BMW's 7 Series lineup caters for many buyer preferences already, with long wheelbase and all-wheel driveoptions, and a very comprehensive selection of tech. But what if you want to enjoy that high-tech, long wheelbase, all-wheel drive comfort at high speed, really high speed? Then you'd need the new Alpina B7, which takes BMW's luxury sedan and turns it into a 310 km/h (193 mph) autobahn bruiser.
No, that's not a misprint. Thanks to a 4.4-liter V8 with 447 kW (608 hp) and 800 Nm, the B7 will dispatch the 0-100 km/h (62 mph) sprint in a scarcely believable 3.7 seconds on its way that crazy top speed.
The engine makes its power thanks to its twin-scroll turbochargers, which are nestled inside the "vee" of the engine to minimize lag. There's 670 Nm on tap from just 2,000 rpm, with peak torque available from just 3,000 rpm.
As you might hope, there's more to this limousine than just its headline top speed figure. Alpina has fitted the car with a rear wheel steering system that, combined with BMW's carbon core lightweight chassis provides sharp turn in when you want to take the back roads to work. If that's not enough, there's also a special Sport+ mode that lowers the ride height by 20 mm (0.78 in), and optimizes the throttle and transmission mapping.
Alpina's cars have traditionally been excellent long distance cruisers, and this one should be no different. Knock the ZF gearbox out of racy mode, dial back the suspension and the B7 could well be the perfect car to drive across Europe.
In traditional Alpina fashion, there's not a heap to set the B7 apart from regular BMWs on the outside. There's a subtle bodykit and sticker kit, as well as 20-inch wheels, but that's essentially it. It's a similar story inside, where there's a new set of digital instruments and some unique trim pieces to the B7.
So, what price all this luxury and speed? That depends on what side of the road you drive on. Right-hand drive markets get their B7 in rear-wheel drive trim, and pay €144,000 (US$162,750) for the privilege, while left-hand drive buyers get an all-wheel drive B7 for €147,300 ($166,552).
Source: Alpina
