Alpina B4: which version to choose
If the question is which Alpina B4 to buy, the data split is simple: three 3.0 AT engines, not three names. First generation Cabrio 3.0 AT (410 hp) from November 2012 to June 2017; the same generation after restyling, still Cabrio 3.0 AT (440 hp), July 2017 to February 2022; second generation Sedan 3.0 AT (495 hp) from March 2022, production stop not measured.
If the question is which Alpina B4 to buy, the data split is simple: three 3.0 AT engines, not three names. First generation Cabrio 3.0 AT (410 hp) from November 2012 to June 2017; the same generation after restyling, still Cabrio 3.0 AT (440 hp), July 2017 to February 2022; second generation Sedan 3.0 AT (495 hp) from March 2022, production stop not measured. Every listed version is called 3.0 AT. Same-name rows are told apart by horsepower, drive, 0–100 km/h, and kerb weight.
People looking up Alpina B4 GT, Gran Coupe, F32, Biturbo, or used-sale listings will still land on these seven 3.0 AT rows. The catalogue does not list GT, Gran Coupe, F32, Biturbo, engine codes, 0–60 mph, or prices. Those searches map onto Cabrio versus Sedan, 410 versus 440 versus 495 hp, and RWD versus AWD.
Generations: what actually changed
1 generation (November 2012 – June 2017), Cabrio, 3 versions. All three are 3.0 AT at 410 hp (301 kW) at 5500 – 6250 rpm and 600 Nm at 3000 – 4000 rpm. Displacement is 2979 cm³, Gasoline, 6 Inline cylinders, 4 valves per cylinder, Turbo, Front, longitudinal, Direct injection (direct), compression 10.2, bore × stroke 84 × 89.6, fuel 98, Automatic 8, Euro 6, 60 L tank, 110 mm ground clearance, wheels 245/30 R20 and 265/30 R20. The three rows are not the same car:
- 3.0 AT 410 hp, RWD, 0–100 in 4.5 s, 301 km/h, kerb 1840 kg, gross 2300 kg, city/highway/combined 10.8 / 6.4 / 8 L/100 km, CO2 186 g/km. Modification window March 2013 – June 2017.
- 3.0 AT 410 hp, AWD, 0–100 in 4.0 s, 303 km/h, kerb 1680 kg, gross 2200 kg, 10.6 / 6.3 / 7.9 L/100 km, CO2 183 g/km. November 2012 – June 2017.
- 3.0 AT 410 hp, RWD, 0–100 in 4.2 s, 303 km/h, kerb 1615 kg, gross 2135 kg, 10.2 / 6.1 / 7.6 L/100 km, CO2 177 g/km. November 2012 – June 2017.
The lightest 410 hp RWD is 225 kg lighter than the heaviest 410 hp RWD (1840 − 1615). That 225 kg is 13.9% of 1615 kg. AWD 410 hp is 65 kg heavier than the light RWD 410 hp and 160 kg lighter than the heavy RWD 410 hp. AWD 410 hp is 0.5 s quicker to 100 km/h than the 1840 kg RWD and 0.2 s quicker than the 1615 kg RWD.
1 generation, restyling (July 2017 – February 2022), Cabrio, 3 versions. Still Cabrio, still 3.0 AT, still 2979 cm³, Gasoline, 6 Inline, Turbo, Automatic 8, Euro 6, 60 L, same 20-inch tyre pair. Output rises to 440 hp (324 kW) at 5500 – 6250 rpm and 660 Nm at 3000 – 4500 rpm. That is +30 hp and +60 Nm versus every first-generation 3.0 AT. Fuel grade is not measured on the restyle. Ground clearance is not measured.
- 3.0 AT 440 hp, RWD, 4.3 s, 304 km/h, kerb 1915 kg, gross 2300 kg, 12.1 / 7.3 / 9.1 L/100 km, CO2 207 g/km.
- 3.0 AT 440 hp, RWD, 4.2 s, 306 km/h, kerb 1690 kg, gross 2135 kg, 12.1 / 7.3 / 9.1 L/100 km, CO2 207 g/km.
