +5 km/h (279 → 284). 4.6 AT is 7 hp and 10 Nm above 4.6 MT and 0.4 s quicker (5.9 → 5.5).

2 generation 3.4 MT 360 hp at 5.6 s / 290 km/h is 0.2 s slower than 3 generation 4.8 AT but 6 km/h faster at the top. Versus 3 generation 4.6 MT it is 0.3 s quicker and 15 km/h faster, on 3430 cm³ instead of 4619 cm³. Versus 1 generation 3.4 MT it is 0.8 s quicker and 40 km/h faster.

Mpg is measured only on 3 generation (except 3.3 AT and 3.2 AT, both not measured). Light 2.9 MT: city 9.9, highway 6.1, mixed 7.5 l/100 km. Light 2.9 AT: 12.6 / 6.6 / 8.8. Heavy 2.9 MT: 10.1 / 6.3 / 7.7. Heavy 2.9 AT: 12.9 / 6.9 / 9.1. Light 3.2 MT: 18 / 9 / 10.2. Heavy 3.2 MT: 14.6 / 7.9 / 10.3. 3.3 MT: 14.7 / 7.9 / 10.2. 4.6 MT: 20.1 / 9.5 / 13.4. 4.6 AT: 18.3 / 9.2 / 12.6. 4.8 AT: 19.6 / 8.7 / 12.7. Mixed: Diesel Manual 7.5 versus 4.6 MT 13.4 is 5.9 l/100 km more for the eight. 4.8 AT mixed 12.7 is 0.1 above 4.6 AT 12.6. All 2 generation and 1 generation mpg figures are not measured. CO2 and eco class are not measured on every version.

Dimensions and weight

Ground clearance is 120 mm wherever it is measured (1 generation 3.4 MT: not measured). 3 generation tank 70 l; measured 2 generation tanks 80 l; 1 generation tank not measured.

Kerb / kg per hp (where kerb exists): light 3.2 MT 1535 / 260 ≈ 5.90; light 2.9 MT and 3.3 MT and 4.6 MT / 4.6 AT 1540 kg → 6.29, 5.50, 4.53, 4.44 kg/hp; 4.8 AT 1690 / 375 ≈ 4.51; heavy 2.9 MT 1640 / 245 ≈ 6.69; heavy 3.2 MT 1640 / 260 ≈ 6.31. 2 generation 3.0 MT 1725 / 231 ≈ 7.47; 4.0 MT 1725 / 315 ≈ 5.48; 4.6 MT 1680 / 340 ≈ 4.94. Light 4.6 AT at 4.44 kg/hp is the lowest measured ratio; 2 generation 3.0 MT at 7.47 is the highest.

Gross: light 3.2 MT 1995 kg (lowest measured); most light 3 generation 2080 kg; 4.8 AT 2260 kg; heavy Diesel/3.2 2270 kg; 2 generation measured 2275 kg. Wheels 3 generation (where listed): 235/40 R18 and 265/35 R18; 4.6 MT and 4.6 AT wheels not measured. 2 generation measured wheels: 235/45 R17 and 265/40 R17. 1 generation wheels not measured.

Which version to choose

Daily fuel, Automatic: light 2.9 AT (mixed 8.8, 0–100 6.8 s, 500 Nm at 3500 rpm). Same engine in the heavy 2.9 AT costs 0.3 s and 0.3 l/100 km mixed. Top speed is not measured on both Automatic Diesels.

Daily fuel, Manual: light 2.9 MT (mixed 7.5, 7.2 s, 254 km/h, kerb 1540 kg). Heavy 2.9 MT is 7.5 s, 251 km/h, mixed 7.7, kerb 1640 kg — 100 kg more, 0.3 s slower.

Gasoline six without eight-cylinder thirst: 3.3 MT — 280 hp, 6.3 s, 262 km/h, mixed 10.2, kerb 1540 kg, fuel 95. Versus light 3.2 MT you gain 20 hp and 0.2 s; mixed use is the same 10.2. Heavy 3.2 MT is slower (6.9 s / 252 km/h) and heavier (1640 kg) with mixed 10.3. 3.2 AT and 3.3 AT exist for buyers who want Automatic 5, but 0–100, top speed, and mpg on both Automatic sixes are not measured. 3.3 AT additionally wants fuel 98.

V-shaped 8, Manual: 3 generation 4.6 MT — 340 hp, 5.9 s, 275 km/h, mixed 13.4, kerb 1540 kg. Versus 2 generation 4.6 MT at 6.1 s / 275 km/h or 6.2 s / 270 km/h you gain 0.2–0.3 s; torque is 470 Nm versus 480 Nm (10 Nm less). 2 generation 4.0 MT is 25 hp down and 0.6–0.8 s slower than 3 generation 4.6 MT.

V-shaped 8, Automatic: 4.6 AT 347 hp, 5.5 s, 279 km/h, mixed 12.6, kerb 1540 kg versus 4.8 AT 375 hp, 5.4 s, 284 km/h, mixed 12.7, kerb 1690 kg. The 4.8 AT buys 28 hp, 30 Nm, 5 km/h, and 0.1 s for 150 kg extra kerb and 180 kg extra gross (2260 vs 2080). 2 generation 4.6 AT has the same 340 hp as the Manual eights of that generation, but 0–100, top speed, mpg, and kerb are not measured.

Highest top speed / highest hp per litre: 2 generation 3.4 MT 360 hp Turbo — 5.6 s, 290 km/h, 520 Nm, ≈105.0 hp/l. Kerb, tank, mpg, wheels, compression, and bore × stroke are not measured. It is 15 hp below 4.8 AT but 10 Nm above it, 6 km/h faster, and 0.2 s slower to 100.

Oldest, simplest choice: 1 generation 3.4 MT 261 hp, 6.4 s, 250 km/h. Matches 2 generation 3.4 MT 254 hp on 0–100 and top speed with 7 hp more and 5 gears instead of 6. Almost every other dimension is not measured.

Do not pick by name alone. Two 2.9 AT, two 2.9 MT, two 3.2 MT, two 3.0 MT, two 3.4 MT, two 4.0 MT, and two 4.6 MT share names. Split 3.4 MT by 254 hp versus 360 hp. Split the rest by 0–100, kerb, gross (2080 vs 2270 / 2275), and mixed mpg where those exist.

Reliability and “for sale” condition are not measured in this file. What is measured: every version is RWD Sedan; 3 generation is the only Diesel and the only 4.8; 2 generation is the only Turbo gasoline; 1 generation is a single 3.4 MT. Buy the light 2.9 MT or 2.9 AT for litres, the 3.3 MT for a Gasoline six, the 4.6 AT for Automatic eight-cylinder pace per kilogram, the 4.8 AT for peak 375 hp, and the 3.4 MT 360 hp for 290 km/h — and treat every blank field as not measured, not as zero.