Alpina D5S

I've mentioned many times in past articles that I personally like BMW very much.Ever since I got on the E36 318is, I really like the driving and fun of BMWAnd I'm still one of the makers I want to own if I have the opportunity.

Speaking of the high performance model that is the best of M in the BMW, "Alpina』. I wanted to ride this Alpina someday, but I had no experience at all, but this time, my friend bought the D5S, so I tried it.

This car is a D5S based on the G30 early model. The 2993cc in-line 6-cylinder DOHC diesel turbo engine produces a large torque of 326ps / 4000-4600rpm and 700Nm / 1750-2500rpm.

It accelerates from 0 to 100km / h in 4.9 seconds and has a top cruising speed of 275km / h. It should be noted here that in the case of Alpina, when expressing the maximum speed, we do not say "maximum speed".It is expressed as "maximum cruising speed".

The fact that the manufacturer shows the value of being able to cruise at this speed is also a sign of confidence in the car, and it firmly emphasizes the character as such an ultra-high speed tourer.

The exterior is blue stone metallic, which is also found in ordinary BMW, and there is no stripe that is common in Alpina. Alpina is a stylish alpina with the specification that "a talented hawk hides its claws" that does not appeal more than necessary.

The interior is very beautiful with beige leather on Alpina's unique wood, and the seats are very comfortable to sit on.

Alpina diesel engine

Alpina's diesel engine was very popular and was praised here and there, so I was very interested in it.

I don't really like diesel (it just doesn't fit my car), but I started it with the hope that experiencing this Alpina engine might change that idea.

Alpina's diesel engine starts very quietly. Even when I started running, I imagined a torque feeling that would be more difficult to handle because it has a large torque of 700 Nm from ultra-low rotation, but there is not much such feeling, it feels like a normal torqueful car, and the speed is very smooth. I will put it on.

When you start running, you can hear the engine sound, which was quiet at the start, normally. Rather, I feel a little brave. Even if it is a diesel engine, it seems to be a specification that allows you to hear the engine sound as it is. The sound quality is almost like diesel as long as you listen to it in the car.

The sound quality is about that of a 4-cylinder turbocharged gasoline engine, and it also has a sporty feel.

Let me show you Alpina Magic

In the section where the curve is continuous, try turning the steering while increasing the pace a little. Then the behavior is quite mild. "that? It looks like an ordinary sedanI thought at first.

The ride quality is outstandingly good,Feeling that the small rugged corners that you feel in the ordinary BMW 5 series are carefully removed one by one by handHowever, the degree of impact is almost the same for both large and small irregularities. The first impression is that they are processed very carefully.

the other dayBMW 840i test driveIt was a wonderful ride, so it's new to my memory, but the type of ride quality is a little different from that, there is a light ride quality, and this is a moist ride quality. is.

On the other hand, I wonder if it is peculiar to diesel, rather than vibration, I feel something more detailed, like a rough feeling that gasoline cars do not have, from the steering and seats.

After turning a few corners, the rolls are clearly larger and seem rather softer than the regular 5 Series. However, it does not mean that it does not bend, and the roll feels large, but it does not feel uneasy because it bends firmly.

Change to sports mode on the way. Then, the car suddenly changes. The change in suspension is larger than that of engine control. Suddenly, the car feels like it's awake, and the handling accuracy suddenly increases. As soon as I switched to sports mode, "Oh, it's really easy to drive!The behavior of the car changed so much that I said.

The feeling of contact with the tires becomes stronger, and when you turn the steering wheel, the tip of your nose will turn straight as much as you turn it. The roll is clearly reduced and the overall agility of the car is increased.

Moreover, the ride quality does not change at all. There are many cars that do not make the ride quality so bad even in sports mode, but I think it is rare for a car to stay the same.

Obviously, the steering response has improved, so the damping force should have increased. However, I think it has achieved the same level of unevenness processing as in comfort mode. "So that's it. Is this Alpina's foot!I felt like I finally understood.

The impression of the suspension is that it is a very sticky foot. It doesn't feel like it's hardened and stretched, but it's supple, but it's firmly stepped on. This contradictory feeling is a characteristic of this car.

Although we have not been able to test drive on the highway this time, we were able to confirm the straight-line stability that does not cause slight movement even in the tunnel where Ashi's undulation is tight. Probably, with this feeling, high-speed stability and lack of speed felt by the driver are at a fairly high level.

Is there a diesel engine?

After running the winding this time, there is no doubt that this diesel engine is powerful enough and has a good rev feel. However, if I say one thing, this is not a story about what Alpina should do, but it is a limitation of the specifications of the diesel engine, so it can not be helped, but the red zone is too low.

By operating the shift button on the back of the steering, while manually shifting, the tachometer needle is fastened to the delicious rotation range of the engine, and when running, the rotation is too smooth and it feels like diesel, so it's just normal I try to turn the engine.

Moreover, the engine sound is not a painful sound at all, but the sound played by Alpina is rather a good sound. In my head, I try to step on the accelerator with the feeling that there is about 4000 rpm of a gasoline engine and that there is a margin of about 2500 rpm.

However, theSuddenly, when I looked at the tachometer, the needle was already in the red zone of 5000 rpm.

."Eh, is it over? !!"The feeling comes out. It's the moment when you're brought back to reality. I'm trying to enjoy the engine, but it ends before the climax is reached.

This feeling alone will not help even Alpina. No, rather, Alpina's diesel engine was so smooth that for me, only the desire to turn it remained, resulting in extra frustration.

However, this is only a story in a limited situation where the winding is driven with the engine slightly turned.

The thick torque and high geared setting of this diesel engine makes it great for ease of driving and comfort in everyday city and city movements, and on highways, which many drivers will mainly use. There is no doubt that it will bring it.

I think this Alpina is "Urban ExpressThe first is "The first time I have ever seen a new product.Recommended for those who live in the city and move in situations with many accelerations and decelerations, and those who move a lot over long distances.And it is a car with the best powertrain in such a situation.

If you are wondering whether to use a diesel engine or a gasoline engine, it is a good idea to understand the characteristics of each engine and clarify which situation you want to enjoy driving.

However, in any case, this "Alpina Magic" is still alive. The chassis performance and suspension are outstanding. I think this is a car that you can fully enjoy and have value.