Nice Alpinas you’ve got there. You’re clearly a big fan of these cars.
My passion for cars, in particular the Alpinas, came from my dad. In fact he gate-crashed this photo shoot by bringing along his B7!
He also had a B10 in the past and I was always amazed by the power and handling of these cars. This is what made me want to drive cars like these as they are fast, sleek and intimidating on the road. There’s nothing better than a B12 Alpina, in my opinion.
Where did you find such a well-kept example?
Well, I always wanted a Alpina and was lucky enough to get my hands on this B12, which is also my first car. I guess it was natural to follow suit having seen my dad drive these.
He handed his B10 over to my sister and I knew I wanted one too.
I have always appreciated the old shape BMWs, which left me with the option of the B12, but there were none for sale in the UAE. But, we got lucky and found one in Bahrain. I chased it down and finally it’s with me.
I have since driven several other fascinating cars such as the Nissan GT-R, Audi R8 and a 1967 Chevrolet Camaro.
The Chevy must have been lots of fun. You are quite keen on American muscle, right?
It drove like a dream, although my actual dream car is a 1970 Shelby GT500.
Yep, I have always been a huge fan of American muscle; the power they are capable of generating in a quarter-mile is extraordinary. I also love the look of the cars that were made back in the Sixties and Seventies.
Tell us more about your B12. What do you like about it?
First of all I love the shape, which is muscular. And though it is a big car, it is extremely manoeuvrable unlike many of the present-day bloated models.
Secondly, I love the power and acceleration of the B12 — it is jaw-dropping. Just imagine, this car, which was made in 1996, is capable of achieving a top speed of 330kph and goes from 0-200kph in 9 seconds. Performance is breathtaking, to say the least.
Those numbers put some of today’s sportscars to shame. Is it all original?
Apart from a remapped ECU to get more out of the engine, yes it is an unmolested car.
Back-street garages can’t really better the boffins at Alpina. The car does not need any modifications, it’s just perfect the way it is. I like powerful cars to be kept in their original condition. Modifying cars does not really interest me.
The 5.7-litre E-kat V12 is a monster and it is complemented further with a supercharger, which made the B12, by far, the fastest saloon in its time. It was so fast that Alpina decided to discontinue it in case it got into the wrong hands.
It has a pretty nifty gearbox too…
The Switchtronic transmission is great and gives you the option of getting the car to manually do what you want it to do in terms of acceleration and speed. By tapping one of the buttons integrated into the spokes of the steering wheel, you can shift up and down and the cogs swap immediately without interrupting the power. It really is a superb gearbox.
Just how many horses is it producing?
It is in excess of 500bhp. I really have not been able to decide what is better; the looks of this car or the power it possesses. I guess they are both great. The interior features hand-stitched leather and is so spacious that even a tall person like me gets more than enough leg and headroom.
With the strict speed limits on almost all the roads in Dubai, I only ever open up the engine on track days at the Autodrome and Yas Marina where it is safe to do so. I even burn a little rubber while there! But I do enjoy cruising from Dubai to Abu Dhabi or along the Sharjah-Kalba road.
You love your B12 and not just because it’s your first car…
That’s right, I do. And maybe it is because it is so rare. I have not seen another B12 here, which makes me feel quite special when I am out and about in it. It turns heads everywhere I go. People always try to figure out what model this is. Many often mistake it for a regular BMW 7 Series but they think otherwise when I race past. It’s always being snapped by other Alpina fans and I am often asked if the car is
for sale. The answer is always the same; no way.
