Few modern SUVs have the same quiet sense of occasion as an Alpina. This 2024 model, #346, owned by Motorist regular John always manages to catch any enthusiasts attention thanks to its BMW Individual Malachite Green II paint, almost certainly a one-off for this model in the UK and those iconic 22-inch Alpina wheels (Alpina never seem to fail on making beautiful wheels). Beneath the skin is a 3-litre straight-six diesel biturbo engine producing 355bhp and 710Nm of torque, enough to hit 62mph in 4.8 seconds and cruise all the way to 158mph if you ever felt like it. All of that is wrapped up in a 2,145kg SUV that somehow manages to feel both purposeful and refined thanks to the tweaks Alpina makes in Buchloe.
John stumbled across this particular XD3 without even meaning to! After ordering a brand-new X3 30d M Sport from Sytner Sheffield, a luggage rail recall delayed delivery for seven weeks and when there still wasn’t a confirmed delivery date on the vehicle John began to get itchy feet, even considering alternative vehicles before his wife persuaded him to arrange to see the 30d and stop looking elsewhere (we’re very glad that she did!). Upon arrival at the dealership the Alpina was sat front and centre in the showroom and it caught their eye instantly, as John perfectly puts it “following a deep rummage in the bank account, the rest is history”.
What surprised John most was just how easily the XD3 slipped into everyday life. Despite the performance figures and the overall presence of the Alpina, it never feels overbearing or demanding. It’s the sort of car that shrinks around you once you’re behind the wheel, equally happy cruising quietly on the motorway as it is dealing with a quick overtake whilst still managing 35mpg. There’s a sense that every little detail has been thought through and finely judged, giving the car a quiet confidence that you notice more the longer you drive it. Comfort+ mode specifically turns the XD3 into an extremely civilised cruiser, while the sportier settings remind you that there’s plenty of pace on tap.
The XD3 has spent its first year as a proper family SUV, ferrying the kids and the dog around whilst clocking 8,000 miles in the process. The car has also been fitted with a towbar so it’s ready for more practical adventures too, including towing the family’s “wobble box” in 2026. John and his family are regulars at The Motorist on Sundays for breakfast and they also make a point of attending themed events and club stands whenever possible. Earlier this year, the XD3 even appeared on the Alpina stand at the Ultimate BMW Meet at the British Motor Museum in Gaydon, marking the 60th and final year of Alpina as we know it with the company now officially being owned by and fully integrated into the BMW Group as of January 1st 2026! Production of the XD3 has now ended as a result of the brands new BMW ownership and when John’s car was registered in September 2024 it was officially the last unregistered Alpina XD3 in the country.
Future plans for the car are simple, to just look after it, enjoy it and keep it in the stable for years to come. The Malachite Green II paint, the bespoke Alpina touches, the 22-inch forged classic wheels, front lip and side decals, panoramic sunroof, and Alpina-branded boot mat all add up to a car that is at once rare, refined, and thoroughly usable. Whilst a left-hand drive version of this car would have been a quad-turbo monster with even more performance, this right-hand drive example is still an unmistakable statement of Alpina’s magic.
The 2024 XD3 isn’t the loudest or most ostentatious SUV you’ll see on the road, but it is one of the most accomplished. It’s a practical family car with subtle yet beautiful styling cues that can run with much sportier machinery, a collector’s piece disguised as a sensible cruiser and in short a proper Alpina.
Car Facts:
Make: Alpina
Model: XD3 #346
Year: 2024
Engine: 3litre Diesel straight 6 biturbo
BHP: 355
Torque (Nm): 710
0-62: 4.8 seconds
Weight: 2145kg
Additional modifications: 22 inch forged Alpina classic alloy wheels, BMW individual Malchite Green II paint, front lip and side decals, privacy glass, Alpina branded boot mat, panoramic tilt and slide sunroof, towbar and electrics.
