Top secret Alpina plan for Oz

The performance prestige market in Australia is set to diversify once more with news that Alpina's B4 Biturbo is being evaluated by BMW for sale here.

While the prestige importer will not yet go on the record concerning this specific model, the company's documentation for the B4 has surfaced in a road vehicle descriptor published by the federal government body responsible for administrating Australian Design Rules (ADRs) for the automotive industry, the Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development.

An approval (document number 47254) for the Alpina B4 has been issued and BMW Australia was advised accordingly during June and a note at the end of the RVD reveals that the Alpina comes with its own VIN (Vehicle Identification Number).

The significance of the ADR homologation cannot be understated. It costs a significant amount of money for a car company to have a vehicle meet ADR standards, strongly indicating the B4 is coming to market.

Peak power for the B4 is listed in the RVD as 301kW – well shy of the 317kW power available from BMW's own M4 coupe.

However, thanks to the use of sequential turbochargers, the B4 punches out 600Nm of torque in eight-speed automatic guise, which is 50Nm more than the M4, and is claimed to hit 100km/h in just 4.2 seconds – only one-tenth slower than the M4 Coupe with seven-speed dual-clutch auto.

Apart from the upgraded powertrain, Alpina's 4 Series Coupe also comprises a reworked chassis with revised springs, dampers, steering and wheels.

The 435i-based B4 sells in Germany for €68,900, making cheaper in its home market than the M4 Coupe, which costs €72,500 there and $166K here.

That suggests the Alpina brand – for this vehicle at least – could be introduced to Australia as an exclusive sub-brand sold through BMW dealers at a more affordable price than the M Cars. That would be in keeping with BMW's most recent pricing initiative, introducing a more affordable M5 for $185,000.

Alpina has a long-established association with BMW, in much the same way that Brabus shares with Mercedes-Benz, or Polestar with Volvo.

In Germany, Alpina is deemed a manufacturer rather than a vehicle modifier, as is the case with HSV in Australia. BMW part-builds the Alpina products on its own production line before handing the cars over to Alpina for completion.

Alpina offers its customers a host of enhanced-performance models based on 3 Series, 4 Series, X1, 5 and 6 Series BMW models, including diesels. The ADR type approval for the B4 hints at BMW Australia dipping a toe in the water with the B4, with further Alpina models possibly to follow.

BMW's General Manager for Corporate Communications, Lenore Fletcher, stayed clear of discussing the B4, but did mention to motoring.com.au that BMW was always looking at "different options" in the performance car market. In Australia, she observed, we've shown a strong fascination for cars like M4 and the Mercedes-Benz C 63 AMG.

"We certainly punch well above our weight [in Australia] in terms of per capita sales – and that's true, not just of BMW, but other brands in the market with their performance line-ups," she said.

"Most companies look at a lot of different options and do a lot of different scenarios, so every car that's brought to market, there are several scenarios that are looked at and really thought about..."

Including, it seems, Alpina.