Should you ever want to prove how big a car-nut you are, all you'd have to do is correctly identify the car in the picture gallery as an ALPINA. If your goal is to firmly impress your entourage with your vehicular knowledge, you could add that ALPINA began as a company building typewriters in southern Germany before it moved on to become a BMW tuner.
As with most high-brow tuners, ALPINA made its name by modifying BMWs for racing purposes in the late '60s. From then on, ALPINA has become its own car manufacturer concentrated on making excellent BMWs even better.
By the way, if there's a car enthusiast in your entourage, he or she will not be as impressed with your knowledge of low-volume car brands, as the signature 20-spoke wheels and “ALPINA Blue” patented metallic paint colour are tell-tale signs of an exclusive ALPINA car.
Heck, the parking attended at the Rogers Cup tennis event immediately recognized the car as an ALPINA and directed me to a secluded portion of the lot, noting that no harm would come to the car in that area. As I walked out of the lot, I noticed many Mercedes S-Class', Audi A8s and regular 7-Series BMWs amongst the “normies” in the rest of the lot.
This is only one part of what the ALPINA B7 delivers. The reality is that the B7 stands out from the large luxury car crowd even if those near the car don't know that a Premier Tuner has had its way with the 7-Series. They simply know it's special.
For this reason alone, If I was in the market for full-size prestige vehicle, I'd spring for the B7. Admittedly, I'd swing by a Mercedes dealer and spend much time deliberating over it and an S 63 AMG. The B7 would likely prevail.
Other than the stunning first impressions made by the 21” wheels, it's the ALPINA aerodynamic body kit that catches the eye. Look good this getup does, but it's actually quite functional as well. According to ALPINA, the spoilers reduce lift by 30% up front and by 15% in the rear. Nice.
Although the exterior changes are subtle, but still obvious, the cabin's are equally subtle but far less obvious. This is by no means a negative point. As a starting point, the BMW 750i xDrive is as sumptuous and luxurious as they get. You would be forgiven for not noticing the exclusive-to-this-car Myrtle Burl wood or Piano Black interior trim. If you missed the Lavalina hand-stitched leather ALPINA-logo emblazoned steering wheel or ALPINA-blue illuminated door sills, you may need to get your eyes checked.
Even if you are oblivious to these enhancements, it matters little in the end. The active and ventilated front seats will have you begging ALPINA and BMW to make a set for your living room or study such is the comfort provided. Facing you are gauges and switchgear of the finest craftsmanship, and of the utmost quality. The rear deluxe bench is fit for a king, however, it's up front you want to be.
Seeing as this is, after all, a 7-Series BMW, it is chock-full of electronic witchcraft and wizardry. One of my personal faves is the soft-close doors; no longer is it necessary to slam the door, as each one is motorized and will shut itself completely after having been nudged against the mechanism. Novel as this may be, it's BMW's sophisticated iDrive and ginormous 10.25” screen that deserve even more attention. As the focal point of the interior, it controls everything smartly. There's much more, but let's get to the heart of the ALPINA: BMW's aluminum 4.4-litre TwinPower Turbo V8.
As you would expect, especially from a tuner awash in racing heritage, the B7's got muscle and lots of it. In the normal 750i, the TP-T V8 lashes out 400 hp. Been there, done that. With the twist of a wrench and the stroke of a key, ALPINA has managed to extrapolate 25% more power out of this engine. Yes, that's 500 hp. But don't be surprised, as this engine serves as the base for the M5's 560-hp beast. Gotta love V8s with turbo!
Obviously, that's but half the story. The other comes in the form of 516 lb.-ft of torque. I noted in my 650i Cab review that its power was capable of manhandling the earth's crust and that the M5/M6 will change the direction of our planet's rotation. The ALPINA slots itself somewhere in the middle. Essentially, it'll move mountains, but in such a polite and polished manner that you may not even notice the Florida-size shadow you're casting at 270 km/h... I know, the analogy is a little strained, but picture it in your mind for a moment.
Thanks to BMW's brilliant xDrive AWD system, the 2,200+ kg luxury liner will hit the tonne in roughly 4.8 seconds without drama. The 6-speed autobox glides from cog to cog just like a ballerina going through a series of dynamic, yet nearly seamless, pirouettes. Yes, another one...
Here then lies the only issue I can find with the 2011 BMW ALPINA B7: Because production of these cars began in early 2010, the B7 features a 6-speed transmission instead of the 8-speed currently offered in the 2011 750i. This isn't really an issue, but I had to find something, right?
On the subject of “problems,” there's also the price. It's more like my problem. A 750i xDrive retails for $108,600; then you'll need to add an extra $43,400 for the ALPINA package. $152,000 is a hefty sum; but then larger, far larger, sums are spent on regular out-of-the-box cars.
It all becomes nearly irrelevant when on the road. The B7, like the 650i, can be limo-smooth or in the right mode or mood as close to an M7 (if there was such a car) as it could ever be. Steering is sufficiently sharp and the brakes are massively powerful. The slightest tap on the throttle sends all your worries out the handsome set of tailpipes and never will you regret parking your car anywhere as it will most likely be the only one of its kind.
This car is something extra special.
