Filed under: Sedan, Performance, Europe, BMW, Luxury
2011 BMW Alpina B7 - click above for high-res image gallery
Problem: BMW will not make a M7. Despite making the M5 Wagon and the X6 M, the boys from Bavaria want know part of the
Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG,
S65 AMG,
Audi S8, (soon)
Jaguar XJR,
Porsche Panamera Turbo or
Bentley Flying Spur Speed market. Odd, yes, especially from the company that
discovered a new segment between the 5 Series wagon and the X5. Anyhow, no M7 for you.
Solution: the
Alpina B7, as its an M7 in everything but name. Some of you might want to argue the point that no way is the Alpina B7 good enough to wear a vaunted M badge. To which we say... you might have a point. So think of it as the 750CSI. Either way, this here new Alpina B7 is going to be a pretty worthy competitor to all them big, fancy super sedans up above. Here's why.
From the outside the changes include front and rear fascias and spoilers that not only set the B7 apart from lesser 7 Series but are functional. The front spoiler provides 30% more downforce while the rear tacks on an additional 15%. Not only that, but the front spoiler provides specific cooling to new transmission and oil coolers. Also impossible to miss are the 20-spoke, 21-inch Alpina wheels. Inside nearly every surface gets covered with hand-stitched "Lavalina" leather (whatever that might be) and Alpina badges. The areas not swathed in Lavalina get treated with Alcantara. There's also a heated steering wheel and illuminated blue Aplina door sills.
Of course, what's underneath matters most. Specifically the 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 gets pumped up to 500 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque (as opposed to the 750i's 400 hp and 450 pounds of twist). The press release notes that all that torque is, "available across an unusually broad engine range, from 3,000 to 4,750 rpm," which is either wool-over-the-eyes PR hype, or a typo. We'll go with typo, as the regular strength 750i makes its 450 pound-feet from 1,800 to 4,500 rpm. Either way, the Alpina B7 can hit 60 mph in 4.5 seconds. And now, the kicker: the short wheelbase B7 costs $122,875 and the extended wheelbase B7 will set you back $126,775. Both prices are before the $875 destination fee. Press release after the jump.
[Source: BMW]
Continue reading 2011 BMW Alpina B7 comes in two spicy, pricy flavors
2011 BMW Alpina B7 comes in two spicy, pricy flavors originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 02 Feb 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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