Friend Just got the Alpina Roadster

[EFCar982]

My friend's dad just got the Alpina Z8 a couple of days ago (318/555) and i was looking online and apparently it has 375hp. This is great, but its less than the original 394hp engine from the Z8 and M5. Why would anyone wanna buy this over the original Z8. And yes I realize they dont make the Z8 anymore.

[John]

The auto tranny couldn't deal with the power bands of the original 4L V8, so they put in the 4.6 from the X5 4.6IS.

The Alpina Roadster only comes in an auto.

[EFCar982]

yeah he was saying how its got a steptronic/smg kinda thing

[///Mummmmm]

I've read many articles about this car, and Alpina claims that this car has lower hp, but more torqe than the origonal 8. The car was also aimed at females.

[bmwm3n528]

well, i wouldnt say females, just the more laid back community of car people...aka old people

[parisparkjob]

That is WEIRD for them to do that.

[bmwm3n528]

Originally posted by parisparkjob
That is WEIRD for them to do that.

well, not really...its just business smart for them...sucks for enthusiast though

[stjobs]

The Alpina V8 has more torque than the original (IMO, better) Z8's M5 engine.

As for the reasoning behind the switch... the Z8 was surely a better enthusiast's car, but the numbers of 20-30 year old enthusiasts with the bank to actually purchase one are small. Hence, BMW altered the car to suit the actual prospective buyer - likely older people (50-60 age group). I guess what they wanted are features like an automatic transmission, softer suspension, etc.

stjobs

[EFCar982]

yeah thats why my friends dad got it. I mean he used to have an 85 ferrari mondial (stick), then he got an XKR (auto), and then the z8 (auto)