Big bad Bavarian brute can be more

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The original BMW 6-series was a bit of an unexpected hit first time around, so when BMW announced plans for a new version many coupe owners ran to the dealerships to rid themselves of a hefty deposit. With the car now a strong seller for BMW across the GCC, 6-series are a fairly common sight on the roads and highways. With such a good looking body, the car desperately cried out for a bigger engine and purists got what they wanted with BMW adding the tuned M6 to its range. But what if that's not enough? What if you really want to go a little further and grab a bit of that ever elusive exclusivity for the roads of the Gulf? Help is now at hand with the wild Alpina B6.

Although the B6 shares its main body with the normal 6-series, the addition of a deep front spoiler, body kit and rear wing give it the extra bit of aggression needed to really spice up the 6's smooth lines. The Alpina pin striping may not be to everyone's tastes but it certainly lets people know who is responsible for the wing adorned car in their mirrors. Under the car, huge multi spoke alloy wheels give that little extra racing look the car hardly needs.

Inside, the two tone black and red leather again might be too much for some people's taste but it certainly catches your eye. Set against the dark wood interior, the point is driven home hard that you have something a little different. Alpina trim covers the steering wheel, seats and door panels, including Alpina badges in the seat backs. The seats themselves are extremely comfortable and infinitely adjustable, but the rear ones are almost useless, as per the entire 6-series range and most other coupes to be fair.

The controls are as per the base 6-series, including the on-board computer and dials. At the back, the car also has a surprisingly large boot, which is an unexpected bonus after seeing the lack of room in the rear seats.

On the road the B6 is a monster to drive. The traction control works hard to keep everything in a straight line and it's best to keep it switched on if you like getting home in one piece. The front wheels scurry left and right under the huge load given by the engine, but the chassis feels more than capable.

Floor the accelerator and the car roars into life, surging forward with a burst of amazing power. From almost any speed the B6 will push you hard back into the seats under full throttle. The torque is also amazing, coming on from low in the rev range and staying there until the road either runs out or the driver decides to back off.

Cornering is again excellent, although the weight of the car does work against it near the limit. The brakes are also good, which is handy as the B6 will hit 100 km/h in just 4.9 seconds and top out at a heady 309 km/h. Unlike the speed limited BMW, Alpina doesn't restrict its cars, which makes BMW's decision rather pointless really.

The 6-speed gearbox is smooth and precise, although it does occasionally hesitate slightly too long when you hit the kick down. Using the button shift on the steering wheel solves this, but makes it more tiring to drive, so it's best to leave it in ‘D' and enjoy the ride.

The B6 is basically the ultimate 6-series extravagance. If an ‘M' is too common for you, then this is the car to fill the gap. It has performance by the spade load, looks as aggressive as it drives and will certainly win some brownie points at the valet parking lot. Once you get up into the high echelons of car buying, the question of whether you should buy one or not becomes slightly pointless. Someone who wants a B6 will already know who they are, so chances are the decision has already been made. Just like Mercedes AMG brand, if you want the ultimate car and can pay the ultimate price, the Alpina B6 is just about spot on.

Verdict: Amazing performance and looks make the B6 a real superstar's car. You'll know if you want one... or can afford one!

Engine
4.4 V8 Supercharged

0-100 kph
4.9 secs

Top speed
309 km/h

HP
500hp @ 5500rpm

ME price
US$168,000

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