Alpina B4 Bi-Turbo turns up the power and exclusivity

The German tuning and customization company famed for taking already potent BMWs and making them borderline dangerous, yet incredibly comfortable, will be showcasing its latest creation, the Alpina B4 Bi-Turbo, in coupé and convertible form at this year's Goodwood Festival of Speed.

The new car starts out life as a BMW 4 Series, and although the Alpina looks a lot like a standard BMW at a quick glance, pretty much everything has been changed, re-engineered, altered, adjusted or fettled to enhance speed, handling, luxury and exclusivity.

So for example the 3-liter turbocharged engine that usually powers the 4 Series has been given two turbochargers, a new cooling system and a forged steel crankshaft.

The result is 410bhp on tap and a 0-100km/h time of 4.2 seconds or 4.5 seconds for the slightly less aerodynamic convertible. What's more, there is also a four-wheel drive version (that will only be offered in left-hand-drive countries) that can make the 0-100km/h dash in just 4.0 seconds.

Yet, somehow, despite this increase in power the car will still deliver a combined cycle fuel economy of 37mpg (7.6l/100km).

The car's exterior also gets one or two subtle aerodynamic tweaks but the biggest clues to its capabilities are its color -- Alpina Blue or Alpina Green -- and of course its classic multi-spoke Alpina alloy wheels.

Inside buyers can choose from any option that BMW offers on top of a host of bespoke personalizations courtesy of Alpina's own craftsmen. But, as standard, each car will get an eight-speed automatic gearbox, adaptive sports suspension, leather upholstery, and of course all of the dials and the instrument panel are finished in Alpina blue and each car will feature a model plaque showing its unique build number.

Prices will start at €70,000 for the coupé version of the B4 Bi-Turbo and potential buyers can catch their first glimpse of the car at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in the UK which gets underway on June 27.