- 3.0 AT 440 hp, AWD, 3.9 s, 303 km/h, kerb 1755 kg, gross 2200 kg, 12.3 / 7.4 / 9.2 L/100 km, CO2 209 g/km.
Kerb spread on the restyle is again 225 kg (1915 − 1690). The 440 hp AWD is the only Cabrio under 4.0 s. The 1690 kg RWD is the catalogue’s fastest B4: 306 km/h.
2 generation (March 2022 – stop not measured), Sedan, 1 version. Body changes from Cabrio to Sedan. One 3.0 AT: 495 hp (364 kW) at 5000-7000 rpm, 730 Nm at 2500-4500 rpm, 2993 cm³ (+14 cm³ versus 2979), Gasoline, 6 Inline, Turbo, Front, longitudinal, Direct injection (direct), compression 9.3 (down 0.9 from 10.2), bore × stroke 84 x 90, fuel 98, Automatic 8, AWD, Euro 6. Versus restyle 440 hp this is +55 hp and +70 Nm; versus first-generation 410 hp it is +85 hp and +130 Nm.
Alpina B4 engine specs (all versions named 3.0 AT)
| Version (tell apart by hp / drive / 0–100 / kerb) | hp (kW) | Nm | cm³ | Fuel | Cylinders / layout | Boost | Gearbox | Drive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.0 AT 410 hp, RWD, 4.5 s, 1840 kg | 410 (301) | 600 | 2979 | 98 | 6 Inline | Turbo | Automatic 8 | RWD |
| 3.0 AT 410 hp, AWD, 4.0 s, 1680 kg | 410 (301) | 600 | 2979 | 98 | 6 Inline | Turbo | Automatic 8 | AWD |
| 3.0 AT 410 hp, RWD, 4.2 s, 1615 kg | 410 (301) | 600 | 2979 | 98 | 6 Inline | Turbo | Automatic 8 | RWD |
| 3.0 AT 440 hp, RWD, 4.3 s, 1915 kg | 440 (324) | 660 | 2979 | not measured | 6 Inline | Turbo | Automatic 8 | RWD |
| 3.0 AT 440 hp, RWD, 4.2 s, 1690 kg | 440 (324) | 660 | 2979 | not measured | 6 Inline | Turbo | Automatic 8 | RWD |
| 3.0 AT 440 hp, AWD, 3.9 s, 1755 kg | 440 (324) | 660 | 2979 | not measured | 6 Inline | Turbo | Automatic 8 | AWD |
| 3.0 AT 495 hp, AWD, 3.7 s, 1965 kg | 495 (364) | 730 | 2993 | 98 | 6 Inline | Turbo | Automatic 8 | AWD |
Specific output from those displacements: 410 hp on 2979 cm³ is 137.6 hp/L; 440 hp on 2979 cm³ is 147.7 hp/L (+10.1 hp/L, +7.3%); 495 hp on 2993 cm³ is 165.4 hp/L (+17.7 hp/L versus 440, +12.0%). Torque density: 600 Nm / 2.979 L = 201.4 Nm/L; 660 / 2.979 = 221.6 Nm/L; 730 / 2.993 = 243.9 Nm/L.
The restyle keeps the same peak-power rpm band (5500 – 6250) and widens the torque band from 3000 – 4000 to 3000 – 4500. The Sedan 3.0 AT 495 hp moves peak power to 5000-7000 and peak torque to 2500-4500 — 500 rpm earlier at the bottom of the torque window than either Cabrio engine.
Alpina B4 performance, mpg, and 0–100
0–100 km/h across the seven 3.0 AT rows: 4.5, 4.0, 4.2, 4.3, 4.2, 3.9, 3.7 s. Spread is 0.8 s (4.5 − 3.7). Top speed: 301, 303, 303, 304, 306, 303, 301 km/h. Spread is 5 km/h. The quickest car is not the fastest: Sedan 3.0 AT 495 hp AWD does 3.7 s and 301 km/h; Cabrio 3.0 AT 440 hp RWD at 1690 kg does 4.2 s and 306 km/h.
Combined consumption: 8, 7.9, 7.6, 9.1, 9.1, 9.2, 9.8 L/100 km. The most economical listed row is first-generation 3.0 AT 410 hp RWD at 1615 kg (7.6 combined, 177 g/km CO2). The thirstiest is second-generation 3.0 AT 495 hp (9.8 combined, 223 g/km). Restyle versus first generation at the same RWD 20-inch tyres: combined rises from 7.6–8.0 to 9.1 L/100 km (+1.1 to +1.5). City use on the Sedan is 14 L/100 km versus 10.2–10.8 on first-generation Cabrio and 12.1–12.3 on the restyle.
0–60 mph is not measured. Highway consumption on restyle AWD and Sedan AWD is the same number, 7.4 L/100 km; the Sedan’s extra use is in the city (14 versus 12.3) and combined (9.8 versus 9.2).
Alpina B4 weight, dimensions, tank, wheels
Kerb weights, lightest to heaviest: 1615, 1680, 1690, 1755, 1840, 1915, 1965 kg. Gross: 2135, 2200, 2135, 2200, 2300, 2300, 2400 kg. The Sedan 3.0 AT 495 hp is the heaviest kerb (1965 kg) and heaviest gross (2400 kg). Payload (gross − kerb) on that Sedan is 435 kg; on 1615/2135 RWD 410 hp it is 520 kg; on 1840/2300 RWD 410 hp it is 460 kg; on 1915/2300 RWD 440 hp it is 385 kg — the smallest payload in the table.
Kerb per horsepower: 1615/410 = 3.94 kg/hp; 1680/410 = 4.10; 1840/410 = 4.49; 1690/440 = 3.84; 1755/440 = 3.99; 1915/440 = 4.35; 1965/495 = 3.97. Best mass-to-power is restyle 3.0 AT 440 hp RWD at 1690 kg (3.84 kg/hp). Worst is first-generation 3.0 AT 410 hp RWD at 1840 kg (4.49 kg/hp). The 495 hp Sedan sits at 3.97 kg/hp — close to restyle AWD 440 hp (3.99), not to the light 440 hp RWD.
Ground clearance: 110 mm on all three first-generation 3.0 AT rows; not measured on restyle; not measured on second generation. Tank: 60 L on six Cabrio rows, 59 L on the Sedan (−1 L). Wheels: Cabrio 245/30 R20 and 265/30 R20; Sedan 255/35 R20 and 285/30 R20 (front +10 mm section, +5 profile; rear +20 mm section, same 30 profile, same 20-inch diameter). Front and rear suspension on every version: Independent, spring. Front brakes: Ventilated disc. Rear brakes: Disc ventilated (label as in the data).
Which Alpina B4 version to choose
Choose first-generation Cabrio 3.0 AT 410 hp RWD, 4.2 s, 1615 kg if the priority is the lowest listed weight, the lowest combined fuel (7.6 L/100 km), the lowest CO2 (177 g/km), and 110 mm clearance that the later cars do not measure. Versus the 1840 kg 3.0 AT 410 hp RWD it is the same 410 hp and 600 Nm, 0.3 s quicker, 2 km/h more top speed (303 vs 301), 225 kg lighter, and 0.4 L/100 km less combined. Same name, same power; the 1615 kg row is the one that behaves like the light car on paper.
Choose first-generation Cabrio 3.0 AT 410 hp AWD, 4.0 s, 1680 kg if the 410 hp engine is enough and AWD is the requirement. It is 0.2 s quicker than the light RWD 410 hp despite +65 kg, and 0.5 s quicker than the 1840 kg RWD. Combined 7.9 L/100 km sits 0.3 above the light RWD and 0.1 below the heavy RWD. Fuel is 98, same as the other 410 hp rows.
