Alpina Roadster

Alpina Roadster: which version to buy — 2.7 MT, 4.8 AT, or 3.4 MT

If the question is which Alpina Roadster to buy, the data splits into three closed generations and three named versions: 2.7 MT (1 generation, 1990–1991), 4.8 AT (2 generation, 2002–2003), and 3.4 MT (3 generation, 2003–2005). All three are Roadster body, Gasoline, RWD, five speeds, no boost.

If the question is which Alpina Roadster to buy, the data splits into three closed generations and three named versions: 2.7 MT (1 generation, 1990–1991), 4.8 AT (2 generation, 2002–2003), and 3.4 MT (3 generation, 2003–2005). All three are Roadster body, Gasoline, RWD, five speeds, no boost. The choice is not “more cylinders always wins”: 4.8 AT has the most power and torque, 3.4 MT matches its 0–100 time while weighing less and running a higher top speed, and 2.7 MT is the lightest car with the smallest engine and the slowest sprint.

Alpina Roadster S vs V8 vs first 2.7 — what each generation actually changed

1 generation (1990–1991) is one version: 2.7 MT. Displacement is 2693 cm³, 6 cylinders in V-shaped layout, 2 valves per cylinder, 200 hp (147 kW), 261 Nm. Gearbox is Manual, 5 speeds. 0–100 is 6.6 s, top speed 230 km/h. Kerb weight 1250 kg, tank 58 l. Power, torque and 0–100 rpm points are not measured. Compression, bore × stroke, fuel grade, ground clearance, wheels, gross weight, and all three consumption figures are not measured. Rear brakes are Disc; front are Ventilated disc. This is the only generation with 2 valves per cylinder and the only one with non-ventilated rear discs.

2 generation (2002–2003) is one version: 4.8 AT — the Alpina Roadster V8 in the search sense, and the only Automatic in the line. Displacement jumps to 4837 cm³ (+2144 cm³ versus 2.7 MT). Cylinders go to 8, still V-shaped, now 4 valves per cylinder. Output is 381 hp (280 kW) at 5800 rpm and 520 Nm at 3800 rpm. Versus 2.7 MT that is +181 hp and +259 Nm. 0–100 drops from 6.6 s to 5.3 s (−1.3 s). Top speed is 260 km/h (+30 km/h). Kerb weight is 1615 kg (+365 kg). Tank is 73 l (+15 l). Fuel is 95. Compression is 10.5. This is the only version with measured consumption: city 15, highway 7.5, mixed 9.3. Ground clearance and wheels are not measured. Gross weight is 1950 kg.

3 generation (2003–2005) is one version: 3.4 MT — the Alpina Roadster S / 3.4 S in search wording. Displacement is 3346 cm³: smaller than 4.8 AT by 1491 cm³, larger than 2.7 MT by 653 cm³. Layout switches to Inline 6 with 4 valves per cylinder. Output is 300 hp (221 kW) at 6300 rpm and 362 Nm at 4800 rpm. Versus 4.8 AT that is −81 hp and −158 Nm; versus 2.7 MT it is +100 hp and +101 Nm. Gearbox returns to Manual, 5 speeds. 0–100 stays 5.3 s — the same as 4.8 AT, 1.3 s quicker than 2.7 MT. Top speed is 265 km/h: +5 km/h versus 4.8 AT, +35 km/h versus 2.7 MT. Kerb weight is 1320 kg: −295 kg versus 4.8 AT, +70 kg versus 2.7 MT. Tank is 55 l, the smallest of the three. Fuel is 98. Compression is 10.2. Bore × stroke is 87 × 93.8. Ground clearance is 110 mm (the only measured figure). Wheels are 235/35 R19 and 265/30 R19 (the only measured sizes). Gross weight is 1620 kg (−330 kg versus 4.8 AT). City, highway, mixed consumption, and CO₂ are not measured.

No restyling is listed inside any generation. Each generation has 1 version.

Alpina Roadster S engine vs V8 engine vs 2.7 — specs table

Power per litre (hp ÷ displacement in litres): 3.4 MT 89.7 hp/l, 4.8 AT 78.8 hp/l, 2.7 MT 74.3 hp/l. The smallest of the later two engines is the most densely tuned. 3.4 MT makes 81 hp less than 4.8 AT from 1491 cm³ less capacity, so it extracts 10.9 hp more per litre.

Peak rpm: 3.4 MT power at 6300 versus 4.8 AT at 5800 (+500 rpm). Torque peak: 3.4 MT at 4800 versus 4.8 AT at 3800 (+1000 rpm). 2.7 MT rpm points are not measured. Compression: 4.8 AT 10.5 versus 3.4 MT 10.2; 2.7 MT not measured. Fuel grade: 4.8 AT 95, 3.4 MT 98, 2.7 MT not measured. Valves: 2.7 MT is the only 2-valves-per-cylinder car; the other two are 4. Feed on all three is Distributed injection (multi-point). Engine location is not measured on all three.

Performance and economy: 0–100, top speed, mpg figures that exist

0–100 is identical for 4.8 AT and 3.4 MT at 5.3 s. 2.7 MT is 6.6 s — 1.3 s slower. The extra 81 hp and 158 Nm of 4.8 AT do not buy a quicker sprint than 3.4 MT in this data.

