3 Series Sedan

Make
BMW
Segment
Sedan

Alpina wasted little time in rolling out its new B3 at the 2019 Frankfurt Motor Show this year, barely a year after BMW revealed the new G20 3 Series on which it's based. But it was the Touring wagon version which the quasi-works tuner released first. And now it's followed up with the sedan in Tokyo.

With 462 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque, the Alpina B3 – sedan or wagon – is the most potent version of the new 3 Series yet, handsomely out-gunning the M340i with its 382 hp and 369 lb-ft.

It will likely remain the top dog in the lineup until the new M3 arrives, and even then, it could outmuscle it for torque. The Alpina B3 uses a version of the same 3.0-liter twin-turbo six that's expected to power the new M3, having made its debut in the X3 M and X4 M crossovers, where it produces 473 horsepower (or 503 in Competition spec) and 442 lb-ft of torque – a good 74 short of the vehicle you see here. That's said to be enough to propel the sedan to 62 in 3.8 seconds and on to an Autobahn-crunching top speed of 188 mph.

In the process, it won't attract nearly as much attention as an M3 will, the more subtle body kit and the multi-spoke alloys betraying its performance orientation only to the most eagle-eyed of Bimmerphiles. And that in and of itself – as much as the upgraded engine, chassis, and brakes – may make it a more compelling choice than the M3 (for some buyers, anyway). Unfortunately none of those buyers will be found in these United States. Because while BMW has brought some Alpina models (like the B6 Gran Coupe and B7 sedan) to these shores, the B3 isn't expected among them. So we'll just have to wait for that new M3.