“But the 325iS was naturally aspirated”, I hear you say! That’s correct, but the Alpine conversion added a turbocharger, and the results were rather impressive. There was a 50 per cent increase in torque (399 N.m at 4 000 r/min) and 36 per cent increase in power (210 kW at 5 500 r/min). The increase in performance courtesy of forced induction was: the 0-100 km/h acceleration time dropped to 6,49 seconds while the one kilometre mark was passed in 26,58 seconds.
That is almost spot on to the figures posted by the Volkswagen Golf GTi Edition 35 during our January Performance Shootout. Interestingly, the car costs (conversion included) R130 575 back in 1992, but a that seemed like a bargain compared to that of the new BMW M5, which costs R256 560.
Watch this video where Chris Harris and Deon Joubert discuss, and drive, the road and race version of the 325iS.