Top speed ranking: 3.4 MT 265 km/h, 4.8 AT 260 km/h, 2.7 MT 230 km/h.

Consumption is measured only on 4.8 AT: city 15, highway 7.5, mixed 9.3. For 3.4 MT and 2.7 MT, city, highway, and mixed are not measured. CO₂ and eco class are not measured on all three. Do not treat the V8 mixed 9.3 as a stand-in for the other two.

Kerb-weight per horsepower: 4.8 AT 1615 ÷ 381 = 4.24 kg/hp, 3.4 MT 1320 ÷ 300 = 4.40 kg/hp, 2.7 MT 1250 ÷ 200 = 6.25 kg/hp. The V8 is slightly better on mass per horsepower; the first-generation 2.7 MT carries 1.85 kg more per hp than 3.4 MT. Horsepower per tonne of kerb weight: 4.8 AT 236 hp/t, 3.4 MT 227 hp/t, 2.7 MT 160 hp/t. That 9 hp/t gap between 4.8 AT and 3.4 MT still produces the same 5.3 s 0–100.

Dimensions, weight, tank, wheels

Kerb weight: 2.7 MT 1250 kg (lightest), 3.4 MT 1320 kg, 4.8 AT 1615 kg (heaviest). 4.8 AT is 365 kg heavier than 2.7 MT and 295 kg heavier than 3.4 MT. Gross weight: 4.8 AT 1950 kg, 3.4 MT 1620 kg (−330 kg), 2.7 MT not measured. Payload where both ends exist: 4.8 AT 1950 − 1615 = 335 kg; 3.4 MT 1620 − 1320 = 300 kg.

Tank: 4.8 AT 73 l, 2.7 MT 58 l, 3.4 MT 55 l. The V8 holds 18 l more than 3.4 MT. Range cannot be compared for 3.4 MT and 2.7 MT because consumption is not measured.

Ground clearance: 3.4 MT 110 mm; 4.8 AT and 2.7 MT not measured.

Wheels: 3.4 MT 235/35 R19 and 265/30 R19; 4.8 AT and 2.7 MT not measured.

Suspension on all three: Independent, spring front and rear. Brakes: all three Ventilated disc at the front; 4.8 AT and 3.4 MT Disc ventilated at the rear; 2.7 MT Disc at the rear.

Which Alpina Roadster to choose

Choose 3.4 MT (3 generation, 2003–2005) if the goal is the latest Roadster with a Manual gearbox, the highest top speed (265 km/h), the highest specific output (89.7 hp/l), measured wheels, and measured 110 mm clearance, without paying the V8’s 295 kg kerb-weight penalty. It matches 4.8 AT at 5.3 s to 100 with 81 fewer hp. Fuel is 98, not 95. Consumption is not measured, so economy cannot be claimed better or worse than the V8.

Choose 4.8 AT (2 generation, 2002–2003) if the goal is peak power and torque: 381 hp and 520 Nm, 8 cylinders V-shaped, Automatic, 5 speeds, 73 l tank, and the only measured mpg set (15 / 7.5 / 9.3). It is 1.3 s quicker to 100 than 2.7 MT and equal to 3.4 MT. It is 5 km/h slower on top speed than 3.4 MT. It is the heaviest (1615 kg kerb, 1950 kg gross). Wheels and ground clearance are not measured.

Choose 2.7 MT (1 generation, 1990–1991) if the goal is the lightest kerb weight (1250 kg) and the smallest engine (2693 cm³) with a Manual gearbox. It is 100 hp and 101 Nm below 3.4 MT, 181 hp and 259 Nm below 4.8 AT, 1.3 s slower to 100 than both later cars, and 35 km/h slower on top speed than 3.4 MT. Several engine and chassis figures are not measured (rpm, compression, fuel grade, wheels, clearance, gross weight, consumption). It is the only 2-valve, V-shaped 6, and the only one with Disc rather than ventilated rear brakes.

Arithmetic summary of what the later cars add versus 2.7 MT: 4.8 AT adds 181 hp, 259 Nm, 1.3 s off 0–100, 30 km/h top speed, 365 kg kerb, 15 l tank, Automatic instead of Manual, 8 cylinders instead of 6, 4 valves instead of 2. 3.4 MT adds 100 hp, 101 Nm, the same 1.3 s off 0–100, 35 km/h top speed, only 70 kg kerb, a 3 l smaller tank, keeps Manual, switches layout from V-shaped 6 to Inline 6, and goes from 2 to 4 valves.

Between the two later cars only: 4.8 AT versus 3.4 MT is +81 hp, +158 Nm, +1491 cm³, +295 kg, +18 l tank, −5 km/h top speed, 0.0 s difference to 100, Automatic versus Manual, V-shaped 8 versus Inline 6, 95 versus 98 fuel. The extra displacement and cylinders buy torque and an Automatic; they do not buy a faster 0–100 or a higher top speed in this catalogue.

Prices, “for sale”, UK stock, and Z8 / Z4M comparisons are outside this data and are not used here.