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Alpina introduces new B5 Biturbo with 600 horsepower

If the BMW M5 is not enough for you, Alpina created the new B5 Biturbo. Where the factory M5 packs 560 horsepower, the B5 has 600. But even more impressive is the B5 Biturbo bests the M5's 500 pound-feet of torque with 590 of its own. That beats the 15-hp boost from the M5's Competition Package and matches the power of the limited 30 Yahre edition - but with more torque. All that muscle and twist is produced by Alpina's own version of BMW's 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8, mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission instead of a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox. The result is a 0-62 time quoted at 4.2 seconds, besting the M5 by a tenth. The top speed is also unlocked from 155 miles per hour to 204 – which may be entirely hypothetical for most of us, but could make all the difference for those who regularly commute along the Autobahn. Of course Alpina didn't tinker with the engine and leave it at that. It also customized the suspension, rolling stock, aero kit, and interior, and fitted a mechanical limited-slip differential built by Drexler Motor Sport. But perhaps the best part of all is that the Alpina B5 is also available as a wagon. That makes this modified Bimmer one of the best have-your-cake/eat-it-too propositions we could ever ask for. Featured Gallery 2016 BMW Alpina B5 Biturbo News Source: Alpina Aftermarket BMW Wagon Luxury Performance Sedan alpina alpina b5 biturbo

BMW i8 pitted against M4 in sibling rivalry track battle

We recently watched Auto Bild challenge the BMW i8 against the M4 in a German drag race of decide the quicker of the inter-brand rivals. The hybrid took a commanding victory in that fight. However, Autocar now has a new battle for the two coupes. The siblings are together again on the Castle Combe Circuit to find out which of them offers the more enjoyable experience at the track. Unfortunately, we don't ever get a perfect point of comparison in the video because host Steve Sutcliffe never does a full lap in anger with either of them to set a time. Instead, he focuses more on how the BMWs feel behind the wheel. Sutcliffe also admits midway through the clip that the i8's electric motor is out of juice to power the front axle's electric motor. That only leaves the hybrid with its 228-horsepower and 236-pound-feet-of-torque turbocharged three-cylinder to spin the rear wheels. Still, Sutcliffe spends ample time explaining the benefits and downfalls of driving these coupes. See where his opinion falls between the M4 as the traditional German sports coupe and the i8 as the new-school hybrid in the video, above.

Recharge Wrap-up: BMW i3 goes against Mercedes B-Class ED, Tesla good for business

Car and Driver has published a comparison test pitting the 2014 BMW i3 against the 2014 Mercedes-Benz B-class Electric Drive. The test not only measured the quality of the driving experience, but also all the quantitative details that are especially important when looking at electric vehicles. For instance, the Benz's real-world MPGe surpassed its own rating, but it still couldn't match the BMW. The B-Class, though, won in the range department. We won't spoil all the results, or Car and Driver's overall pick, but you can head over to the article to find out for yourself. Tesla's expanding business, including the Gigafactory being built in Reno, NV, is encouraging growth in the locales and associated businesses. Some of Tesla's suppliers are talking of relocation, wanting to be close to the action stirred up by the electric automaker's expansion. It makes good business sense to be in the same neighborhood as Tesla. "We can react quickly, and our engineers are constantly working with Tesla," says Futuris General Manager Sam Coughlin. Brookings Institute fellow Jennifer Vey says, "The land around Tesla is being redeveloped and reimagined. It's a mash-up of an anchor campus, startups, housing and transit, in a physically compact area where companies can cluster and connect." Read more at San Jose Mercury News. EVs are doing even more to reduce energy use clean up the air, according to new analysis from the Union of Concerned Scientists. According to findings, 60 percent of Americans now live in areas where EVs do more to reduce emissions than hybrids, up from 45 percent in 2012. Average electricity use is now 0.325 kWh per mile, down five percent from 2011. EV performance - in terms of mileage and emissions - is improving compared to traditional fuel vehicles, based on the sources of electricity in various regions. Read more from the Union of Concerned Scientists. Zipcar's carsharing network has launched in Paris. Zipcar is expanding across Europe, and has already established itself in Austria, Spain and the UK. According to Zipcar France's General Manager Etienne Hermite, "In a highly populated city, Zipcar's model has been proven to remove up to 15 personally owned vehicles from the road for each Zipcar in service, reducing parking demand, congestion and emissions." Zipcar European President Massimo Marsili hopes that most Parisians will eventually be just a short walk from a Zipcar.