![]() ![]() I tend to get quite tired and annoyed after being on the road for long periods of time, but after a trip from Dorset to Norfolk and back in a day, I felt as fresh as ever when I rolled back onto my driveway 500 miles later. Stick it in Comfort mode and it’ll make mincemeat of any motorway you throw at it. ![]() What impressed me most of all, though, was how despite all this, it revealed itself to be absolutely uncompromised when I travelled back from Wales and started to commute in it. I found a set of tight sweepers that flowed over a pair of fairly substantial crests before dropping you down into a high-speed left-hander and I ended up taking several runs at them, marvelling every time at the inch-perfect turn-in response, brakes that feel like they could stop a train and, of course, the ballistic acceleration. It’s so accessible, yet so brutally fast. You really wouldn’t guess that it’s a 1900kg car, thanks to Alpina’s expertly judged reworking of BMW’s xDrive system to split torque in a more playful manner and the suspension adjustments, which make bumps and holes all but disappear. ![]() It builds your confidence incredibly quickly, holding your hand in Sport mode to encourage you to go faster, even in utterly rotten conditions. I took a Ford Focus ST on a similar tour earlier this year and, if anything, the D3 S felt more appropriate for it. I was shocked at how easy it was to place – thanks in part to the fantastic feedback from the steering – and it never felt too large for the fairly narrow roads. It felt completely at home wherever I took it, from the two-lane ribbons of Tarmac in the highlands of Eryri to the single-track passes of the Elan Valley. Could it retain that moniker on the narrow, pothole-strewn lanes of Cymru? Lane suggested that this might just be the best car on the planet in real-world conditions – very high praise indeed – but that was on the wide and well-paved roads of mainland Europe. I decided that this was far too easy, so I decided to take the D3 S to North Wales, a land full of very bumpy roads and probably enough rain every year to warrant building an ark. The sun-kissed mountains of Italy awaited him, accessed by mile after mile of French autoroute so smooth that it makes the back of my laptop look like a gravel trap. Please contact your local retailer for local availability and prices.As you may recall, Richard Lane treated the D3 S to a lovely summer holiday a few weeks ago. Some vehicles are shown with optional equipment that may not be available in all markets. The information, specification, engines and colours on this website are based on European specification and may vary from market to market and are subject to change without notice. Please consult your Retailer who will be able to confirm any current restrictions with you in order to allow an informed choice This is a very dynamic situation, and as a result imagery used within the website at present may not fully reflect current specifications for features, options, trim and colour schemes. The global shortage of semiconductors is currently affecting vehicle build specifications, option availability, and build timings. Important note on imagery & specification. The fuel consumption figures provided are as a result of official manufacturer's tests in accordance with EU legislation.Ī vehicle's actual fuel consumption may differ from that achieved in such tests and these figures are for comparative purposes only. Registered Office: Abbey Road, Whitley, Coventry CV3 4LF ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |