Alpina B7
There is no BMW M version 7 Series, as BMW did not want it to be powered by a high-revving engine like the rest of the M lineup. However, Alpina was permitted to produce a high-performance version known as the Alpina B7, based on the short wheelbase BMW 750i. The B7 is built at the same assembly line in Dingolfing, Germany, alongside BMW's regular 7 Series.
Compared to the BMW 760Li's naturally aspirated 6.0-litre V12 which was deemed too heavy to have a sporty offshoot, the B7 uses a supercharged version of the 4.4-litre V8 found in the BMW 750i/Li. The centrifugal supercharger delivers 11.6 psi (0.8 bar) of intercooled boost, and the engine has lower-compression-ratio pistons as well as a stronger crankshaft and connecting rods. The output is 500 hp (373 kW) and 516 pound-feet (700 N·m) of torque.
The Alpina B7 was widely credited with being able to hold its own against top performing offerings from Mercedes (including AMG) such as the S600 and S63 AMG, Audi A8L W12 quattro and S8 5.2 FSI quattro, the Bentley Flying Spur, and Jaguar XJ Super V8, while BMW's own flagship BMW 760Li was considered uncompetitive. Car and Driver remarked; "How's this for thrust? The B7 ties the Audi R8, which is 1,100 pounds (500 kg) lighter, at 12.8 seconds through the quarter-mile, at which point the gargantuan Alpina starts pulling away. The 551 hp (411 kW) Bentley Flying Spur can't keep up, and Audi's 450 hp (336 kW) S8 is so much slower it's hardly worth mentioning. To 60 mph (97 km/h) and through the quarter, the B7 is within 0.2 second of the 510 hp (380 kW), twin-turbo V-12 Mercedes S600. Warning to Corvette drivers: You will not be able to ditch the 68 7-series connoisseurs who are already on the loose."
The B7 was the only Alpina car offered in the USA. BMW of North America, LLC offered 800 Alpina B7s as limited edition models for 2007 and 2008, all being quickly sold out.
The Alpina B7 was again offered for the 2011 model year on the BMW 7 Series (F01), in short and long wheelbase models, with optional xDrive.
Read more about this topic: BMW 7 Series (E65)