Avoid treating the 1840 kg 3.0 AT 410 hp RWD as the “same” as the 1615 kg RWD. Same 410 hp, same RWD, same 2979 cm³: 4.49 versus 3.94 kg/hp, 4.5 versus 4.2 s, 301 versus 303 km/h, 186 versus 177 g/km. The heavier row also starts later (March 2013 versus November 2012).
Choose restyle Cabrio 3.0 AT 440 hp RWD, 4.2 s, 1690 kg if the goal is peak listed speed and the best kg/hp in the whole B4 table. 306 km/h is +3 km/h versus restyle AWD and +5 km/h versus the Sedan. 3.84 kg/hp beats the Sedan’s 3.97. Versus the light 410 hp RWD you pay +30 hp and +60 Nm for the same 4.2 s 0–100, +3 km/h (306 vs 303), +75 kg (1690 vs 1615), and +1.5 L/100 km combined (9.1 vs 7.6). Fuel grade on this 440 hp row is not measured.
Choose restyle Cabrio 3.0 AT 440 hp AWD, 3.9 s, 1755 kg if the Cabrio body is required and 0–100 must be under 4.0 s. It is the only open-body B4 at 3.9 s. Versus light 440 hp RWD: +0.3 s advantage to 100, −3 km/h (303 vs 306), +65 kg, +0.1 combined, +2 g/km CO2. Versus 410 hp AWD: +30 hp, +60 Nm, 0.1 s quicker (3.9 vs 4.0), same 303 km/h, +75 kg, +1.3 combined (9.2 vs 7.9).
The 1915 kg restyle 3.0 AT 440 hp RWD is the heaviest Cabrio. Versus the 1690 kg 440 hp RWD it is the same 440 hp, same RWD, same 9.1 combined: 4.3 vs 4.2 s, 304 vs 306 km/h, +225 kg, 4.35 vs 3.84 kg/hp, payload 385 vs 445 kg (2135 − 1690). If both 440 hp RWD rows are on the same lot, the 1690 kg figure is the one that matches the restyle’s claimed 4.2 s and 306 km/h.
Choose second-generation Sedan 3.0 AT 495 hp AWD if the body must be Sedan and the engine must be the 495 hp / 730 Nm unit. It is the only listed B4 that is not a Cabrio. 3.7 s is 0.2 s quicker than restyle AWD 440 hp and 0.8 s quicker than the slowest 410 hp RWD. Specific output 165.4 hp/L is the catalogue high. What it does not buy: top speed (301 km/h, tied with the slowest Cabrio), kerb weight (1965 kg, heaviest), combined fuel (9.8, highest), CO2 (223 g/km, highest), tank (59 L, 1 L down), or measured ground clearance (not measured). Versus restyle AWD 440 hp the extra 55 hp and 70 Nm arrive with +210 kg (1965 − 1755) and almost unchanged kg/hp (3.97 vs 3.99). The extra output is largely spent carrying the extra mass; the measurable gain is 0.2 s to 100 km/h and a closed Sedan body, not a higher top speed.
Alpina B4 vs B3, D4, M4, M3, 440i, M440i, B4 S: those rival names are search queries. This dataset has no B3, D4, M4, M3, 440i, M440i, or B4 S rows, so no vs numbers exist here. Inside the B4, the only vs that the numbers support is 410 vs 440 vs 495 hp, RWD vs AWD, Cabrio vs Sedan, and the 225 kg kerb split that repeats in both Cabrio batches.
Short pick list using only these figures. Lightest and most economical: 3.0 AT 410 hp RWD, 1615 kg. Fastest 0–100 Cabrio: 3.0 AT 440 hp AWD, 3.9 s. Highest top speed: 3.0 AT 440 hp RWD, 1690 kg, 306 km/h. Best kg/hp: that same 1690 kg 440 hp RWD. Only Sedan and only 495 hp: 3.0 AT 495 hp AWD, 3.7 s, 1965 kg. Prices are not in the data; “what the extra money buys” here is extra hp, Nm, and (on the restyle) a wider torque band, paid for in litres, grams of CO2, and — on the Sedan — 350 kg over the lightest Cabrio (1965 − 1615).