The Alpina B7 is back, ready to make its official debut at the 2010 Chicago Auto Show. The 2011 BMW Alpina B7, based on the current BMW 750i, goes on sale in the U.S. in the spring of 2010.
The last B7 we drove had a supercharged 4.4-liter V8 good for 500 horsepower and and 516 pound-feet of torque. Curiously, the 2011 BMW Alpina B7 achieves exactly the same result with a tuned version of the current 7 Series' twin-turbocharged and direct-injected, 4.4-liter V8. The torque curve is flatter in the new B7, though, with all 516 lb-ft available from 3,000-4,750 rpm.
Alpina has swapped in different turbochargers and upsized the intercoolers used on the Alpina B7 versus the stock 750i (which makes 400 hp). The new turbos are bespoke units from Honeywell-Garrett and have a different turbine geometry to flow more air. The ECU has been remapped and turbo boost has been increased to 1 bar (14.5 psi) versus 0.7 bar (10.1 psi) on the stock engine. Alpina engineers then fitted lower-compression pistons (the compression ratio drops from 10.0:1 to 9.2) to ward off detonation.
The stock six-speed automatic transmission remains, but the tailored Alpina steering wheel has buttons on the back of it that evidently will allow for more elegant gearchanges.
The 2011 BMW Alpina B7 still has the Dynamic Damping Control and Active Roll Stabilization you'll find on conventional 7s, but they've been recalibrated to give the car a sportier persona. The stability control is said to allow more wheel slip as well.
Alpina has also fitted shorter springs, dropping the ride height by 0.6 inch up front and 0.4 inch in back. And the company insists that neither this change, nor the 21-inch "Alpina Classic" wheels (with 245/35R21 front and 285/30R21 rear Michelin PS2 tires), will force an undue compromise in ride quality.
If you're concerned about aero lift (and who isn't in a 4,500-pound luxury sedan), the extended spoilers on the front and rear reduce lift by 30 percent and 15 percent respectively.
firstclass says:
01:11 PM, 01/ 8/10
Insanely fast, exclusive and it’s a BMW so you can’t really go wrong. Unfortunately it’s no beauty queen; Audi’s S8 takes that prize (especially when modified) with Mercedes S63 AMG following after. Not sure why BMW gave it a pig snout. At any rate this is one of the best sleepers out there as long as you’re not familiar with Alpina’s trademark rims.
matt310 says:
01:38 PM, 01/ 8/10
'...it's BMW so you can't really go wrong.'
Really? How bout doing a google search for "3-Series," and "High Pressure Fuel Pump Failures"? Or how bout "2009 BMW M3" and "faulty manual transmission" or "second gear synchronizer issues"
No marque is exempt from major issues, not even mighty BMW.
firstclass says:
02:02 PM, 01/ 8/10
Yes let me get out my red pen and circle everything. I’m speaking in general. sorry I dont sweat every little recall. next time i post a comment I'll post a surgeon general warning.
tp660 says:
03:06 PM, 01/ 8/10
I'm pretty sure it's a great car and all but I wonder if they thought about new rim designs when redesigning the car. These rims look the exact same as the ones on the previous generation B7.
roadburner says:
03:10 PM, 01/ 8/10
I loved my E65 B7 press loaner. It was stunningly accomplished. On the track it was able to worry a couple of Porsches and M3s in spite of its considerable heft:
http://www.carspace.com/roadburner/Albums/B7/smallb75.JPG
http://www.carspace.com/roadburner/Albums/B7/B76.jpg
deadviper says:
04:37 PM, 01/ 8/10
BMWs typically aren't 'beauty queens' The new 6 coupes are big and ugly, but fast and luxurious.
albook says:
10:39 AM, 01/ 9/10
I'm sorry, but I'd spend 10k more on the S65 even if it is slower. And the MB is hands down the best looker of the big luxo sedans.
cr_driver says:
10:52 AM, 01/ 9/10
Wonder about the price
campi3ell says:
07:12 PM, 01/ 9/10
It seems to be a better compromise, using the same engine that was in the last Alpina B7, just tuned for more power. However, since BMW already offers basically the same package on the regular 750, what's the price difference between the stock 750 and B7 for different turbos and wheels?
audirs4 says:
02:47 PM, 01/13/10
How many will actually be sold? My guess is that @ 125 grand or so a cpoy, you'll be lucky sell a few hundred a year.
You'll probably never see one on the lot and most will be ordered. It's a who cares car for bragging rights for somebody who wants something exclusive. I'm an Audi guy, but think it looks nice, and it's stupid fast.
Not sure I get these 500hp RWD cars, though. It's overkill. You need AWD with 500 ponies in a luxury car like that.
I'd like to see that car in the rain or bad weather with 21 inch tires sitting on 30 series rubber.
zoomzoomn says:
04:42 AM, 01/14/10
firstclass says: 01:11 PM, 01/ 8/10 "...it’s a BMW so you can’t really go wrong."
matt310 says: 01:38 PM, 01/ 8/10 "Really? How bout doing a google search for..."
That's too funny! I was thinking the same thing when I read firstclass' statement!
firstclass says: 02:02 PM, 01/ 8/10 "...speaking in general. sorry I dont sweat every little..."
Detail? To own one...well, let's just say that to own one is to pay for one!!!