The fastest iteration of the BMW 7-Series that can be bought from an official dealer isn’t really a BMW but an Alpina. An Alpina B7 to be exact.
Alpina took the familiar twin-turbo 4.4-liter V8 and then upgraded it with a pair of its own twin-scroll turbos, intercooler, air intake and high-performance cooling system. The results are 600hp and 590lb-ft of peak torque, with 494lb-ft available from just 2,000rpm.
The engine uses special Mahle pistons and NGK spark plugs as well, with Alpina’s bespoke stainless steel sports exhaust with active valves specifically designed to reduce back pressure and of course weight.
You can’t call the B7 a tuned version of the standard car; Alpina presents itself as a separate company that focuses on turning regular BMWs into super-sophisticated and refined missiles.
They retune or upgrade almost every component of the chassis to meet their standards, including the air suspension, the rear wheel steering, the driving modes, everything to ensure that the B7 meets the expectations of their demanding client base. Even the xDrive all-wheel drive system has been recalibrated by Alpina for a more dynamic handling character and increased agility.
Inside there’s high-end Nappa leather covering almost everything, ceramic inserts, Alpina’s own wood trim and an individual production plaque among other to remind you that you’re not sitting in a regular BMW, as regular a 7-Series can be considered.
There’s also another way of reminding you that this is no ordinary 7-Series: mash the throttle to the thick carpet and experience a 0-60 in 3.6 seconds, keep that pedal buried for long enough and the B7 won’t stop accelerating before it hits 205mph. Alpina says it’s the fastest production four-door model in the market too.
Carlos Lago reviews the new Alpina B7 in the latest Edmunds video so head over there and find out what he had to say about this leather-bound missile from Germany.