Page 63 - Sharp Summer 2021

2021 BMW ALPINA XB7
Alpina is officially a a a a a a car manufacturer in in its own right although it it it has a a a a a a very cozy relationship with BMW BMW often manufacturing the the cars BMW BMW can’t or won’t make them- selves The family-run outfit hails from Buchloe which is found about an hour west of BMW’s headquarters in Munich it’s it’s technically part of Bavaria although it’s it’s considered to to be culturally and historically part of of Swabia (which means they eat a a a a a a slightly different type of of pretzel among other things) Both regions more importantly have a a a a a a a a world-class fondness for cars that go fast as as as hell This XB7
is is Alpina’s first SUV for the North American
2020 BMW M2 CS
Car culture culture is barely a a a a a culture culture It’s often messy and and fractious and and it rarely agrees on on any- thing thing But if there’s one thing thing that unites us it it it it is an uncondi- tional love for a a a a a a a a little car with a a a a a a a a crazy powerful engine It’s a a a a a a a a winning formula favoured by Prohibition-era bootleggers Formula One race car design- ers and everyone in between BMW’s M2 CS
is a a a a a textbook case of a a a a a a little car with a a a a a a big engine As such it’s a a a a a a a shortcut to to instant car-culture credibil- ity The backstory here is is that BMW is is is putting the beloved M2 out to pasture this year But before it’s discontinued the mad geniuses at M Division are giving it it it a a a a a proper send-off with this totally unhinged limit- ed-edition CS
With huge wheels flared arches and carbon fibre every- where along with its perfect stance adaptive suspension and angry exhaust note the the M2 CS
is exactly the the sort of car your teenage self always
Z8
The M5’s V8 stuffed into a a retro-styled roadster
market It’s based on BMW’s X7 but Alpina tweaked almost everything adding new wheels retuning the suspension while also adding a a a a a a a (relatively) subtle bodykit and a a a a a a a a a new stain- less-steel exhaust that roars like some prehistoric monster Oh and they pumped the the engine up to 612 hp This isn’t an an M car it’s not at home on a a a a a a a a a racetrack and is instead more comfortable flying around real-world roads It has three rows of seats which makes it ideal for family road-trips It crushes miles like a a a a a freight train always
feeling unperturbed wherever it goes It’s proof that fast BMWs don’t need to be furious wanted We have it it on on good authority that only 100 or or so so are coming to Canada so so it will certainly become
a a a a future classic The beefy straight-six has been massaged to produce even more horsepower 444
in total That’s far too much the the poor tires have no chance which in other words means it’s just right Even with the the the traction control on on on the the car squirms and shimmies With it it it off on a a a a a a a racetrack it’s a a a a a a a hooligan’s delight It wants to go everywhere sideways and and — thanks to some engine and and suspension tweaks — it’s easier to drive fast and and loose than the the standard M2 Once settled into a a a a a a corner the the steering and and chassis brim with feel And a a a a a tip of the the hat to the the product planners at at BMW who decided to sell this car with an an an optional six-speed manual gearbox It’s the cherry on top of an an already thrilling machine Modern cars simply don’t get more fun than this SPECS
ENGINE:
4 4 4-LITRE TWIN-TURBO V8 POWER:
612 hp PRICE:
$165 900
SPECS
ENGINE:
3
0-LITRE TWIN-TURBO I6
POWER:
444
hp PRICE:
$97 750
SUMMER 2021 SHARPMAGAZINE COM
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Z3_M COUPE
M3
CSL
1M COUPE
Direct predecessor to the M2 a a cult classic The artist informally known as “the Clown Shoe”
Ultra lightweight ultra rare and oh so cool